n for me! one of whom I may well be proud. Rosie, too, grown to
a great girl! Glad to see you, dear." But the first carriage had moved on;
the second had come up and discharged its living freight, and Mr.
Travilla, with Vi in his arms, Elsie leading her eldest daughter and son,
had stepped upon the veranda, followed by Dinah with the babe.

"Dear grandpa," Mrs. Travilla said, in tender, tremulous tones, dropping
her children's hands to put her arms about his neck, as he turned from
Rosebud to her, "my poor, dear grandpa, we will all try to comfort you,
and make your old age bright and happy. See, here are your
great-grandchildren ready to rise up and call you blessed."

"God bless you, child!" he said, in quivering tones, embracing her with
more affection than ever before. "And this," laying his hand on wee
Elsie's head, "is yourself as you were at the same age."

"I'm very sorry for you, dear old grandpa; mamma has told me all about
it," the little girl softly whispered, putting her small arms about his
neck as he stooped to give her a kiss.

"Me too," Eddie put in, offering his hand and lips.

"That's right; good boy; good children. How are you, Travilla? You've come
back to find ruin and desolation where you left beauty and prosperity;"
and the aged voice shook with emotion.

Mr. Travilla had a kindly, hearty hand-shake, and gentle sympathizing
words for him, then presented Vi and Baby Harold.

Meanwhile the greetings were being exchanged by the others. Lora met her
brother, and both Rose and Elsie, with the warm affection of earlier days,
mingled with grief for the losses and sorrows that had befallen since they
parted.

Mr. Howard, too, was cordial in his greeting, but Louise and Enna met them
with coldness and disdain, albeit they were mere pensioners upon Horace's
bounty, self-invited guests in his house.

Louise gave the tips of her fingers to each, in sullen silence, while Enna
drew back from the offered hands, muttering, "A set of Yankees come to spy
out the nakedness of the land; don't give a hand to them, children."

"As you like," Mr. Dinsmore answered indifferently, stepping past her to
speak to Mrs. Murray and the servants; "you know I will do a brother's
part by my widowed sisters all the same."

"For shame, Enna!" said Lora; "you are here in Horace's house, and neither
he nor the others ever took part against us."

"I don't care, it was nearly as bad to stay away and give no help,"
muttered