amma Vi, is that strange lady any relation to you?" asked Lulu.

"Yes, she is my aunt, mamma's sister."

"She is pretty, but not nearly so pretty as Grandma Elsie."

"No; I have always thought no one else could be half so beautiful as
mamma."

"Why, Mamma Vi, you are yourself!" exclaimed Lulu in a tone of honest
sincerity that made Violet laugh.

"That is just your notion, little girl," she said, giving the child a
kiss.

"Oh, I have eyes and can see! besides, papa thinks so, too, and Max and
Gracie."

"Yes, my dear husband! he loves me, and love is very blind," murmured Vi,
half to herself, with a sigh and a far-off look in the lovely azure eyes.
Her thoughts were following him over the deep, wide, treacherous sea.

She stole on tiptoe into the next room for another peep at his sleeping
baby girl, Lulu going with her; then hearing the tea-bell, they went down
to the dining-room together.

They gathered about the table, a large cheerful party, the travellers full
of satisfaction in being at home again, the others so glad to have them
there once more.

Zoe was very merry and Rosie in almost wild spirits, but Max and Lulu, to
whom all was new and strange, were quite quiet and subdued, scarcely
speaking except when spoken to, "Mamma," Rosie said, when they had
adjourned to the parlor, "it's lovely out of doors, bright moonlight and
not a bit cold; mayn't I take Max and Lulu down to the lakelet?"

"Do you think the evening air would be injurious to them, Arthur?" Mrs.
Travilla asked, turning to her cousin.

"I think there is malaria in it, and would advise them to stay within
doors until after breakfast to-morrow morning," he answered, drawing Rose
to a seat upon his knee.

"Then you'd better let us go," she said archly, "so you can have some
more patients. Don't you like to have plenty of patients?"

"That's a leading question, little coz," he said laughingly, toying with
her curls. "When people are sick I like to have an opportunity to exercise
my skill in trying to relieve and cure them, but I hope I don't want them
made sick in order to furnish me with employment."

"I want to show Lulu and Max the beauties of Ion, and don't know how to
wait till to-morrow," she said.

"Then take them about from one room to another, and let them look out
through the windows upon its moonlit lawn, alleys, gardens and lakelet."

"Oh, yes, yes! that will do!" she cried, leaving his knee in haste to
carry out his sugges