But little Horace, leaving his father's side, rushed up to Elsie, and
catching her hand in his, cried, "I'll never give my consent! and you
belong to me. Mr. Travilla, you can't have her."

To the child's surprise Elsie only blushed and smiled, while Mr. Travilla,
without the slightest appearance of alarm or vexation, said, "Ah, my dear
boy, you may just as well; for she is willing to be mine and your papa has
given her to me."

But the others had come up, and inquiring looks, smiles and kindly
greetings were exchanged.

"Mr. Travilla," said Rose, half playfully but with a tear trembling in her
eye, "you have stolen a march upon us, and I can hardly forgive you just
yet."

"I regret that exceedingly, my dear madam," he answered, with a smile that
belied his words. "But Miss Adelaide, you will still stand my friend?"

"I don't know," she answered demurely; "there's only one serious objection
in my mind (if Elsie is satisfied); that I don't quite fancy having a
nephew some years older than myself."

"Ah! well, I shall be quite willing to be considered a brother-in-law."

"Company to dinner!" shouted Horace. "I see a carriage; don't you, papa?"

"It is your Uncle Edward's," said Mr. Travilla.