“Oh, I love you already,” she sobbed.

Mrs. Dinsmore next embraced the little bride with a kind, “Welcome to Ion, my dear.”

Then Mr. Dinsmore took her in his arms, saying, with a kiss and a look of keen but kindly scrutiny into the blushing face, “Edward has given us a surprise, but a very pretty and pleasant-looking one.  I am your grandpa, my dear.”

“Oh, I am glad!  I never had a grandpa before.  But you hardly look old enough, sir,” she said, smiling, while the blush deepened on her cheek.

The others crowded round; each had a kiss and kind word of welcome for her as well as for Edward.

Then the news of the arrival having spread through the house, the servants came flocking about them, eager to see and shake hands with “Marse Ed’ard” and his bride.

Zoe went through it all with easy grace, but Elsie noted that her cheek was paling and her figure drooping with weariness.

“She is tired, Edward; we will take her to your apartments, where she can lie down and rest,” she said.  “All this excitement is very trying after her long and fatiguing journey.  You both should have some refreshment too.  What shall it be?”

“Thank you, mamma; I will consult her when I get her up there, then ring and order it,” Edward said, putting his arm round Zoe’s waist and half carrying her up the stairs, his mother leading the way.

“There, Zoe, what think you of your husband’s bachelor quarters?” he asked gayly, as he deposited her in an easy-chair, took off her hat, and stood looking fondly down at her, Elsie on the other side, looking at her too with affectionate interest.

“Oh, lovely!” cried Zoe, glancing about upon her luxurious surroundings.  “I am sure I shall be very happy here with you, Edward,” with a fond look up into his face; then turning toward Elsie, she added timidly, “and this sweet mother.”

“That is right, dear child,” Elsie said, bending down to kiss her again, “call me mother or mamma, as Edward does, and never doubt your welcome to my heart and home.  Now I shall leave you to rest, and Edward must see that all your wants are supplied.”

“O Edward, how sweet, how dear, and how beautiful she is!” cried Zoe, as the door closed on her mother-in-law.

“Just as I told you, love,” he said, caressing her.  “She takes you to her heart and home without even waiting to inquire how I came to marry in haste without her knowledge or approval.”

“Or asking who I am or where I came from.  But you will tell her everything as soon as you can?”

“Yes; I shall wait only long enough to see you eat something and lying down for a nap, so that you will not miss me while I have my talk with her.”

Zoe, in this her first appearance among them, had produced a favorable impression upon all her new relatives; but the uppermost feeling with each, from the grandfather down, was one of profound astonishment that Edward had taken so serious a step without consulting those to whom he had hitherto yielded a respectful and loving obedience.