that he is
nearly as eager as the rest of us? and how could he do a whole winter
without your sister? How could any of us, for that matter?"

"You have advanced an unanswerable argument, my dear," said Mr.
Dinsmore, "and I may as well give consent at once."

"Thank you, mamma," said Elsie, "thank you both. Now if the rest of you
will only be as good!" and she glanced persuasively from one to another.

"As good!" said Sophie smiling, "if to be ready to accept the kindest
and most delightful of invitations be goodness, then I am not at all
inclined to be bad. Mother, shall we not go?"

"O grandma, you will not say no?" cried the young Carringtons who had
listened to the proposition with eager delight.

"No, please don't," added little Elsie, putting her arms coaxingly about
the old lady's neck. "Mamma, papa, grandpa and mammy all say it is so
lovely there, and we want you along."

"Thanks, dear, thanks to your papa and mamma too," said the old lady,
clasping the little girl close, while tears filled her aged eyes, "yes,
yes, I'll go; we will all go; how could I reject such kindness!"

The children, from Rosie Dinsmore--who would hardly have consented to be
put into that list--down to Harold Travilla, were wild with delight, and
for the rest of the evening could scarce speak or think of anything else
than Viamede and the pleasures they hoped to enjoy there.

"Now all have spoken but you, brother mine," Elsie said, turning to
Horace Jr. "You surely do not intend to reject our invitation?"

"Not entirely, sister, but papa seems to have left the considering for
me, and I've been at it. There should be some one to look after the
plantations here, and upon whom but myself should that duty devolve?"

"We all have good overseers."

"Yes, but there should be some one to take a general supervision over
them. I think I will go with you, make a short visit and return; if you
all like to trust me with the care of your property."

"You're welcome to take care of Ashlands, Cousin Horace, and I'll be
obliged to you too," spoke up young Herbert Carrington "and so will
mother and grandma, I know."

"Indeed we will," said the old lady.

"And it will leave us quite free from care, you good boy," added the
younger.

Mr. Travilla expressed similar sentiments in regard to Horace's offer as
it concerned Ion, and Mr. Dinsmore was quite as willing to leave the
Oaks in his son's care.

As it was now late in the fall and no very