Immediately on leaving the table, they all--entertainers and
entertained--set out on the short drive to Sunnyside, where, on
arriving, they found their relatives and friends from Beechwood and the
Oaks waiting to offer their congratulations and wish them happiness and
prosperity in their married life.
Being all acquaintances and friends of so long standing, they
were shown over the whole house by the happy owners, and cordial
congratulations were freely bestowed.
"In view of the comforts, conveniences and beauties of the
establishment, I should like to see Chester and offer my
congratulations on his success in winning a lovely wife, and having so
delightful a home to share with her," remarked Mrs. Horace Dinsmore, as
she was about leaving. "But I can't stay longer if I am to make due
preparation for attending the party at Woodburn to-night," she added.
"And you wouldn't miss that for something, would you?" laughed Mrs.
Hugh Lilburn. "I am sure I wouldn't."
"No; for I daresay we will have a delightful time. I know no better
entertainers than the Captain and Vi."
"Nor do I," said Mrs. Leland; "and this being so extra an occasion they
will doubtless do their best."
"I think they will, and I hope no invited guest will stay away or be
disappointed," said Grace, with a merry look and smile.
"No danger of either calamity, Gracie," said Mrs. Dinsmore. "Ah,
there's our carriage at the door," and with a hasty good-bye and a
cordial invitation to all present to make frequent visits at the Oaks,
she and her husband and daughter departed.
The Beechwood friends lingered a little longer, as did those from
Fairview and Woodburn. But at length Grace said she thought it time to
go home for, of course, there were some matters she ought to attend to
in preparation for the evening.
"Shall I send you in the carriage?" asked Lucilla.
"Oh, no, thank you, sister dear; the short walk will be good for me,"
returned Grace gaily, "for Elsie, too, I think, and for Ned; though he,
I suppose, will prefer to ride his pony."
"Yes, of course I will," said Ned. "He needs to be taken home, anyway."
They made their adieus and passed out on the veranda.
A servant brought the pony up, and Ned was about to mount when the
little steed remarked, "I think a young gentleman might feel ashamed to
ride while his lady sisters must go afoot."
"You do!" exclaimed Ned, drawing back with a look of mingled surprise
and chagrin. "Well, they said they wanted to walk--preferred it to
riding; and--and besides they couldn't both ride on your back at once."
"Two do ride the same horse at once sometimes," seemed to come very
distinctly from the pony's lips.
"Who is making you talk, I wonder?" cried Ned, turning to look about
him. "Oh, Brother Max, it was you, wasn't it?" as he caught sight of
his brother and sisters standing near.
"What was?" asked Max quietly.
"The person making the pony talk. I almost thought for a minute it
really was the pony; though, of course, ponies can't talk. And I didn't
mean to be selfish. Gracie won't you ride him home? Elsie and I can
walk just as well as not."
"Yes, of course we can; it's a very short and very pleasant walk,"
returned Elsie, with prompt cheerfulness. "So Gracie dear, you ride the
pony."
"Thank you both," said Grace, "but I really prefer to walk, as I have
had very little exercise to-day."
"There, you silly little pony, see what a mistake you made!" cried Ned
gleefully, as he mounted his steed.
"Well, little master, didn't you make a mistake, too?" the pony seemed
to ask.
"Oh, Brother Max, I know it's you, so only good fun," laughed Ned.
"Good-bye all. I'll get home first and tell papa and mamma you are
coming, Gracie and Elsie."
With the last words, he galloped down the avenue, leaving Max and his
sisters standing on the veranda looking after him.
"Doesn't he ride well?" exclaimed Grace, in a tone that spoke much
sisterly pride and affection. The others gave a hearty assent, Max
adding, "He is a dear little, bright little chap. I am decidedly proud
of my only brother."
"As I am of my little one; but still more so of my older one," said
Lucilla. "But I must go back to my remaining guests. Good-bye, my two
dear sisters. I shall expect and hope to see you both over here every
day."
"It is very likely you will see us here at least that often," laughed
Grace, "and we will expect an honest return of each and every visit."
"We'll get it, too," cried Elsie; "Lu could never stay away a whole day
from papa."
"It would certainly take very strong compulsion to make me do so," said
Lucilla. "Good-bye again. I hope to see you both in my old home a few
hours hence, and here some time to-morrow."
With that she passed into the house while her sisters hastened away in
the direction of Woodburn.
"It will soon be time to send the carriage for Chester," said Max,
accompanying her, "Suppose I give the order now."
"Yes, do," she replied, "I'd like to have him here as soon as possible;
and if he should not be quite ready, Jack and the carriage can be kept
waiting."
"Certainly. I'll go and give the order, then rejoin you and our guests
in the drawing-room."
As Max stepped out upon the veranda again two carriages came driving
up the avenue--one bringing Mr. and Mrs. Lacey from the Laurels, the
other Mr. and Mrs. Croly from Riverside.
"Oh, Max, how glad I am to see you again!" exclaimed Rosie, as he
assisted her to alight. "It seems an age since you went away, and you
have been exposed to such perils I hope I shall have a chance to hear
the story of your experiences in that fight at Manila. Such a chance as
I couldn't get at any of the late parties."
"Thank you, I hope we will have time and opportunity for a number of
talks," he replied, releasing the hand she had put into his and turning
to greet Mrs. Lacey, whom he addressed as Aunt Rose, and whose greeting
was quite as cordial as her niece's had been.
"You have the Fairview and Beechwood folks here now I see," remarked
Mrs. Croly, glancing toward their waiting vehicles.
"Yes; walk in and let us have you all together," returned Max. "We
will make a small party in anticipation of the large one to be held at
Woodburn some hours hence."
