Elsie at Home

nday she and Grace, on leaving the schoolroom where they had been reciting to their father, passed out u

long as mamma does, for instance?" laughed Rose, giving and receiving an af

a's hearty rejoinder. "Do you not s

he will certainly make a most

leased smile; "and as I know you do not care to keep your errand a secret from a

counsellors there is safety.' And since he was the wisest of men we may surely consider our

ld," returned her moth

Will Croly. He has grown tired of waiting and begs to have matters hurried up somewhat: proposes that I chang

l promise not to carry you off at once after the wedding-for there could

"though I think I'd make him wait till June of next year,

her mother and her eyes f

"but perhaps I can coax Will to settle down somewhere in this neighbour

ar, if you can manage to ca

much pleased with this neighbourhood when he was here," said Rosie, adding

ith yours," added her mother gently; "for I am sure my Ros

t to take from it. I am strongly in hopes, however, that when they come to know you and al

verybody who knows Grandma Elsie, mamma, and papa-not to mention

ure you are quite right

ut now let us hear the

to be made,"

" Lulu said in a tone of mi

ost intimate friends. They alone will make quite a party, you know. I'll want some bridesmaids. You'll

at make?" returned Lulu; "sinc

t?" excla

in the world whom I could love h

use you and the right one ha

and felt just as you do now, but some years later I fo

unwilling to hurt the dear lady's feelings she refrained from expressing it, and only said with a little laugh of incre

a tone of satisfaction. "I have always counte

nnot serve-under present circumstances," r

Violet broke the silence by asking, "H

east including flower girls and maid of honour. Graci

object, as I har

uldn't it be a pretty idea to have Elsie Raymond and Uncle Horace's Els

pproved of

to settle about the material and col

at what time of year they are to be worn,"

ll, do you? And June is really the prettiest mont

ded with a slight sigh, "but October, my own

f only Will could be sat

her mother pleasantly, "or than he ought to think my Rose worth waiting for. But at all events, daugh

first, and am almost sure grandpa will

inion; and besides he is your guar

and I love him as both,

old me more than once or twice that my childre

his dear friend as well as his

ore I was born," her mother said

h younger than he, Grandma Elsie,

first, and more than twice that age before I thought of him as

o you to grow younger, did

up to him; and in the daily and intimate intercourse of those months I learned that his worth was far greater than that of any other man of

with emotion; she paused

e before into the immediate presence of the dear Master,

there w

sus'

et to part

d his two younger children. All three seemed pleased to find Rosie there, greeted

e as if assembled to discuss the affairs of the natio

what you have done twice. And perhaps, since you have had so much practice, you

have done twice?

lp me," returned Rosie

xing question as to the colour a

the ceremony is to be performed. She does not se

glancing at his two older daughters. "I can quite unders

of thi

hter I should say not June of this year-since you are both

ou talked when you wanted to rob

an Mr. Croly is now, and your sist

t is fortunate for me that the dec

queried the captain, regardin

tion. "Who would be in haste to leave such a home and mother as mine? If I cons

to do so?" he asked w

some regard for the w

that you might please them all," remarked Grace, then exclaimed, "Ah, here co

extended interview with his eldest daughter, and had now

that it take place speedily, were introduced, and after some discussion it was decided to let him have his own way. The day

on and discuss minor details, such as dress

iews on the subject. You will want your own

t have a veil and orange blossoms; also a bouquet of bride roses an

And bouquets of white

one of the bridesmaids, will you

e Rosie wishes it and I see you are pleased with the idea. A

sly, Grace adding, "But won't you please t

dulgent tone. "However, I think I should not hesitate to leave that matter to the judgment of

ways very careful to make sure that pap

py laugh, "for we know that papa loves us so dearly that he would go w

ional expense of dressing Elsie hands

miling glance at his little girl, who was turning her bright eye

t on to explain her plan for giving the

asked the captain, taking the hand of th

how to do it right, papa," she an

nd," he said; "but you shall d

andma Elsie. "We will let the matter rest till we learn wha

hing more to-day. Maud and Sydney must be consulted before we qui