nd to his own devices, rushed to her uncle's
side, holding out both hands.

"Of course I have!" she cried, lifting her radiant face for the expected
kiss. "Oh, Uncle Henry, I'm so glad you've come to see us at last;
Mother will be so happy."

Although somewhat surprised by the warmth of this greeting, Mr. Carleton
was not at all displeased. Indeed, he was smiling very pleasantly by the
time he had given his niece the kiss she was evidently expecting, and
his face softened as he regarded her more attentively.

"I ought to have known you, Marjorie," he said, "for you are very like
your mother."

Marjorie flushed with pleasure.

"I'm glad," she said; "I'd rather look like Mother than any one else. Is
Elsie with you?"

"Elsie? You know about my little girl, too, then?"

"Oh, yes, indeed; I know she is just about my age. Mother has a
photograph of her, taken when she was a baby, and I've always wished I
could see her. Having a cousin of one's own age must be almost as good
as having a sister. Oh, I do hope she's coming to the ranch!"

Mr. Carleton shook his head.

"Elsie and her mother were with me, but they have gone back to New York.
We have been through the Canadian Rockies and the Yosemite together, and
yesterday we stopped at the Grand Canyon. Your aunt and cousin have gone
on in the train, but I thought I would like a few days with your mother,
so I got off at the nearest station to the ranch, and was driving out. I
suppose I should have written, but I thought I would rather enjoy giving
your mother a surprise. I hope I sha'n't be in the way."

"No, indeed, you won't," declared Marjorie heartily. "Mother and Father
will be delighted, and so will Aunt Jessie. We so seldom have visitors,
and it's such a treat, but I'm dreadfully sorry Aunt Julia and Elsie
aren't coming, too. What a lucky girl Elsie is to have seen all those
wonderful places! Father is going to take Mother and me to the Canyon
some day when he can afford it. But I was so glad to see you that I
forgot to introduce my friend. Undine, this is my uncle, Mr. Carleton.

"Uncle Henry, this is my friend, Miss Undine--we don't know her other
name."

Undine--who had been watching proceedings with interest--smiled shyly,
and held out her hand. She had also dismounted from her pony, and was
holding him by the bridle.

"Undine," repeated Mr. Carleton, looking amused, as he took the girl's
hand, and regarded her curiously; "that is a rather unusual name