"Of course, you must have seen a newspaper account?" observed Mr.
Travilla.
"Yes; and now suppose you let me hear your report. Did the villain's shot
graze Elsie's forehead and carry a tress of her beautiful hair?"
"No, no, it was only a lock of her unworthy husband's hair--a much
slighter loss," Travilla said, laughing. "But perhaps the reporter would
justify his misrepresentation on the plea that man and wife are one."
"Possibly. And did your shot shatter the bone in the rascal's arm?"
"No; Dr. Balis told me the ball glanced from the bone, passed under the
nerve and severed the humeral artery."
"It's a wonder he didn't bleed to death."
"Yes; but it seems he had sufficient knowledge and presence of mind to
improvise a tourniquet with his handkerchief and a stick."
"What rooms were you occupying?" asked Mr. Dinsmore. "Come, just tell me
the whole story as if I had heard nothing of it before."
Travilla complied, occasionally appealing to Elsie to assist his memory;
and they had hardly done with the subject when the carriage turned into
the avenue at Ion.
"My darling, welcome to your home," said Travilla low and tenderly,
lifting the little gloved hand to his lips.
An involuntary sigh escaped from Mr. Dinsmore's breast.
"Thank you, my friend," Elsie replied to her husband, the tone and the
look saying far more than the words. Then turning to her father, "And
to-morrow, papa, you will welcome me to the other of my two dear homes."
"I hope so, daughter; sunlight is not more welcome than you will always
be."
What joyous greetings now awaited our travelers. Elsie had hardly stepped
from the carriage ere she found herself in Mrs. Travilla's arms, the old
lady rejoicing over her as the most precious treasure Providence could
have sent her.
Then came Rose, with her tender, motherly embrace, and joyous "Elsie,
dearest, how glad I am to have you with us again."
"Oh, but you've missed us sadly!" said Aunt Wealthy, taking her turn; "the
house seemed half gone at the Oaks. Didn't it, Horace?"
"Yes; the absence of our eldest daughter made a very wide gap in the
family circle," answered Mr. Dinsmore.
And "Yes, indeed!" cried Horace junior, thinking himself addressed. "I
don't believe I could have done without her at all if she hadn't written
me those nice little letters."
"Don't you thank me for bringing her back then, my little brother?" asked
Mr. Travilla, holding out his hand to the child.
"Yes, indeed, Brother Edward. Papa says I may call you that, as you asked
me to; and I'll give you another hug as I did that night, if you'll let
me."
"That I will, my boy!" And opening wide his arms he took the lad into a
warm embrace, which was returned as heartily as given.
"Now, Elsie, it's my turn to have a hug and kiss from you," Horace said,
as Mr. Travilla released him; "everybody's had a turn but me. Miss King
and Rosebud and all."
Elsie had the little one in her arms, caressing it fondly.
"Yes, my dear little brother," she said, giving Rosebud to her mammy, "you
shall have as hard a hug as I can give, and as many kisses as you want. I
love you dearly, dearly, and am as glad to see you as you could wish me to
be."
"Are you much fatigued, Elsie dear?" asked Rose, when the greetings were
over, even to the kindly shake of the hand and pleasant word to each of
the assembled servants.
"Oh, no, mamma, we have traveled but little at night, and last night I had
nine hours of sound, refreshing sleep."
"That was right," her father said, with an approving glance at Travilla.
Mrs. Travilla led the way to a suite of beautiful apartments prepared for
the bride.
Elsie's taste had been consulted in all the refitting and refurnishing,
and the whole effect was charming. This was, however, her first sight of
the rooms since the changes had been begun.
The communicating doors were thrown wide, giving a view of the whole suite
at once, from the spot where Elsie stood between Mr. Travilla and his
mother. She gazed for a moment, then turned to her husband a face
sparkling with delight.
"Does it satisfy you, my little wife?" he asked, in tones that spoke
intense enjoyment of her pleasure.
"Fully, in every way; but especially as an evidence of my husband's love,"
she answered, suffering him to throw an arm about her and fold her to his
heart.
There had been words of welcome and a recognition of the younger lady as
now mistress of the mansion, trembling on the mother's tongue, but she now
stole quietly away and left them to each other.
In half an hour the two rejoined their guests, "somewhat improved in
appearance," as Mr. Travilla laughingly said he hoped they would be found.
"You are indeed," said Aunt Wealthy, "a lily or a rose couldn't look
lovelier than Elsie does in that pure white, and with the beautiful
flowers in her hair. I like her habit of wearing natural flowers in her
hair."
"And I," said her husband, "they seem to me to have been made for her
adornment."
"And your money-hoon's over, Elsie; how odd it seems to think you've been
so long married. And did you get through the money-hoon without a
quarrel? But of course you did."
Elsie, who had for a moment looked slightly puzzled by the new word, now
answered with a smile of comprehension, "Oh, yes, auntie; surely we should
be a sad couple if even the honeymoon were disturbed by a disagreement.
But Edward and I never mean to quarrel."
Mr. Dinsmore turned in his chair, and gave his daughter a glance of
mingled surprise and disapprobation.
"There, papa, I knew you would think me disrespectful," she exclaimed with
a deep blush; "but he insisted, indeed ordered me, and you know I have
promised to obey."
