mily,
as well as Florry, would take passage in the Bellevite for a more
Northern clime.

"De Lo'd!" exclaimed the venerable colored man that came to the door.
"De hull family done be wery glad to see you, Massa 'Ratio."

"I hope you are very well, Pedro," replied Captain Passford, as he gave
his hand to the old servant. "Here is Christy."

"De Lo'd bless Massa Christy!" And he shook hands with the son as he had
with the father.

"Is your master at home, Pedro?" asked the visitor, in haste to see his
brother.

"Yes, sar; all de folks to home; jes' gwine to lunch. I spects dey all
wery glad to see Massa 'Ratio and Massa Christy. Walk in, sar; took a
seat in de parlor; and I done reckon we call Massa Homer and de rest ob
de folks afore you gits to sleep in yer char, thar," said Pedro, as he
scurried out of the room where he had shown the visitors.

It was Florry who caught the first sound of the visitors who had
arrived, and she rushed into the drawing-room before the others could be
called from up-stairs. She bounded into the room like a fawn, with her
eyes swimming with tears, and threw herself into her father's arms. She
could not speak a word, and the captain was as dumb as she was.

For a moment she remained folded in his arms, and then she gently
disengaged herself, to render the same wealth of affection in its
manifestation to her brother, who was standing by her father when she
darted into the room. But Christy was a boy, and not as demonstrative as
his father, though he discharged the duties of the affecting occasion
with becoming fidelity, so that the loving girl was sure that his heart
was where it had always been.

"Why, papa, I had no idea of seeing you to-day!" exclaimed Florry, when
she had wiped away her abundant tears. "I did not know that I should
ever see you again, for they say that all the roads to the North have
been closed to travel."

"We did not come by land, either by railroad or otherwise; and the
Bellevite lies at the wharf near this house," the captain explained.

"I was terribly afraid I should never see you again, and that I should
have to stay here till this war is ended, papa; but they say it will
soon be over," said the fair girl.

"I am afraid it will not be over for a long time, for each side is
firmly united in its own cause. But I could not leave you here. Do you
want to go back to Bonnydale, Florry?"

"Do I want to go back? What a funny question, papa!" exclaimed she.