as much as any of
the rest," remarked Mrs. Dinsmore, who was watching the game with keen
interest.

"Yes," said Dr. Conly, "all--old and young--seem very happy and
interested in their various sports; and I think are gaining health and
strength from the vigorous exercise in this pure air."

Most of the company were engaged in games of one kind or another, but
some few were wandering about in the alleys of the garden or wood, or
sitting on the grass or some rustic bench, chatting sociably, as cousins
and connections might be expected to do. Dr. Dick Percival and Maud
Dinsmore were among the latter. They had had a game of tennis and were
now refreshing themselves with a saunter through the wood.

"I admire this place--Woodburn," said Maud. "Captain Raymond has, I
think, made a sort of earthly paradise of it; though for that matter one
might say pretty much the same of The Oaks, Ion, and several of the
other family estates."

"Yes; including those down in Louisiana," returned Dick--"Viamede,
Magnolia Hall, and a few others. By the way, you have never been down
there, have you?"

"No, never; but I am hoping that Cousin Elsie will invite me one of
these days."

"Suppose you don't wait for that, but accept an invitation from me,"
suggested Dick, giving her a very lover-like look and smile.

"From you?" she exclaimed, her tone expressing surprise and a little
bewilderment, "are you staying there?"

"At Viamede? No, not now. I have bought a plantation not very far from
there, and am trying to make it equal in beauty to Viamede. It will, of
course, take some time to accomplish that; but, to me, Torriswood seems
even now a very winsome place. And if I had my cousin Maud installed
there, as mistress, I should be one of the happiest of men."

"Oh! you want me to become your housekeeper?"

"Yes; housekeeper, homekeeper, heartkeeper--everything! Oh, Maud
darling! can't you understand that I love you and want you for my wife,
my best, nearest, and dearest friend, my heart's idol? I love you in a
way that I never loved anyone else. Can't you love me in the same
way--as something nearer and dearer than a mere cousin?"

Maud was blushing, trembling--wholly taken by surprise and hardly
knowing whether to be glad or sorry. "Oh, Dick! how can you?" she
stammered. "We are cousins, you know, and--and cousins ought not to--to
marry. I have often heard Cousin Arthur say so."

"Not first cousins, nor second, but we are neither; we