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

gives us

being at home again after months of absence. She had grown to love Ion very much, and she was charmed with the idea

rwegian girls, and presently began to oc

, quite amused at the unwont

into her face, as the train came to a momentary standstill at a country station. One might suppose, fro

illa," she returned with mock seriousness. "It is those poor gir

clusion arrived at? or

expert needlewomen, we can find plenty for them to do in

iv

, The Laurels, The

ges of raiment desired by the ladies and children," he remarked laughingly. "S

om the city to Ion, and what I am to do with them when I g

their use. As to the other, why not let them have their meals s

o nicely," she said, "if you

f she should make a different arrangement on retur

! Are we not g

g to make u

poiled with waiting. Do you think there will be any one

m the other three. Mamma wrote Elsie when to look for us, and probably she has let the others

e with them, I suppose. I am inclined to be a warm friend

or her. We will do what we can to make life pleasant to her, and I think from my si

f Edward and Zoe as that she had furnished them of her, and

their number returned after a lengthened absence, the others were ready to hail their coming with cordiality and delight: both of which were intensified on t

e Lacys, the Dinsmores, and the Conlys gath

els called forth a general exclamation, "There they are at last!" and there was a simultaneous exit from the drawing-room i

information in regard to the way in which each had passed the summer, and Edward's and Zoe's description of the

lf unconsciously, studying countenances, voic

e with them; that she liked Mr. Calhoun Conly and his brother, Dr. Arthur, very much, but detested Ralph; thought Ella silly, proud, and ha

tion to each other, and how unconsciously it betrayed its

rking with a winning smile, "What a quiet little mouse you are! I have bee

so very much indeed," returned

onded the

oors are wide open to you at

selands; we shall expect frequent visits, and do our best for your enterta

ion, all rose from the table and returned to the drawing-room; but presently, as it was growing late and the

they had turned out of the avenue into the road leading to Fairvie

a answered; "she seems so bright, pleasant, and

ing words. "And you think that an

very unselfishly affectionate toward each other; as

way, her uncle saying, "So

e said, "but I couldn't help s

am greatly interested in those Norwegians. I ho

f they are competent; for I, to

Evelyn; "I wan

l then get a sight of them, and I learn something o

and when the girls reached Ion they were received by Aunt Dicey, the housekeeper, at a side entrance, kindly welcomed and cond

Ed'ard an' Miss Zoe tole me you uns is to sleep. Dar's watah dar an' soap an' towels, s'posin' you likes fo' to wash off de dust ob t

turned and l

had they understood; but the gestures had been more intelligible. Aunt Dicey had pointed toward t

" said Alma at last. "What did she

lish the gentleman and lady speak when talking to each other. But she brought us here, and f

tments of the one in which they were, then hastening into the other to find it in no way inferior to the first. "Ah, how lovely!" she cried; "see th

y for to-night; to-morrow, perhaps, we may be consigned to lodgings not half so good. Ah, I hear steps on the s

e food set before them, and remarked to each other again and again,

tine," said Alma, "have we not? Oh, what a fortuna

d and mistaken were we in mourning as we did over the sickness that separated us from th

ma; "we will trust the Lord, even when all i

l is bright and the path lies straight before us, we feel strong in faith; when clouds and

ht them of their protégées, and went to the sewing-room to inquire how they w

drawn near her, and reading from a pocket Testament. She closed and la

asked Zoe, glancing ro

l

ed her strength since her illness, Alma was much fati

ow her example very soon, for you are looking tired.

, how kind you are to us! what more could we possi

Edward said, "but we feared that for lack of an inter

anticipated," she answered,

"And now we will leave you t

ing to Zoe, "And you, dear lady, will

e smiling reply. "Don't be uneasy; work and good wa

d with a heart singing

cares with a pretty matronly air that became her well; Aunt Dicey receiving her orders with

g from her to her callers, "Sister Elsie, how good in you to come over so e

lsie, brightly. "How do

's too absurd that he will persist in looking upon me still as a mere child. Jus

you may be wanting to turn about and travel back again one of these days. How do you lik

up so against it that I was fairly forced to give them something to do, and I find they do sew beautifully. Suppose you com

with autumn flowers, Christine and Alma sat busily plying their needles and talking together thankfully

ve brought my sister, Mrs. Leland, to s

all be glad to engage you both to sew for me when you are no

h the strangers, asking of their past history and their plans, hopes, and wishes for the f

ng face, plain, rugged features, but a countenance that indicated so much good sense, pr

zation; she was timid and shrinking, and with her fair complexion, deep blue eyes, go