“Zoe!  I hardly saw her in my anxiety about Gracie!” exclaimed Violet.  “Does she seem happy, mamma, and like one of us?”

“Yes, she is quite one of us; we all love her, and I think she is happy among us, though of course grieving sadly at times for the loss of her father.  The trunks have been brought up, I see.  That small one must belong to the two little girls.”

“Yes, mamma, and suppose we let it stand here for the present so that I can readily help Lulu find what she wishes to wear this evening.”

“Yes, dear.  I will go down and invite her up.  Ah, here is mamma!” as Mrs. Dinsmore tapped at the half-open door, then stepped in.  She embraced Violet with motherly affection.  “A lost treasure recovered!” she said joyously.  “Vi, dear, you have no idea how we have missed you.”

After a moment’s chat, Rose and Elsie went down together to the veranda, where they found Lulu, making acquaintance with the other members of the family.

“This is a new granddaughter for us, my dear,” Mr. Dinsmore said to his wife.

“Yes, shall I be your grandma, my child?” asked Rose, giving Lulu an affectionate kiss.

“And I too?” Elsie asked, caressing her in her turn.

“Two grandmas!” Lulu said, with a slightly bewildered look, “and neither of you looking old enough.  How will anybody know which I mean, if I call you both so?”

“I think,” said Mrs. Dinsmore, smiling, “it will have to be Grandma Rose and Grandma Elsie.”

“Yes,” said Mrs. Travilla, “that will do nicely.  Now, my dear little girl, shall I take you upstairs that you may change your dress before tea?”

Lulu accepted the invitation with alacrity.  They found Violet beginning her toilet while her maid unpacked her trunk.

“Lulu, dear,” she said, as the child came in, “you want to change your dress I suppose?  Have you the key of your trunk?”

“Yes, ma’am,” taking it from her pocket.

“Agnes,” said Vi, “leave mine for the present (you have taken out all I want for the evening) and unpack that other.”

The child drew near her young step-mother with a slightly embarrassed air.  “I—­I don’t know what to call you,” she said in a half whisper.

Violet paused in what she was doing, and looking lovingly into the blushing face, said, “You may call me cousin or auntie, whichever you please, dear, till you can give me a little place in your heart; then, as I am not old enough to be your mother, you may call me Mamma Vi.  What is it you wish to say to me?”

“Mayn’t I go into some other room to wash and dress?”

“Certainly, dear,” Violet answered.  Turning inquiringly to her mother, “What room can she have, mamma?”

“There is a very pleasant little one across the hall,” Elsie said.  “If Lulu would like to have it for her own, it might be as well to have her trunk sent in before unpacking.”

“Oh, I should like to have a room all to myself!” exclaimed Lulu.  “I had at Aunt Beulah’s.  Gracie slept with her, in the room next to mine.”