"Yes," assented Rosie, "we are all relatives and friends, and I for one
can never see too much of Sister Elsie or Cousin Ronald, to speak of
only one of each family."
Hearty greetings were exchanged, a short time spent in cheerful chat,
then one set of visitors after another took their departure till at
length Max, Evelyn and Lucilla were left alone, though looking almost
momentarily for Chester's homecoming.
"It has probably been a hard day with him. I fear he will be too weary
for much enjoyment to-night," sighed Lucilla.
"I hope not," said Max. "The meeting with so many relatives and friends
will probably be restful. Ah, there's the carriage now, just coming up
the driveway."
It brought Chester, and he showed himself to be in excellent spirits,
though somewhat weary with the labors of the day. He reported that
all seemed to be going right with the business in hand, and he had
little doubt that he should gain his hoped-for reward. His audience of
three listened with keen interest to all he had to say. When he had
finished Eva rose saying, "I must go now and attend to housekeeping
matters so that Max and I may be ready in good season for our Woodburn
festivities."
"Stay, Eva," said Lucilla, "I have ordered an early light tea for the
four of us. We wont want a very hearty meal to spoil our appetites for
the refreshments to be served at Woodburn."
"No, certainly not; it is very kind in you to provide for us as well as
for yourselves," returned Evelyn; Max adding, "It is, indeed, sister
mine."
"Well, really," laughed Lucilla, "it was for my own pleasure quite as
much as for yours." And tears came into the eyes gazing with sisterly
affection into those of Max. "I want to entertain you while I can,"
she added, "for there is no knowing when Uncle Sam may be ordering you
quite out of reach."
"Oh, don't let us talk of that!" exclaimed Eva. "Let us banish it from
our thoughts for the present."
"That is good advice," said Max, his voice a trifle husky; "it's what
I'm trying to do for the present; for however much a man may love the
service--a little wife such as mine must be far nearer and dearer."
"Yes," said Chester; "if you had only chosen the law, we might now be
partners in my office, as well as in this house."
"And I perhaps might ruin the business by my stupidity," returned Max,
with playful look and tone.
"Hark! there's the tea-bell," said Lucilla. "I invite you all out to
the dining-room."
After a pleasant social half hour spent at the tea-table, each couple
retired to their own apartments to dress for the evening entertainment
at Woodburn.
"This is one of the occasions for the wearing of the wedding-gown,
is it not?" Max said inquiringly to Evelyn, as they passed into her
dressing-room.
"Yes," she said lightly. "You will not mind seeing me in it for the
second time, will you?"
"I shall be very glad to. It is both beautiful and becoming," he
returned, with a fond look and smile. "Ah, my Eva, I think no one ever
had a sweeter bride than mine," he added, passing his arm about her and
drawing her into a close embrace.
"They say love is blind and it must be that which makes me look so
lovely in your eyes; for my features are by no means so good and
regular as those of some others--your sisters Lu and Grace, for
instance," returned Evelyn, with a pleased little laugh.
"Those sisters of mine are both beautiful in my eyes, but there is
something--to me--still sweeter in this dear face," he answered to
that, giving her a fond caress as he spoke.
"And your love is so sweet to me, I am so glad to belong to you," she
returned low and feelingly, laying her head on his breast while glad
tears shone in her eyes. "I have only one cause for grief left," she
went on presently--"that we cannot live together all the time, as Lu
and Chester may; yet spite of that I would not change with her or
anybody else."
"I hope not, darling," he said, laughingly. "Nor would I any more than
you. I think we were made for each other."
"So do I; and when compelled to part for a season we will console
ourselves by looking forward to the joy of the reunion."
"So we will, dear one; and in the meantime we will have the pleasure of
correspondence."
"Yes, indeed! a letter from my husband will be a great treasure and
delight to me."
"Not more than will be one from my wife to me," he returned, giving her
a gleeful caress.
Meantime, Chester and his Lucilla were similarly engaged. Chester was
very proud and fond of his bride and anxious to show her to neighbours
and friends in her wedding dress; so expressed his satisfaction when he
saw it laid out in readiness for the occasion.
"I am glad it pleases you," said Lucilla, "and I own to liking it right
well myself. Eva is going to wear hers, too. So it will seem something
like a repetition of our wedding day."
"Which makes it very suitable for your father's house. It was a
disappointment to him, I know, not to have his daughter and son married
in his own house."
"Yes, I suppose so; but dear father is so unselfish that he preferred
to let us have our own way, especially on Eva's account."
"I know it, and mean to try to copy his example in that--seeking to
please others rather than myself."
"As I do; I should like to resemble him in character and conduct as
much as some persons tell me I do in features and expression."
"Yes; you are very like him in both," Chester said, with an
affectionate and admiring look and smile; "in character and conduct
also, if your admiring husband be any judge."
The Sunnyside couples were the first of the guests to reach
Woodburn--though, in fact, they hardly considered themselves guests,
or were deemed such by the family there; it was but going home to their
father's house, where they had an hour of keen enjoyment before other
relatives and guests began to arrive.
Everything went smoothly; the company was made up of congenial spirits,
the entertainment was fine and evidently enjoyed, and when they bade
good-night and scattered to their homes it was with the expectation
of meeting again the next evening at Fairview. The Dinsmores of the
Oaks had planned to give the second entertainment, but Mr. and Mrs.
Leland claimed it as their right, because of their near relationship to
Evelyn, and the fact that Fairview had been her home for so many years.
They were now nearing the end of the week; this was Thursday, the
Fairview party would be held on Friday evening and Saturday all
preferred to spend quietly in their own homes or with the nearest and
dearest. And that was the plan carried out. The Fairview party passed
off as successfully as had the Woodburn one, and Saturday and Sunday
brought a rest from festivities which was welcome to all.