The two older ladies presently left the room to reappear shortly in dinner dress.

While they were gone Mr. Dinsmore engaged the captain in conversation, and Donald and Violet talked together in a low aside.

“Your sister is well, I hope?” he remarked interrogatively.

“Elsie?  We had letters from her and Edward this morning.  They were well at the time of writing.”

“They are not at home then?” he said in a tone of surprise and disappointment.

“Oh, no! had you not heard?” and Violet’s eyes filled.  “It is very foolish, I’m afraid,” she went on in half tremulous tones, in answer to his inquiring look, “but I can’t help feeling that Lester Leland has robbed me of my sister.”

“She is married? and has gone to a home of her own?”

Violet answered by telling the story as succinctly as possible.

“He was in Italy pursuing his art studies,” she said.  “They had become engaged shortly before he went, and a few weeks ago we heard he was very ill with typhoid fever.  Elsie at once said she must go to him, she could not let him die for lack of good nursing.  So grandpa and mamma consented to her going with Edward and our faithful old Ben—­papa’s foster-brother and body-servant, who travelled for years with him in Europe—­for protectors.

“Of course she took a maid too, and Aunt Louise offered to go with them, but was taken sick in New York, so had to be left behind.

“They found Lester very but not hopelessly ill, and the joy of seeing them had an excellent effect.  So they were married, Cousin Donald.  Just think how sad for poor Elsie! away from mamma and all of us except Edward!”

“It was sad for her, I am sure!” he said with warm sympathy, “and very, very noble and unselfish in her to leave all for him.”

“Yes; and yet not more, I think, than any right-minded woman would do for the man she loved well enough to marry.”

Harold and Herbert came in at that moment full of boyish enthusiasm and delight over the arrival of “Cousin Donald,” whom they liked and admired extremely; in especial for his fine figure, soldierly bearing, and pleasant, kindly manner.

They had hardly done shaking hands with him and Captain Raymond, to whom their grandfather introduced them with a look of paternal pride, when their mother and “Grandma Rose” returned to the drawing-room, and dinner was announced.

CHAPTER VIII.

    “A man’s heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his
    steps.”—­Prov. 16:9.

The boys were greatly disappointed on learning from the talk at the dinner-table that Cousin Donald’s furlough was so short that he could give but two days to his Ion friends.

There were many expressions of regret.  Then Mr. Dinsmore said, “If you must leave us so soon we must make good use of our time, by taking you at once to see relatives, friends, and places of interest in the neighborhood.  If you and the captain are not too weary to enjoy a ride or drive, we will go to Roselands for a call this afternoon, then on to the Oaks to take tea with my son Horace and his family.”