mamma returned to them received her with demonstrations of delight.

Both the captain and Violet urged Grandma Elsie to stay to tea, keeping Rosie and Walter there with her.

"We want a little visit from you, mother," added the captain; "would be very glad to have you stay all night and as much longer as you will, but our family carriage will be at your service to carry you to Ion whenever you desire to go."

Yes, mamma, do stay at least till after tea," urged Walter; "it is very pleasant here, about as pleasant as at home, and I think the change may be of benefit to you."

"So you are turning doctor, are you, Walter?" laughed Rosie. "It might be well to engage Cousin Art to superintend your studies as well as those of Harold and Herbert; though it seems to me it would be rather a mistake to put so many lads out of one family into one profession."

66

That is a question that may be considered at some other time," returned Walter, with unmoved gravity. "Mamma, you will stay, will you not?"

"Yes, since a visit here is the prescription of my little new doctor," Elsie returned with a smile; "and since the host and hostess are both so kindly urgent."

"Thank you, mamma," said Rosie. "I am well pleased with your decision, for I am just aching to question Marian as to all that has been bought to-day for the furnishing of Beechwood."

"Then suppose you and Lulu and Grace come with me to my room," proposed Marian. "I feel quite in the humor for talking, but must at the same time make myself neat for the teatable."

The invitation was promptly accepted, and Marian made her toilet with the others looking on and occasionally giving some little assist

ance.

"I suppose you bought beautiful things, Marian?" observed Rosie interrogatively.

"Oh, yes, I think so," was the reply. "Cousin Ronald was, oh, so kind! Cousin Hugh also. They both seemed to want me to have everything to suit my taste, particularly in my room; and the things we chose are very pretty, I think, though of course not nearly so expensive as the furnishings here in this room or in yours and Grace's, Lulu."

"But why shouldn't they be?" queried Lulu. Cousin Ronald seems to have plenty of money and to think everything of you."

"I really don't know how much money he has," returned Marian, "but I do know that

there is Beechwood to be paid for, besides the. ground for the factory, and the buildings that have to be put up, and I'm sure it must take heaps of money to do it all. So I am more than content to have pretty furnishings that do not cost nearly so much as what you have here."

"And I'm sure that's just the right way to feel about it," said Rosie, "though I'm not at all sure it would have occurred to me to take all that into consideration."

"Very likely it might not to me if I hadn't. had to struggle with poverty nearly all my life," said Marian.

Then she went on to give a minute and, to the listening girls, interesting description of the purchases made. The talk at the tea-table that evening was first of Beechwood and a few repairs and alterations needed there, then about the building of the factory, the engagement of workmen and women, and the markets to be found for the textile fabrics to be made by them under Hugh's direction and supervision.

Then plans for the usual summer outing in the cooler climate of the North were discussed. Grandma Elsie, Captain Raymond, and Violet were of the opinion that the start for that section should be made within a week.

"You will go with us, Cousin Ronald, will

you not?" asked Grandma Elsie, turning to him.

"I think not, cousin," he replied. "I want to be here to help my laddie with his building and the adorning of the house that's to make a home for Marian here and ourselves," smiling kindly upon his young relative as he spoke. "But I quite approve of her accompanying you, for she's been a diligent scholar, the captain tells me, and occasional rest and diversions are very good and desirable things for the young."

"No better than for the old, Cousin Ronald," returned Marian with a grateful, loving look into his eyes; "and if you don't need them I do not, I am sure. I've had a very great change of scene and life, and a long journey too, within the last few months, you know, and now there is nothing I should enjoy more than staying here and helping you to put the new home in order and place the pretty furniture we bought to-day."

Cousin Ronald and Hugh both looked much pleased with her choice.

"Ah, lassie, you appreciate your privileges," said Mr. Lilburn, "which is more than can be said of everybody."

"But everybody has not so many privileges or so great as mine," returned Marian, her eyes shining.

CHAPTER XV.

THE captain's pupils were jubilant over the prospect of soon leaving for the sea-shore at the North. Inquiries in regard to different locations had been set on foot some weeks previous, and now it was decided to take possession for the season of several dwellings in the neighborhood of Cape Ann, Mass. In one of them, which was quite large, too large to be called a cottage, the Ion and Woodburn families would be together much of the time, a little building near at hand containing the overflow when guests would render accommodations at the larger house too small.

Edward and Zoe with their little ones would remain at home for the present, that he might oversee the work on the plantation, and the Fairview family would go for a time at least to Evelyn's home on the banks of the Hudson. The families at the Oaks and the Laurels were not going North at present, but might do so later in the season.