Her companions both laughed, but Elizabeth said seriously, "When you know Tom better, you cannot help respecting him; he is my one relative, and I love him dearly."
"Of course," said Elsie, "and I mean to be his cousin, too; but it is my cousinly privilege to laugh at him."
"Perhaps he will not be content with a cousinly regard," said Mrs. Harrington, mysteriously.
Elizabeth glanced quickly at Elsie, with a little trouble in her face, but the girl laughed, and replied—
"Oh yes, he will; Bessie is his ideal—he will never think of poor little me."
"Family affection is so sweet!" added Mrs. Harrington. Elsie made a grimace, and hastened to change the conversation, for there was nothing she dreaded so much as the widow's attempt at romance and sentiment.
CHAPTER III.
A FRIGHT AND A RESCUE.
For some time the ladies rode on in silence. Then Elsie broke into a fit of ecstasy over the horses.