"
"Perhaps you might have had a much better one, Elsie," he said
gravely.
"Oh! no, papa, I wouldn't want any other," she replied earnestly,
pressing his hand to her lips.
"Ah! here we are," exclaimed her father, as at that instant the
carriage turned into a broad avenue, up which they drove quite
rapidly, and the next moment they had stopped, the coachman had
thrown open the carriage door, and Mr. Dinsmore, springing out,
lifted his little girl in his arms and set her down on the steps
of the veranda.
"Ah! Dinsmore, how do you do? Glad to see you, and my little
friend Elsie, too. Why this is really kind," cried Mr. Travilla,
in his cheerful, hearty way, as, hurrying out to welcome them, he
shook Mr. Dinsmore cordially by the hand, and kissed Elsie's
cheek.
"Walk in, walk in," he continued, leading the way into the house,
"my mother will be delighted to see you both; Miss Elsie
especially, for she seems to have taken a very great fancy to
her."
If Mrs. Travilla's greeting was less boisterous, it certainly was
not lacking in cordiality, and she made Elsie feel at home at
once; taking off her bonnet, smoothing her hair, and kissing her
affectionately.
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