Yet the first object that met his eye on turning about from assisting Zoe to alight from the train, was the Ion family carriage, with Solon standing at the horses’ heads.

“Ki!  Marse Ed’ard, you’s here sho nuff!” cried the man, grinning with satisfaction.

“Yes, Solon,” Edward said, shaking hands with him.  “Who came in with you?”

“Nobody, sah.  You wasn’t spected particular, kase you didn’t send no word.  But Miss Elsie tole me fotch de kerridge anyhow, an’ mebbe you mout be here.”

“So I am, Solon, and my wife with me,” presenting Zoe, who timidly held out her little gloved hand.

Solon took it respectfully, gazing at her in wide-eyed and open-mouthed wonder.  “Ki!  Marse Ed’ard, you don’ say you’s ben an’ gwine an’ got married!  Why dere’s weddin’s an’ weddin’s in de family!”

“So it seems, Solon,” laughed Edward, putting Zoe into the carriage and taking his place beside her, “but as I am older than Miss Vi, my turn should come before hers.  All well at Ion?”

“Yes, sah, an’ mighty busy wid de necessary preparations for Miss Wilet’s weddin’.”

“What an elegant, comfortable, easy-rolling carriage!” remarked Zoe, leaning back against the cushions, “it’s a pleasant change from the cars.”

“I am glad you find it so, dear,” Edward responded, gazing upon her with fond, admiring eyes.

“Yes, but—­O Edward, how will I be received?” she cried, creeping closer to him and leaning her head on his shoulder.  “I can hardly help wishing I could just be alone with you always.”

“Don’t be afraid, dearest,” he said, putting his arm round her and kissing her tenderly again and again.  “When you know them all you will be very far from wishing that.”

The whole family were gathered upon the veranda when the carriage drove up.  As it stopped, the door was thrown open, and Edward sprang out.  There was a general exclamation, of surprise and delight, a simultaneous springing forward to give him an affectionate, joyous greeting; then a wondering murmur and exchange of inquiring glances, as he turned to hand out a slight girlish figure, and drawing her hand within his arm, came up the veranda steps.

Elsie stood nearest of all the waiting group, heart and eyes full of joyous emotion at sight of the handsome face and manly form so like his father’s.

“Darling mother!” he exclaimed, throwing his free arm about her and giving her an ardent kiss.  Then drawing forward the blushing, trembling Zoe.  “My little wife, mother dear you will love her now for my sake, and soon for her own.  She is all ours—­alone in the world but for us.”

Before the last words had left his lips Zoe felt herself folded in a tender embrace, while the sweetest of voices said, “Dear child! you are alone no longer.  I will be a true mother to you—­my Edward’s wife—­and you shall be one of my dear daughters.”

A gentle, loving kiss accompanied the words, and all Zoe’s fears were put to flight; glad tears rained down her cheeks as she clung about the neck of her new-found mother.