“Have they heard the news at Beechwood yet?” asked Lucilla.

“I think not,” replied the doctor; “but I shall take it in my way home, as it will make the drive only a little longer and I need delay there but a moment.”  Then with a hasty adieu he took his departure.

“Art is a very happy man to-day,” Mr. Dinsmore remarked with a pleased smile, as they watched the doctor’s gig on its way down the drive.

“Yes; I know of no one more worthy of happiness, and it does me good to see it,” said the captain.

“And no doubt dear Marian’s heart is overflowing with love and gratitude,” said Grandma Elsie in low, soft tones.  “I quite want to see her and her new treasure.”

“Both she and Art will be very proud to show it to their friends and relatives,” remarked Violet with a smile, “though he will be careful not to admit even relatives for some days yet.  He is very kind and careful as both husband and physician.”

“Yes,” said Rosie; “he will take excellent care of Marian and have her well in time to attend the wedding, I hope.”

“I think we can manage that, daughter, as we have not fixed upon the day,” her mother said with playful look and tone.

“Oh, yes, mamma! and I do intend it to be at least six weeks before I leave girlhood for married life,” returned Rosie, laughing and blushing as she spoke.

“It is too serious a step to be taken hastily, my dear young sister,” remarked the captain in a tone between jest and earnest; “a step that once taken cannot be retraced—­a venture involving the happiness or misery of perhaps a lifetime; certainly the lifetime of one if not of both.”

“Oh, you frighten me!” cried Rosie, drawing a long breath and lifting her hands with a gesture of alarm and despair; “what shall I do?  Would you recommend single blessedness—­you who have twice tried laying hold of the other horn of the dilemma?”

“Only for a time,” he said.  “Look well before you leap, as I did, and then you will be in little danger of wanting to leap back again.”

“You don’t? you never do?” she queried in mock surprise and doubt.

“Never!” he said with a smiling, admiring glance into Violet’s beautiful eyes, watching him with not a shade of doubt or distrust in their azure depths; “never for a moment have I been conscious of the slightest inclination to do so.”

“Thank you, my dear,” Violet said.  “And, Rosie, let me tell you for your encouragement that I have known no more regret than has he.  I am very sure that if it were in our power to reconsider, the question would be decided exactly as it was years ago.”

“I believe it,” responded Rosie heartily, “and that Will and I will be able to say the same when we too have lived together for years.  He is good as gold, I know, and I shall try to be worthy of him.”

The call to dinner here put an end to the conversation and the talk at the table was upon other themes.