Grantley Mellen was watching his wife, and a pleased smile lighted his
face when he saw how thoroughly she appreciated the beauty of the place.
He did not speak, but clasped her hand gently in his, and held it, while
Elsie uttered her wild exclamations of delight. They drove up to the
entrance of the house.

"Welcome home!" exclaimed Mellen, and his face glowed with tenderness as
he lifted his wife from the carriage and conducted her up the steps,
Elsie following, and the servants pressing forward with their
congratulations, headed by Clorinda: and for the first few moments,
Elizabeth was conscious of nothing but a pleasant confusion.

From the hall where they stood, she could look out upon the ocean which
rolled and sparkled under the sunshine. She could even hear the waves
lapsing up to the grounds which sloped down to the water's edge in a
closely shaven lawn, broken by stately old trees and blossoming
flower-beds. The view so charmed her with its loveliness, that at first
she hardly heeded the magnificence of the different apartments through
which they led her.

There were quaint, shadowy old rooms, full of odd nooks and corners, and
heavy with antique furniture, where one could idle away a morning so
pleasantly; and in the modern portion of the dwelling, a long suite of
drawing-rooms, with a library beyond, which had been fitted up with
every luxury that wealth and refined taste could devise.

"Be happy," Grantley Mellen whispered, when his wife tried to find words
to express her delight. "Be happy--peace, rest and affection is all I
ask."

He looked in her face, eager for the smiling surprise which he had
expected to find there. It was sadly grave. She too had her after
thought.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE BRIDE'S WELCOME HOME.

Elsie took Elizabeth up the broad flight of steps which led from the
hall, and conducted her to the suite of rooms that had been prepared for
her reception. "I had them arranged close to my little nest," she said,
"because I knew Grantley would never be content unless I was within
call. I hope you will like them, Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth answered that they were beautiful, as indeed they were. But it
was a grand, lonely splendor that she looked upon, which almost chilled
her. The chamber was large and richly furnished. Every thing was massive
and costly. The carpet soft as a flower-bed and as brilliant in tints.
Wherever she turned, her eyes fell on exquisite carvings reflected