“Oh, but I am glad to see you, Elsie!  I had letters this morning from Mildred and Zilla, both bringing a great deal of love to you and a cordial invitation to you and yours—­as well as my husband and myself—­to pay them a visit this summer.  They have not yet heard of Rosie’s approaching marriage, I find.”

“But must hear of it very soon,” Elsie said with a smile.  “As soon as the important day is fixed upon I must send out my invitations; and you may rest assured that none of our relatives will be forgotten or neglected; certainly not one of your sisters or brothers.”

“No, my dear cousin, it would not be at all like you to neglect any of them,” returned Annis with a smile of loving appreciation.  “Ah, Harold!” turning to him as, having secured his horse, he came up the veranda steps and joined their little group, “I am glad to see you; especially as, like a dear, good boy, you have brought your mother along.”

“Yes,” he said, grasping cordially the hand she held out, “I find I am sure of a welcome anywhere when I am fortunate enough to induce mother to accompany me.  Sick or well, everybody is glad to see her.”

“You also, I presume; especially if they are sick.”

“And can’t get Cousin Arthur,” he added.  “A young doctor is better than none; though an old and tried physician is deemed the best—­by sensible people.”

“Ah, ha; ah, ha; um, hm! so it would seem, laddie, yet sometimes the young fellows hae a new trick the auld hardly ken aboot,” remarked Cousin Ronald with a good-humoured smile.  “And for my ain sel’ I should care little—­were I ill—­whether it were Doctor Arthur or Doctor Harold that prescribed the remedies to be used.”

“Or Doctor Herbert; Herbert might do just as well as either of the two, I presume,” added Annis.

“We have just come from a call at Roselands to see Marian and your little namesake, Cousin Ronald,” said Mrs. Travilla.  “He is a dear little fellow, and I hope will grow up in a way to do honour to the name.”

“I hope he may, and to be a great comfort and blessing to the parents who have done me the honour to call their firstborn for me,” returned the old gentleman, a gleam of pleasure lighting up his face.  “I want to see the bit bairn myself when the mother is well enough to enjoy a call from her auld kinsman.  And how soon do you think that may be, doctor?” he asked, turning to Harold.

“In a few days, sir, should she continue to gain strength as she seems to be doing now.  I have no doubt she will be very glad to see both you and Cousin Annis.”

“Yes; I must go along, for I want to see both the boy and his mother.  Marian will make a sweet mother, I think; and Arthur an excellent father,” said Annis.

“I quite agree with you in that idea,” Elsie said, “and their joy in the possession of the little fellow is a pleasant thing to see.  By the way, where are Cousin Ella and her little ones?”