“I’m glad she’s come, and I expect to love her dearly,” he remarked, when he had touched his lips softly to the babe’s cheek, “though I’d rather she’d been a boy, as I have two sisters already and no brother at all.”

“Haven’t you a kiss for me, Lulu, dear?” Violet asked half entreatingly, “and a welcome for your little sister?”

Lulu silently and half reluctantly kissed both, then turned and walked out of the room.

Violet looked after her with a slight sigh, but at that moment her own little brother and sister created a diversion by running in with a glad greeting for her and the new baby.

Their delight was rather noisily expressed, and no one of the little group either heard or saw a carriage drive up the avenue to the main entrance.

But Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie were on the watch for it (they had been exchanging meaning, happy glances all the morning), and ready with the warmest of greetings for the tall, handsome, noble looking man who hastily alighted from it and ran up the veranda steps.

“Dear mother!” he said, grasping Mrs. Travilla’s hand, then giving her a filial kiss.

“We are very glad to see you, captain,” she said.  “Your telegram this morning was a delightful surprise.”

“Yes, it was, indeed, to all of us who knew of its coming,” said Mr. Dinsmore, shaking hands in his turn.

“My wife! how is she? and the children? are they all well?” asked the gentleman half breathlessly.

“All well,” was the answer.  “We told Violet you had reported yourself in Washington, and she will not be overcome at sight of you.  You will find her in her own rooms.”

He hurried thither, met Gracie at the head of the stairs, and caught her in his arms with an exclamation of astonishment and delight.

“Can this be my baby girl? this plump, rosy little darling?”

“Papa!” she cried, throwing her arms about his neck and hugging him tightly, while he kissed her again and again with ardent affection, “oh, have you come?  No, I’m your own little Gracie, but not the baby girl now, for there’s a little one on mamma’s lap.  Come, and I’ll show you.”

“Ah!” he exclaimed, letting her lead him on.  “I had not heard, have not had a letter for three or four weeks.”

They were at the door.  Gracie threw it open.  Rose was holding the babe.  Violet looked up, started to her feet with a cry of joy, and in an instant was in her husband’s arms, weeping for very gladness.

For several moments they were conscious of nothing but the joy of the reunion; then with a sudden recollection she withdrew herself from his arms, took her babe, and laid it in them.

“Another darling,” he said gazing tenderly upon it, “another dear little daughter!  My love, how rich we are!”

He kissed it, gave it to the waiting nurse, and turned to his wife again.

“Let me help you to the sofa, love,” he said.