er)," he added reverently, "for
bringing her safely back to me. She seems to have been well taken care of;
plump and bright and rosy."

"I have been, papa; even you could not be more tender and careful of me
than--my husband is."

Her father smiled at the shy, half-hesitating way in which the last word
slipped from the rich red lips, and the tender, loving light in the soft
eyes as they met the fond, admiring gaze of Travilla's.

"No repentance on either side yet, I see," he said laughingly. "Travilla,
your mother is in excellent health and spirits; but impatient to embrace
both son and daughter, she bade me say. We all take tea by invitation at
Ion to-day; that is, we of the Oaks, including Aunt Wealthy and Miss
King."

"Oh, how nice! how kind!" cried Elsie.

"And to-morrow you are all to be at the Oaks!" added her father. "Now
shall I ride beside your carriage? or take a seat in it with you?"

"The latter, by all means," answered Travilla, Elsie's sparkling eyes
saying the same, even more emphatically.

"Take Selim home, and see that both he and the family carriage are at Ion
by nine this evening," was Mr. Dinsmore's order to his servant.

"Ah, papa! so early!" Elsie interposed, in a tone that was half reproach,
half entreaty.

"We must not keep you up late after your journey, my child," he answered,
following her into the carriage, Mr. Travilla stepping in after.

"The seats are meant for three; let me sit between you, please," requested
Elsie.

"But are you not afraid of crushing your dress?" asked her father
jocosely, making room for her by his side.

"Not I," she answered gayly, slipping into her chosen place with a light,
joyous laugh, and giving a hand to each. "Now I'm the happiest woman in
the world."

"As you deserve to be," whispered her husband, clasping tight the hand he
held.

"Oh, you flatterer!" she returned. "Papa, did you miss me?"

"Every day, every hour. Did I not tell you so in my letters? And you? did
you think often of me?"

"Oftener than I can tell."

"I have been wondering," he said, looking gravely into her eyes, "why you
both so carefully avoided the slightest allusion to that most exciting
episode of your stay at Viamede."

Elsie blushed. "We did not wish to make you uneasy, papa."

"Of course, you must have seen a newspaper account?" observed Mr.
Travilla.

"Yes; and now suppose you let me hear your report. Did the villain's shot
graze Elsie's forehead and carry a