The Two Elsies A Sequel to Elsie at Nantucket, Book 10

e as a leaf."

icher profusion than before; tree, and shrub and vine were laden with denser foliage; the place looked a very bower of beauty to the eyes of Leste

lay in a hammock, his little

ut was resting now, his cheek fanned by the pure, sweet air from the mountain and river, his eyes now feasting upon the beau

y of waiting upon her loved patient, always striving to anticipate his ev

ng of their e

e said, "for I hope it will cheer you an

nt smile; "your Aunt Elsie is a v

," she said, laying her cheek lovingly against the hand that was cla

ve an hour alone together now and then. I should

he river. "Papa, I think they are here!" she exc

omentary strength, he hastily stepped from the hammock, and with Evelyn went forward to greet

their brother-so sadly changed from the vigorous

er's voice was husky and tremulous as he returned Eri

olding fast to his brother's hand, and gazing with a look o

yourself, Eric? Would it not

one in its nurse's arms, "What a fine little fellow! a truly beautiful child, Sister Elsie. Ah, Lester I

e is!" Evelyn said, car

hall I show yo

together, while Eric dropped exhausted into an easy-chair

n a tone of mingled affection and concern

mile, "I shall soon be in that land where there shall be n

rsely; "I must hope there are yet ye

toward the river!" Elsie exclaimed, as Evelyn led the way into the spacious, air

on papa and I selected it for you. We have two other spare rooms, bu

dear. Is you

und herself so worn out, she said, with attending to the claims of society, that a trip to the sea

id I put them last on my list: husband, baby, mother, gran

y from him so much; especially now when he is so weak and ailing. And I am quite mortified that she is not here to welcome you. She said she would be b

we will try not to criticise or find fault with

; at least not to me. Mamma said she thought we could en

er to exert himself to that end; we did not come

for you to leave that beautiful Nantucket so soon after arriving there; I know abou

ere, but so it is here

, Aunt Elsie," she said. "I think it the dearest s

o it, Evelyn," Elsie said

from now; but don't take the trouble to dress, there

ly disliked the other, they were not congenial; their opinions, their tastes, their views of life

ilure of the mistress of the house to be present with a welcome on her arrival, but such was not Elsie's character. She

Eric, as he showed in his apology for her, on

h enjoyment in his society, her husband's, and Evelyn's, and would have been very s

toward these relatives, esteemed by herself and her father as worthy of all honor. She made no remark abo

as touching to see the devoted affection with which she hovered over and waited upon her sick father. She was se

n her walks and drives, while L

ester in regard to the future of his only and beloved

of anguish. "It is a sad, a humiliating thing to say in regard to one's w

r the quiet pleasures of home, finds the duties of a wife and mother extremely irksome, and is not content unless living in

nd so, for years past, we h

arnestly striven to train her up to a noble Christian womanhood; to cultivate her mind and heart, and gi

that, of course, much of the work yet remains to be done; and Laura is

family, to be brought up under the influence of your lovely wife and mothe

" Lester said with emotion; "and if my E

nks, and his hope that

nd to make her a disagreeable inmate of your family; and her admiration for her Aunt Elsie is so great that, dou

" assented Lester. "Surely her mother cannot help bei

easure for her sake. I think she will not care for a settled home when I am gone, but will spend her time in flitting about from one fashionable resort to another; and in that case Evelyn would be only a burden and care to her: one s

; "and to assist her pec

ine will make her very comfortable; while the remainder will be sufficient to clothe and educate Evelyn, and give her a moderate income afterward for the rest of her life, if it is not lost

d, his voice a little unsteady with the thought that these were his brother'

ty, and love for your niece," interrupted Eric, hearin

Lester and Elsie were thoroughly considerate, and almost every day went out tog

f any third person, and Eric improved the occasion to give his darling much tender and wise fatherly co

arting that would rend her heart-but she more than half suspect

t resolutely from her, and thought and talked ho

m the passage of Scripture which tells of the glories and bliss of heaven-of the inheritance of the saints in light-the things which "eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neith