Elsie at Ion Read online

  CHAPTER IX.

  “MOTHER dear,” Harold said, as he kissed her good-night on that firstevening at home after their return from Princeton, “Herbert and I aredecidedly hungry for one of the good old talks with you; but you aretoo weary to-night. May we come to you early in the morning for thedear old half-hour of Bible study and private talk before breakfast?”

  “I shall be very glad to have you do so, my dear boys,” she replied,regarding them with eyes beaming with mother love and pride. “I havebeen looking forward with longing for the confidential talks with myboys which have always been so sweet to me; especially in regard toyour plans for future usefulness as workers in the Master’s vineyard.”

  “Yes, mamma, that is one of the principal matters about which we wishto consult you—our best, dearest, wisest earthly friend,” said Herbert,lifting her hand to his lips; “for who so wise, so loving, or sodesirous to help each of us to use time and talents in a way to makethem most helpful in the Master’s service?”

  “I cannot lay claim to any great amount of wisdom, my dear boys,” Mrs.Travilla returned with a smile, “but am certain no one can love youbetter or feel a greater desire than I to see you earnest, efficientworkers for Christ. I want very much to talk over with you your plansfor the future, and think there could be no better time for doingso than that early morning hour when we shall be more secure frominterruption than at almost any other. Now good-night, and may you restsweetly and peacefully on this first night at home after your longabsence.”

  “May you also, dear mother, precious little mother,” said Harold,passing an arm about her waist, and smiling down with ardent affectioninto her still fair, sweet face. “I remember that I used to look up atyour beautiful face, regarding you as a protector, but I feel that nowI am yours—old enough and strong enough to defend you should any be sobase as to attempt to do you harm.”

  “Ah, my dear boy, fortunately no one has, I think, any such desire,”she said, returning his smile; “yet it is very pleasant to feel thatI have so many strong young arms to support and shield me. ’Twas verypleasant in former years to be the protector of my little ones, and itis not less pleasant now to find them so ready to return my love andcare. But now go to your beds, for you need rest and sleep to keep youin condition for the arduous duty of which we have just been speaking,”she added with playful look and tone.

  “How early can we come without disturbing you, mother mine?” askedHerbert, snatching another kiss as Harold released her from his arms.

  “At seven, if that is not too early,” she replied. “Rosie and Walterare usually with me about half-past seven, and the breakfast-hour iseight.”

  They were at her dressing-room door the next morning exactly at thehour named, and found her ready to receive them. A pleasant chatfollowed, the lads telling her freely of their plans and desires inregard to their life-work; for diligent workers they intended to be.Harold still clung to his early choice of the medical profession, andHerbert, as devotedly attached to him as ever, and thinking he wouldnot prefer any other employment, had decided to study medicine alsounless his mother should, disapprove.

  “No,” she said when he asked the question, “I shall be glad to haveyou together; so unless you, Herbert, have a stronger inclination forsome other employment I shall be more than satisfied to see you aphysician; always provided you are a good one,” she added playfully.“Is it your wish, my sons, to return shortly to Philadelphia and pursueyour medical studies there?”

  “Not immediately, mother,” Harold replied. “We were talking the matterover with Cousin Arthur last night, and he being willing to undertakethe business of instructing us, our plan is to stay at home with youfor some time, studying with him. That is, if you are satisfied to haveus do so.”

  “Ah, I am much more than satisfied—most glad and thankful at thethought of again enjoying daily intercourse with these two dear sonswho have been so long away from me during the greater part of the year.But just now you both need rest and recreation. You must have an outingsomewhere for the next month or two, and I shall be glad to have you gowith me to sea-shore or mountains—or both—and hope to bring you backrefreshed and invigorated for your studies and such work for the Masteras you may find in this neighborhood.”

  “Thank you, mother dear,” returned Harold; “you have made out aprogramme that seems most inviting. I for one feel that rest andrecreation for a time will be very enjoyable, and work afterward muchmore so than it could be at present.”

  “I also,” said Herbert; “and it is certainly right to take rest whenneeded; for the Master himself said to his disciples, when they wereweary, ‘Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile.’”

  “Yes,” assented his mother, “and we shall accomplish more in the end bytaking needed rest; yet,” with a smiling glance at Herbert, “we must beon our guard against too much self-indulgence in that line.”

  The young man colored and was silent for a moment, his face wearing aslightly mortified expression. “Mother dear,” he said presently, “Ihope I have, in a measure at least, overcome my natural inclination toindolence.”

  “My dear boy, I hope and believe so,” she said in return, “else youcould hardly have passed so good an examination as you did.”

  “Indeed, mother, he has been really a hard student,” Harold said, “andI think will undoubtedly show himself such when we begin our course ofmedicine.”

  “I believe he will,” she responded with a loving smile into Herbert’sface and laying a hand tenderly upon his. “I hope to see you botheminent in your chosen profession and doing good to the bodies andsouls of your fellow-men. I think there are few more useful men in theworld than our cousin Arthur Conly, and few who are more loved andrespected than he; we all love him and have great confidence in hisskill.”

