baby hands patted the wan cheeks,
the tiny rosebud mouth was pressed again and again to the pale lips with
rapturous cooings, "Mamma, mamma!"

"There, pet, that will do," said her father. "Now, see what mamma has for
you."

"Look, mother's darling," Elsie said with a glad smile, exposing to view
the tiny face by her side.

"Baby!" cried the little girl, with a joyous shout, clapping her chubby
hands, "pretty baby Elsie take"; and the small arms were held out
entreatingly.

"No, Elsie is too little to hold it," said her papa; "but she may kiss it
very softly."

The child availed herself of the permission, then gently patting the
newcomer, repeated her glad cry, "Baby, pretty baby."

"Elsie's little brother," said her mamma, tenderly. "Now, dearest, let
mammy take her away," she added, sinking back on her pillows with a weary
sigh.

He complied, then bent over her with a look of concern. "I should not have
brought her in," he said anxiously; "it has been too much for you."

"But I wanted so to see her delight. One more kiss, papa, before you go,
and then I'll try to sleep."

Elsie did not recover so speedily and entirely as before, after the birth
of her first babe; and those to whom she was so dear grew anxious and
troubled about her.

"You want change, daughter," Mr. Dinsmore said, coming in one morning and
finding her lying pale and languid on a sofa; "and we are all longing to
have you at home. Do you feel equal to a drive over to the Oaks?"

"I think I do, papa," she answered, brightening. "Edward took me for a
short drive yesterday, and I felt better for it."

"Then, dearest, come home to your father's house and stay there as long as
you can; bring babies and nurses and come. Your own suite of rooms is
quite ready for you," he said, caressing her tenderly.

"Ah, papa, how nice to go back and feel at home in my own father's house
again," she said, softly stroking his head with her thin white hand as he
bent over her, the sweet soft eyes, gazing full into his, brimming over
with love and joy. "I shall go, if Edward doesn't object. I'd like to
start this minute. But you haven't told me how poor mamma is to-day?"

"Not well, not very much stronger than you are, I fear," he answered, with
a slight sigh. "But your coming will do her a world of good. Where is
Travilla?"

"Here, and quite at your service," replied Mr. Travilla's cheery voice, as
he came in from the garden with his little daughter in his a