Their father, too, had spoken of it as a home so delightful that they ought to feel the liveliest gratitude for having been invited to share its blessings.

It was looking very beautiful, very inviting, on the arrival of our travellers late in the afternoon of a warm, bright October day.

The woods and the trees that bordered the avenue were in the height of their autumn glory, the gardens gay with many flowers of the most varied and brilliant hues, and the lengthening shadows slept on a still green and velvety lawn.

As their carriage turned into the avenue, Elsie bent an affectionate, smiling look upon Max and Lulu, and taking a hand of each, said in sweetest tones, “Welcome to your new home, my dears, and may it prove to you a very, very happy one.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” they both responded, Max adding, “I am very glad, Grandma Elsie, that I am to live with you and Mamma Vi.”

“I, too,” said Lulu; “and in such a pretty place.  Oh, how lovely everything does look!”

The air was delightful, and doors and windows stood wide open.  On the veranda a welcoming group was gathered.  Elsie’s brother and sister—­Horace Dinsmore, Jr., of the Oaks, and Mrs. Rose Lacey from the Laurels—­and her cousins Calhoun and Arthur Conly; while a little in the rear of them were the servants, all—­from old Uncle Joe, now in his ninety-fifth year, down to Betty, his ten-year-old great-granddaughter—­showing faces full of eager delight.

They stood back respectfully till greetings had been exchanged between relatives and friends, then pressed forward with their words of welcome, sure of a shake of the hand and kind word from each member of the family.

Mr. Dinsmore held little Gracie in his arms.  She was much fatigued and exhausted by the long journey.

“Here is a patient for you, Arthur,” he said, “and I am very glad you are here to attend to her.”

“Yes,” said Violet, “her father charged me to put her in your care.”

“Then let her be put immediately to bed,” said Arthur, after a moment’s scrutiny of the child.  “Give her to me, uncle, and I will carry her up-stairs.”

“To my room,” added Violet.

But the child shrunk from the stranger, and clung to Mr. Dinsmore.

“No, thank you, I will take her up myself,” he said.  “I am fully equal to it,” and he moved on through the hall and up the broad stairway, Violet and the doctor following.

The others presently scattered to their rooms to rid themselves of the dust of travel and dress for the evening.

“Well, little wife, is it nice to be at home again?” Edward asked, with a smiling look at Zoe, as they entered their apartments.

“Yes, indeed!” she cried, sending a swift glance around the neat and tastefully furnished room, “especially such a home, and to be shared with such nice people; one in particular who shall be nameless,” she added, with an arch look and smile.