"Dear Cousin Elsie, you have come at last, and I am, oh, so glad to see
you!" Marian exclaimed with a look of eager delight, and holding out her
hand in joyous welcome. "I have hardly known how to wait to show you our
treasure and receive your congratulations."

"Dear girl, I can quite understand that," Mrs. Travilla said with a
smile and a tender caress, "and I wanted to come sooner; should have
done so had your good husband deemed it entirely safe for you."

"Ah, he is very careful of me," returned Marian, giving him a glance of
ardent affection. "But, oh, look at our darling! His father and mother
think him the sweetest creature that ever was made," she added with a
happy laugh, laying a hand on the edge of the crib and gazing with eyes
full of mother love at the tiny pink face nestling among the pillows
there.

Elsie bent over it too in tender motherly fashion.

"He is a dear little fellow," she said softly. "I congratulate you both
on this good gift from our Heavenly Father, and wish for you that he may
grow up into a God-fearing man, a blessing to his parents, to the Church
and the world."

"I hope he may indeed, cousin, and I want you to join your prayers to
ours that we may have grace and wisdom to train him up aright, should it
please the Lord to spare him to us," said the doctor with emotion.

"I think his mother needs those prayers the most," said Marian low and
softly. "I am but a foolish young thing; scarcely fit for so great a
responsibility; but I am more glad and thankful than words can tell that