d.

After their reception they take a short tour, and return to Westbrook,
where Mr. Wilmarth has engaged his house. Marcia has a house-furnishing
craze, and goes to and fro in her pony carriage, ordering with the
consequence of a duchess. Mrs. Latimer comes up to the cottage and gets
settled, quite charming Denise by her delightful ways. Madame seems in
no especial haste, but she promises, after some solicitation from
Floyd, to spend a few days with them and give her advice about the
_fete_ that is to introduce his wife into society, as well as to
celebrate her birthday. It is quite time that Violet was known to the
world as the mistress of the house and his wife. He is oddly interested
in her dress and all her belongings, and her delight is exquisite to
witness.

CHAPTER XXI.

Life is but thought, so think I will,
That youth and I are housemates still.

COLERIDGE.

Violet had imagined the place when Laura's reception was given, but
this sight far exceeds her wildest dreams. The moon is nearly at its
full, and the lawn lies in a sheet of silver light, while the lamps
throw out long rays of color. Roses are everywhere, it is their
blossoming time. All the air is sweet and throbs with music that stirs
her pulses like some rare enchantment. The odorous evergreens are rich
in new and fragrant growth, the velvet turf gives out a perfume to the
night air and looks like emerald in the moonlight. Beds of flowers are
cut in it here and there, a few clumps of shrubbery, the pretty
summer-houses, the sloping terrace, and the river surging with an
indolent monotone, make a rarely beautiful picture. The columns
upholding the porch roof are wreathed with vines, but the spaces
between are clear. The low windows are all open, and it is fairyland
without and within. Floyd Grandon paces up and down, with John Latimer
at his side, while the band around on the other side are in the discord
of tuning up.

"Upon my word, Grandon, you _are_ to be envied," says Latimer. "I am
not sure we have done a wise thing coming up here this summer. The fuss
and pomp of fashion rarely move me to any jealous state of mind, but I
am afraid this will awaken absolute covetousness."

Grandon gives a genial, wholesome laugh, and he almost believes he is
to be envied, in spite of the perplexities not yet at an end. He is
proud of his lovely home, he has a beautiful child and a sweet wife,
and if she does not charm the