y soon reached Fairview, and her welcome there was all she could
desire. Grandma Elsie was warmly welcomed too, but did not alight.
She felt in much too great haste to see her father and the others at
Ion.

On her arrival she found her daughter Rosie there also, and her
presence added to the joy of the occasion.

Dinner was ready to be served, and Harold and Herbert had just come in
from their professional rounds, so that the family reunion was almost
complete. They missed Walter, but were glad to think of him as well,
happy, and busied with his studies; and Elsie and Violet, though not
just there, were near enough to be seen and conversed with almost any
day. So it was altogether a cheerful and happy reunion, as was that of
the family at Fairview.

Woodburn held no welcoming relatives for the Raymonds, but theirs was
a glad home-coming, nevertheless. The grounds were in beautiful order,
as was the dwelling under Christine's skilful management; and the
dinner that awaited the returned travellers was abundant in quantity
and variety, and the cooking such as might have found favor with an
epicure.

"I think we are most fortunate people," said Violet as they sat at the
table. "I know it isn't every family that can come home after weeks
of absence to find everything in beautiful order and the table
furnished with luxuries as is this one."

"Very true, my dear," said the captain; "we certainly have a great
deal to be thankful for."

"Yes, papa, it is very pleasant to be at home again," said Elsie; "and
when dinner is over mayn't we go all around and look at every one of
the rooms, upstairs and down?"

"If you want to make the circuit of the house, I have no objection,"
he said.

"Yes, I do, papa," she answered. "I feel very much as if the rooms are
old friends that I'm quite fond of."

"The schoolroom as well as the rest?" he asked with a look of
amusement.

"Yes, indeed, papa, for you make lessons so pleasant that I'd be very,
very sorry to be shut out of that room. Wouldn't you, Neddie?"

"Course I would," exclaimed Ned. "I love to be with papa, and I like
the nice lessons. Papa often tells us a great deal that is very
interesting."

"I am glad you think so," said his father. "We will visit the
schoolroom, as well as the others, after we have finished our
dinners."

"Will we have school to-morrow, papa?" asked Elsie.

"No; you may have the rest of the week for play, and we will begin
lessons on Monday