"Why, to be sure! that will do nicely," she said, "if you think mamma
would not object."

"I am quite certain she will find no fault, even if she should make a
different arrangement on returning home. And you wouldn't mind that,
would you?"

"Oh no, indeed! Are we not going very fast?"

"Yes; trying to make up lost time."

"I hope they will succeed, that our supper may not be spoiled with
waiting. Do you think there will be any one but the servants at Ion to
watch for our coming, Ned?"

"Yes; I expect to find the Fairview family there, and have some hope of
seeing delegations from the other three. Mamma wrote Elsie when to look
for us, and probably she has let the others know; all of them who have
been absent from home this summer returned some days or weeks ago."

"And Lester and Elsie brought that orphan niece of his home with them, I
suppose. I am inclined to be a warm friend to her, Ned; for I know how to
feel for a fatherless child."

"As we all do, I trust. We are all fatherless, and may well have a
fellow-feeling for her. We will do what we can to make life pleasant to
her, and I think from my sister's report that we shall find her an
agreeable addition to the Fairview family."

Elsie had given to Evelyn quite as agreeable a portraiture of Edward and
Zoe as that she had furnished them of her, and the little girl was in
some haste to make their acquaintance.

It was as Edward expected. The five families were very sociable; when all
were at home there was a constant interchange of informal visits, and
when some of their number returned after a lengthened absence, the others
were ready to hail their coming with cordiality and delight: both of
which were intensified on this occasion by the relief from the fear that
some accident had happened to Edward and Zoe, inasmuch as they were
several hours behind time in reaching home.

On their arrival they found the Lelands, the Lacys, the Dinsmores, and
the Conlys gathered in the drawing-room and supper waiting.

"Two hours behind time! I really am afraid there has been an accident,"
Mrs. Lacy was saying, when the welcome sound of wheels called forth a
general exclamation, "There they are at last!" and there was a
simultaneous exit from the drawing-room into the hall, followed by
numerous embraces, welcomes, congratulations, inquiries after health and
the causes of detention.

They made a jovial party about the supper-table: all but Evelyn, who sat
silently l