"It is quite true," assented Mr. Travilla, coloring in his turn; "but I
told her it was the only order I ever meant to give her."
"Better not make rash promises," said Mr. Dinsmore, laughing; "these wives
are sometimes inclined to take advantage of them."
"Treason! treason!" cried Rose, lifting her hands; "to think you'd say
that before me!
"'Husband, husband, cease your strife
No longer idly rove, sir;
Tho' I am your wedded wife,
Yet I am not your slave, sir.'"
There was a general laugh, in the midst of which the tea-bell rang.
"Come," said the elder Mrs. Travilla good-humoredly, "don't be setting a
bad example to my children, Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, but let us all adjourn
amicably to the tea-room, and try the beneficial effect of meat and drink
upon our tempers."
"That's a very severe reproof, coming from so mild a person as yourself,
Mrs. Travilla," said Rose. "My dear, give your arm to Aunt Wealthy, or our
hostess. The ladies being so largely in the majority, the younger ones
should be left to take care of themselves; of course excepting our bride.
Miss King, will you take my arm?"
"Sit here, my daughter," said Mrs. Travilla, indicating the seat before
the tea-urn.
"Mother, I did not come here to turn you out of your rightful place,"
objected Elsie, blushing painfully.
"My dear child, it is your own place; as the wife of the master of the
house, you are its mistress. And if you knew how I long to see you
actually filling that position; how glad I am to resign the reigns to such
hands as yours, you need not hesitate or hold back."
"Yes; take it, wife," said Mr. Travilla, in tender, reassuring tones, as
he led her to the seat of honor; "I know my mother is sincere (she is
never anything else), and she told me long ago, even before she knew who
was to be her daughter, how glad she would be to resign the cares of
mistress of the household." Elsie yielded, making no further objection,
and presided with the same modest ease, dignity, and grace with which she
had filled the like position at Viamede. The experience there had
accustomed her to the duties of the place, and after the first moment she
felt quite at home in it.
Mr. Dinsmore's carriage was announced at the early hour he had named. The
conversation in the drawing-room had been general for a time, but now the
company had divided themselves into groups; the two older married ladies
and Aunt Wealthy forming one, Mr. Travilla and Miss King another, while
Mr. Dinsmore and his daughter had sought out the privacy of a sofa, at a
distance from the others, and were in the midst of one of the long,
confidential chats they always enjoyed so much.
"Ah, papa, don't go yet," Elsie pleaded, "we're not half done our talk,
and it's early."
"But the little folks should have been in their nests long before this,"
he said, taking out his watch.
"Then send them and their mammies home, and let the carriage return for
you and the ladies; unless they wish to go now."
He looked at her smilingly. "You are not feeling the need of rest and
sleep?"
"Not at all, papa; only the need of a longer chat with you."
"Then, since you had so good a rest last night, it shall be as you wish."
"Are you ready, my dear?" asked Rose, from the other side of the room.
"Not yet, wife; I shall stay half an hour longer, and if you ladies like
to do the same we will send the carriage home with the children and their
mammies, and let it return for you."
"What do you say, Aunt Wealthy and Miss Lottie?" inquired Mrs. Dinsmore.
"I prefer to stay and talk out my finish with Mrs. Travilla," said Miss
Stanhope.
"I cast my vote on the same side," said Miss King. "But, my dear Mrs.
Dinsmore, don't let us keep you."
"Thanks, no; but I, too, prefer another half hour in this pleasant
company."
The half hour flew away on swift wings, to Elsie especially.
"But why leave us at all to-night, auntie and Lottie?" she asked, as the
ladies began their preparations for departure. "You are to be my guests
for the rest of the winter, are you not?" Then turning, with a quick vivid
blush, to Mrs. Travilla, "Mother, am I transcending my rights?"
"My dearest daughter, no; did I not say you were henceforth mistress of
this house?"
"Yes, from its master down to the very horses in the stable and dogs in
the kennel," laughed Mr. Travilla, coming softly up and stealing an arm
about his wife's waist.
Everybody laughed.
"No, sir; I don't like to contradict you," retorted Elsie, coloring but
looking lovingly into the eyes bent so fondly upon her, "but I am--nothing
to you but your little wife;" and her voice sank almost to a whisper with
the last word.
"Ah? Well, dear child, that's enough for me," he said, in the same low
tone.
"But, Lottie," she remarked aloud, "you are tying on your hat. Won't you
stay?"
"Not to-night, thank you, Mrs. Travilla," answered the gay girl in her
merry, lively tones.
"You are to be at the Oaks to-morrow, and perhaps I--well, we can settle
the time there."
"And you, auntie?"
"Why, dearie, I think you'd better get your housekeeping a little used to
your ways first. And it's better for starting out that young folks should
be alone."
Mr. Dinsmore had stepped into the hall for his hat, and while the other
ladies were making their adieus to her new mother, Elsie stole softly
after him.
"My good-night kiss, papa," she whispered, putting her arms about his
neck.
"My dear darling! my precious, precious child! how glad I am to be able to
give it to you once more, and to take my own from your own sweet lips," he
said, clasping her closer. "God bless you and keep you, and ever cause His
face to shine upon you."