And as Laura emerged from the room she was caught in the arms of her brother Alden.
"My darling sister, I am so delighted to see you!" said the young man, kissing her joyously.
"So am I to see you, Alden, dear. But why didn't you accept Mrs. Cavendish's invitation to come and join our Easter party at Blue Cliffs?" inquired Laura.
"My dear, because I thought my duty called me here," gravely replied Alden.
"But for a day or two you might have joined us," persisted Laura.
"No," said Alden. Then turning toward his red-headed fishing comrade he said: "Here's Cousin Charley waiting to welcome you, Laura."
And Charley Lytton, blushing and stammering, held out his hand and said:
"How do you do? I am very glad to see you."
"And now come to dinner," said Aunt Kitty, opening the dining-room door.
They all went in and sat down to as fine a dinner as was ever served in Blue Cliff Hall, or even at the Government House, although this was laid on a rough pine table, covered with a coarse, though clean linen table-cloth, and in a room where the walls were whitewashed and the floors were bare.