ything there was in perfect order, while at Woodburn such
matters had received careful attention from Christine and Alma.

"Welcome home, my love," the captain said to his wife as the carriage
turned in at the great gates. "And you too, my darlings," addressing his
children. "Is it almost as lovely here as at Viamede?"

"Oh, yes; yes, indeed, papa!" they responded, baby Ned adding, "Oh, me
so blad to det home adain."

Then a joyous bark was heard, and Prince, Max's dog, came bounding to
meet them.

"Oh, dere our big doggie Prince!" cried Ned, with a joyous laugh, and
clapping his chubby hands. "Maxie dere too, papa?"

"No, Neddie boy; we have left Brother Maxie behind at Annapolis,"
answered his father; then as the carriage came to a standstill, he threw
open the door, exclaiming, "Home at last!" sprang to the ground, and
proceeded to hand out wife and children.

"Yes," said Violet, who, as well as the children, had been gazing with
delight upon the grounds from the carriage window, "and I for one am as
glad as I was to see Viamede on our arrival there. How very lovely
everything is looking! Ah, Christine and Alma," as the two came hurrying
out to greet the returned travellers, "I hope you are well? What good
care you have taken of everything in our absence."

"Thanks, Mrs. Raymond; it is very kind in you to notice it; and we are
delighted to see you all at home again," the two women returned,
smiling with pleasure over the arrival and Violet's appreciative words,
to which the captain added his hearty commendation, and the children
glad, warm greetings.

Prince's actions, in the meantime, told the same story of his feelings;
he was fawning upon one and another, capering about and wagging his tail
with many a joyous bark that seemed to say, "I am very glad, very happy
to see you all here again," and receiving much loving stroking and
patting in return.

The servants, too, came crowding about, with smiling faces and
exclamations of joy and thankfulness. "Bress de Lawd yous all safe home
agin!" "We's pow'ful glad to see you, cap'n, Miss Wi'let, an' all ob de
chillens!"

"Dis chile 'specs yo's pow'ful hungry, Miss Wi'let an' de res'; but de
dinnah's 'mos' ready fo' to dish up," remarked the cook.

"Oh, we are not starving, by any means, Aunt Judy," returned Violet. "We
had an excellent and abundant breakfast on board the _Dolphin_, and it
is hardly the regular dinner hour yet."

"And oh, papa, mayn't we run a