sible speaker so close at hand."

Cousin Ronald made no reply, for at that instant there came a sound of
bitter sobbing, apparently from behind a tree a few feet from the
veranda's edge, then a wailing cry, "Oh, Miss Elsie, Massa Dinsmore, and
de res' ob you dar, doan' go for to leab dis po' chile! She cayn't stan'
it nohow 'tall! her ole heart like to break! Doan' go way, massa an'
missus; stay hyah wid de niggahs dat lubs you so!"

"Oh, Cousin Ronald, don't!" Elsie said in half tremulous tones. "It
seems too real, and almost breaks my heart; for I am greatly attached
to many of these poor old men and women."

"Then I think they will not distress you with any more complaints and
entreaties to-night, sweet cousin," returned the old gentleman in
pleasant, though half regretful tones.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE next day the servants were gathered on the lawn and presented with
the parting gifts procured for them by the ladies and little girls,
which they received with many thanks and demonstrations of delight. But
the following morning, when the time of parting had really come, there
were some tears shed by the old retainers, yet they were greatly cheered
by the assurances of their loved mistress, her father, and Captain
Raymond, that in all probability it would not be very long before the
family would be there again for a season.

The feelings of the departing ones were of a mingled character--regret
at leaving lovely Viamede, and joy in the prospect of soon being again
in their own sweet homes farther north.

The weather was delightful, light fleecy clouds tempering the heat of
the sun; the fields and plantations clothed in the richest verdure of
spring; the air filled with the perfume of flowers and vocal with the
songs of birds; then on reaching Bayou Teche they found their own yacht,
the _Dolphin_, awaiting them.

The young folks of the party greeted her with a clapping of hands and
many another demonstration of delight, and soon all were on board, and
she was steaming out through the bay, into the Gulf beyond, her
passengers, from Grandpa Dinsmore down to baby Ned, grouped together on
deck underneath an awning.

"We are in the Gulf now, aren't we, sir?" asked Walter at length,
addressing the captain.

"Yes, my boy," was the pleasant toned reply; "and are there any places
along its coast that you or any of the others would particularly like to
see?"

"Oh, yes, sir; yes, indeed!" exclaimed Walter with en