  “I have respected and loved him ever since I can remember,” remarkedHerbert feelingly, “and can never cease to feel grateful to him asGod’s instrument in the saving of my mother’s life.”

  “Yes,” she said, “I can never forget his kindness at that critical timein my life, and I believe we have all loved him even better since thatthan before.”

  “I think you are right about that, mother; I know you are so far as Iam concerned,” Harold said, tears starting to his eyes. “Ah, when weheard of the danger and suffering you had passed through, we both feltthat life without our mother would scarcely be a blessing.”

  Just then Rosie and Walter came in looking bright and happy.

  “Ah, mamma, it is so delightful to have you at home again!” exclaimedthe former.

  “We missed you sadly, kind as everybody was to us,” added Walter,putting his arm round her neck and gazing with ardent affection intoher eyes, then kissing her on cheek and lips.

  “I suppose it was a little hard for my baby boy to do without hismother,” she returned laughingly, holding him in a close embrace.

  “Ah, mamma, I can take that name from you easily enough, because I knowit is only your pet name for your youngest son, but I’d be vexed enoughif anybody else should call me a baby.”

  “You might well laugh at the absurdity if any one should, Walter,”Harold remarked, regarding his little brother with an affectionate lookand smile, “for you are really a manly young fellow. I expect to bevery proud of you one of these days.”

  “And I am that already,” said Herbert, “for the captain tells me youare a fine scholar for a lad of your years. Besides, I know you are agood and dutiful son to mamma.”

  “Indeed he is that, as all my boys are,” the mother said, regarding thethree with loving looks.

  “And can you not say as much for your daughters too, mamma—at least forElsie and Vi?” asked Rosie in playful tone, but with a wistful look.

  “I can indeed, for them and for Rosie also,” the mother answered,smiling affectionately upon her. “My daughters are all great blessingsfor which I thank my heavenly Father every day of my life. But now letus have our morning chapter together,” op
ening her Bible as she spoke.

  The morning was bright and fair, and it was a cheerful, bright-facedparty that presently surrounded the breakfast-table.

  “Saturday morning, so only two hours for lessons to-day,” remarkedWalter in a tone of satisfaction, breaking a slight pause in theconversation.

  “What! my scholarly little grandson rejoicing in release from thepursuit of knowledge?” exclaimed Mr. Dinsmore in mock surprise anddisapproval.

  “Ah, grandpa, you are just in sport, I know,” laughed Walter. “Butdon’t you believe these older fellows, Mr. Croly and my two brothers,are glad of their holiday? I just know they are.”

  “Judging others by yourself, after the manner of older people, eh?”

  “Yes, sir; and I’d like to know what’s going to be done to-day.”

  “Well, I believe I can inform you. Everybody who wants to go, and hasbeen faithful in attendance to preliminary duties, will spend the day,by invitation, at the Oaks; Rosie’s day and yours beginning when yourtwo hours of school duties are over.”

  “Oh, I like that! I’m glad, Cousin Mary, that you are to see the place,it is so lovely there, and was mamma’s home when she was a little girland when she grew to be a young lady; and there are the rooms that usedto be hers, and the one she was married in.”

  “I shall be greatly interested in looking at them all, as well as gladto visit Cousin Horace and his family,” returned Miss Keith.

  “I believe we are all invited?” Edward remarked interrogatively,turning to his wife.

  “Yes, my dear,” Zoe replied, “even to the babies, who, I hope, willhave a good time together in the nursery or out in the grounds.”

  “Yes,” said Rosie, “Sisters Elsie and Violet were talking of going withall the children and young folks of each family. Aunt Rosie too expectsto be there with her husband and all the children. The Howards aregoing also, the Conlys too; so that we shall be the same large partythat were here yesterday.”

  “And next week,” said Zoe, “we are all to assemble at Woodburn one day,at the Laurels on another, then at Fairview, and afterward at Roseland.”

  “What a grand time we shall have!” continued Rosie; “and how cananybody be expected to give his or her mind to lessons? I have seriousthoughts of petitioning my big brother—the captain—for a week ofholidays.”

  “How would it do to beg off from attendance upon the parties in orderto do justice to your studies?” asked her grandfather in the tone ofone suggesting an agreeable alternative.

  “O grandpa, I couldn’t think of being so very impolite,” she exclaimed.“Surely you must know that my absence would spoil all the fun andseriously interfere with any enjoyment others might find in being thereif I were with them!”

  “But then we ought, any of us, to be willing to forego our ownenjoyment for the sake of your improvement in your beloved studies,Rosie dear,” said Herbert in tones of brotherly affection.

  “Ah, but I could not think of allowing such self-denial for my sake!”she exclaimed. “I should even prefer rising an hour earlier in themorning, or toiling over my tasks an hour later at night; and that iswhat I think I shall do, if the captain proves obdurate in regard tothe granting of the holidays.”

  “Which he will if I’m not greatly mistaken,” said Walter. “He said wewere to go on with our studies till the time for our usual summer tripup North, and he’s a man to stick to his word if there ever was one.”

  “Quite a strong recommendation, Walter,” laughed Mrs. Dinsmore, “and Ireally think the captain is deserving of it.”

