"I hardly think that, papa; he was very generous to take all the blame to
himself; but oh, you have eased my heart of half its load. What should I
ever do without you, my own dear, dear father!"

The pleasure of our friends, during the rest of their stay at Viamede, was
somewhat dampened by this unfortunate episode, though Elsie, for her
father's sake, did her best to rally from its effect on her spirits, and
to be cheerful and gay as before.

Long, bright, loving letters from home, and Ion coming the next day, were
a great help. Then the next day brought a chaplain, who seemed in all
respects so well suited to his place as to entirely relieve her mind in
regard to the future welfare of her people. He entered into all her plans
for them, and promised to carry them out to the best of his ability.

So it was with a light heart, though not without some lingering regrets
for the sad ones and the loveliness left behind, that she and her father
set out on their homeward way.

Mr. Dinsmore's man John, Aunt Chloe, and Uncle Joe, went with them; and it
was a continual feast for master and mistress to see the happiness of the
poor old couple, especially when their grandchild Dinah, their only living
descendant so far as they could learn, was added to the party; Elsie
purchasing her, according to promise, as they passed through New Orleans
on their return trip.

Dinah was very grateful to find herself installed as assistant to her
grandmother, who, Elsie said, must begin to take life more easily now in
her old age. Yet that Aunt Chloe found it hard to do, for she was very