ing to welcome the
little party on their arrival, and Rosie and Walter were well content to
stay with their mother for a little, while the others passed on up to
Violet's rooms.

They found her in her boudoir, seated in an easy-chair, beside a window
overlooking the avenue, and with her baby on her lap.

She was looking very young, very sweet and beautiful, happy, too, though a
shade of anxiety crossed her features as the children came in.

"How are you, dears? I am very glad to see you again," she said, smiling
sweetly and holding out her pretty white hand.

Gracie sprang forward with a little joyful cry. "O mamma, my dear, sweet,
pretty mamma! I am so glad to get back to you!" and threw her arms about
Violet's neck.

Violet's arm was instantly around the child's waist; she kissed her
tenderly two or three times, then said, looking down at the sleeping babe,
"This is your little sister, Gracie."

"Oh, the darling, wee, pretty pet!" exclaimed Gracie, bending over it.
"Mamma, I'm so glad, if--if----" She stopped in confusion, while Lulu,
standing back a little, threw an angry glance at her.

"If what, dear?" asked Violet.

"If you and papa will love me and all of us just as well," stammered the
little girl, growing very red, and her eyes filling with tears.

"Dear child," Violet said, drawing her to her side with another tender
caress, "you need not doubt it for a moment."

"Why, Gracie, what could have put such a notion into your head?'" said
Max. "Mamma Vi, may I kiss you and it, too?" with an affectionate glance
at her, then a gaze of smiling curiosity at the babe.

"Indeed, you may, Max," Violet answered, offering her lips.

"I'm glad she's come, and I expect to love her dearly," he remarked, when
he had touched his lips softly to the babe's cheek, "though I'd rather
she'd been a boy, as I have two sisters already and no brother at all."

"Haven't you a kiss for me, Lulu, dear?" Violet asked half entreatingly,
"and a welcome for your little sister?"

Lulu silently and half reluctantly kissed both, then turned and walked out
of the room.

Violet looked after her with a slight sigh, but at that moment her own
little brother and sister created a diversion by running in with a glad
greeting for her and the new baby.

Their delight was rather noisily expressed, and no one of the little group
either heard or saw a carriage drive up the avenue to the main entrance.

But Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie were on the