and bridled.

As she drew rein close by the veranda steps, Edward hastily returned his
watch to its fob, sprang forward, and lifted her from the saddle.

"Good-morning, little wife," he said with an affectionate kiss as he set
her down, yet still keeping his arm about her. "I was not so kind as I
might, or should have been last night, but you will not lay it up against
your husband, love?"

"No, of course not, Ned," she returned, looking up into his face flushed
and happy, that so loving an apology had been given her in place of the
reproof she expected; "and you won't hate me because I was cross when you
were?"

"Hate you, love! No, never! I shall love you as long as we both live. But
I must say good-by. I am summoned away on important business, and shall
have hardly time to catch the next train."

"You might have told me last night," she pouted, as with another kiss he
took his arm from her waist and turned to leave her.

"I did not receive the summons till half an hour ago," he answered,
hastily mounting his steed.

"When will you come back?" she asked.

"I hope to be with you by tea-time, this evening. Au revoir, darling."

He threw her a kiss and was gone, galloping so rapidly away that in a
minute or two he was out of sight; all the more speedily to her because
her eyes were blinded with tears as she stood motionless, gazing after
him.

It was their first parting, and there came over her a feeling that, should
he never come back, the world would be a desert, nothing left worth living
for.

"Never mind, dear child, it is for only a few hours, if all goes well,"
said a kind sweet voice at her side.

"Yes, mamma, but--oh, I wish he never had to go away without me! And why
couldn't I have gone with him this time?" she sobbed, beginning to feel
herself quite aggrieved, though the idea of going with Edward had but just
occurred to her.

"Well, dear, there really was not time to arrange that," Elsie said,
embracing her with motherly affection. "But come now and get some
breakfast. You must be hungry after your ride."

"Is Grandpa vexed because I was not here in season?" Zoe asked, following
her mother-in-law on her way to the breakfast-room.

"He has not shown any vexation," Elsie answered lightly; "and you are not
much behind time; they are all still at the table. Edward took his
breakfast early in order to catch his train."

Zoe's apprehensions were relieved immediately on entering the
breakfast-ro