  “The captain is a very agreeable man to have a chat with,” remarkedCroly. “I have seldom been more interested than I was yesterday in alittle talk I had with him in regard to mining interests in the farWest.”

  “Yes; he owns property out there in which there are mines of greatvalue,” said Harold.

  “Ah? I was not aware of that fact, and he did not mention it,” returnedCroly; “but in reply to a remark of mine, that I had been paying someattention to mineralogy and thought of going out to examine someland father owns in Arizona, he gave me a good deal of interestinginformation, such as I have not been able to find in any publication onthe subject that I have got hold of as yet.”

  “And should you question him on naval matters, or the history of ourwars—or indeed history of any part of the world, I believe he couldfurnish all the information you might happen to want,” said Herbert.

  “Yes,” said Walter, “it’s my decided belief that Brother Levis knowsabout as much on almost every subject as you could find in any of thecyclopædias.”

  “That’s very strong, Walter,” laughed Edward. “The captain is, withoutdoubt, a highly educated, intelligent, and well-read man, yet hardlya walking cyclopædia; a compliment at which no one would laugh moreheartily than himself, for he hasn’t a particle of self-conceit in hismake-up.”

  “Now you are complimenting him very highly, Ned,” said Mr. Dinsmore,“yet are not saying more than he deserves. I know of no man for whom Ihave a higher esteem than Captain Raymond.”

  “And I can echo my father’s sentiments. He is a noble Christian man,the best of husbands and fathers,” said Mrs. Travilla. “I know of noman with whom I could feel better satisfied as the husband of one of mydaughters. Evidently he makes Violet very happy.”

  “And his children from the oldest to the youngest fairly idolize him,”remarked Zoe.

  “And you do not object to him as a brother-in-law?” said Rosieinterrogatively.

  “On the contrary I like him extremely in that capacity,” was the quick,emphatic rejoinder.

  “Mamma,” said Rosie insinuatingly, “Captain Raymond thinks a great dealof you, and as you are his mother, he ought to do as you say; mostassuredly in regard to his treatment of your own children. Won’t youplease send him word this morning that we ought to be allowed a holidaynext week? Do now; there’s a good, kind mamma.”

  “Would you have me say what I do not think, Rosie dear?” queried hermother in return, and with an amused look into the bright eyes of heryoungest daughter.

  “Ah, mamma, how can you be so severe?” exclaimed Rosie. “Just think howtrying to Walter and me to have to set off for lessons at Woodburn notonly to-day, but every day next week, when you have only been with usfor a day now since your return from your trip to the North.”

  “For that very reason you and I ought to go willingly and withoutany fuss,” interposed Walter, with manly decision of air and tone.“Besides, as I said before, I know it would be perfectly useless to tryto get Brother Levis to change his mind about the matter.”

  “Then, my wise younger brother, I’ll not petition for your release fromto-day’s tasks, or those of next week,” said Rosie.

  “Oh, has anything been seen of last night’s burglar?” asked Croly,breaking the slight pause following upon Rosie’s last remark.

  “I have heard nothing of him,” replied Edward, “and indeed hadforgotten his existence until you spoke, Mr. Croly.”

  “And poor Polly. Has she been seen?” inquired Mary Keith.

  The answer was in the negative; no one had seen or heard of her.

  “Ah well, then I suppose she must have found her way back to Woodburn,”said Mary.

  “By the way, Cousin Mary, how would you like to drive over there thismorning?” asked Edward. “They will hardly expect us at the Oaks beforeeleven o’clock, and Woodburn lies but little out of our way in going.”

  “But,” returned Miss Keith, “we might perhaps hinder Cousin Vi in herpreparations for the day’s outing.”

  “I am going to drive you over and call for Vi and the little ones onthe way,” said Grandma Elsie. “I think we shall find her ready to go onwith us after we have had a little call, just for you to see the place.Then the captain will come somewhat later with his children and mine.”

  “And how is Cousin Ronald to get there, mamma?” asked Walter.

  “Probably in the captain’s carriage, or on one of his horses,” she
replied; “the dear old gentleman can go when and how he likes. All suchquestions were not settled last night, but I know there will be nodifficulty in his way, or that of any other invited guest, in gettingthere comfortably and in good season.”

  “I’m glad of that, mamma,” returned Walter; “I’m very fond of CousinRonald and wouldn’t have him stay away for anything.”

  At that remark several furtive, smiling glances were exchanged by thebrothers and sisters about the table.

  “He is a very pleasant old gentleman,” said Mrs. Dinsmore, “and Ihaven’t a doubt will add a great deal to the enjoyment of the company.”

  “Yes, madam,” said Croly. “I saw comparatively little of him yesterday,but quite enough to make me desire a further acquaintance.”

  “Oh, by the way Will, shall we walk, ride, or drive over to the Oaksto-day?” asked Harold.

  “I am ready for any way that suits you, sir,” replied Croly.

  “Well,” said Mr. Dinsmore, “I see every one is ready to leave thetable. We will have prayers at once, and afterward settle all suchquestions in regard to the doings of the day.”