the addresses on several letters which he now
held in his hand. "Here, Tom," to the servant in waiting, "take these to
your mistress. Don't read them to the neglecting of your breakfast," he
added with a smile, again addressing Mrs. Travilla.

"No, sir; they will keep," she answered, returning the smile; "and you
shall all share the pleasure of their perusal with me after prayers.
Doubtless they give the particulars we all want so much to learn."

They all gathered round her at the appointed time. She held the letters
open in her hand, having already given them a cursory examination lest
there should be some little confidence intended for none but "mother's"
eye.

"Papa," she said, looking up half tearfully, half smilingly at him as he
stood at her side, "the deed is indeed done, and another claims my
first-born darling as his own."

"You have not lost her, Elsie dearest, but have gained a son; and I trust
we shall have them both with us ere long," he responded, bending down to
touch his lips to the brow still as smooth and fair as in the days of her
girlhood.

"Poor dear Elsie! how she must have missed and longed for you, dearest
mamma!" Violet sighed, kneeling close to her mother's chair and putting
her arms around her.

"What is it? all about Elsie's wedding?" asked Herbert. "Please let us
hear it, mamma. The telegram told nothing but the hour when it was to be,
and I was so surprised, for I never understood that that was what she went
away for."

"Nor I," said Harold; "though I suppose it was very stupid in us not to
understand."

"Who did get married with my sister Elsie, mamma?" asked little Walter.

"Mr. Leland, my son."

"But I thought he was most dead," remarked Rosie in surprise.

"He has been very ill," her mother said, "but is improving fast, though
not yet able to sit up."

Rosie, opening her eyes wide in astonishment, was beginning another
question when Harold stopped her.

"Wait, Rosie, don't you see mamma is going to read the letters? They will
tell us all about it, I presume."

"I shall read Edward's first, it gives a very minute account of what they
have done since he wrote us last, just after their arrival in Rome," the
mother said. "He is a good boy to take the trouble to tell us everything
in detail; is he not, papa?"

"Yes," Mr. Dinsmore assented, seating himself by her side and taking Rosie
upon one knee, Walter on the other; "and so good a mother richly deserves
good, thought