CHAPTER IV.
Grandma Elsie took tea at Woodburn, but drove home to Ion directly after. Edward, her eldest son, met her in the veranda with a face full of pleasurable excitement.
“It is over, mamma,” he said; “most happily over!”
“Ah, how thankful I am!” she exclaimed. “Can I see her?”
“Yes, oh yes! She is sleeping, though, the influence of the ether having not yet passed off.”
“It is a surprise,” she said. “I should have hastened home if I had had the least idea of what was going on.”
“It was sudden and unexpected; rather quickly over, too, or you should have been sent for. Fortunately Cousin Arthur happened in just as I was about to summon him.”
“Which is it?”
“Both,” he returned, with a joyous laugh.
“Indeed! that too is a surprise. But none the less delightful.”