"All doing their best to fill him with conceit," he said, returning
the smile, but with a warning shake of the head. "Where are Elsie and
Ned?" he asked, adding, "It is about time we were returning home—to
Viamede."
"Yes," said Violet, "we must hunt them up at once."
"I will find them, papa and mamma," Grace answered, hastening from the room.
The children were playing games on the lawn, but all ceased and came running to Grace as she stepped out upon the veranda and called in musical tones to her little sister and brother.
"What is it?" they asked as they drew near, "time to go home?"
"Yes; so papa and mamma think; and we must always do what they say, you know."
"Yes, indeed!" answered Elsie, "and it's just a pleasure because they always know best and are so kind and love us so dearly."
"We've been having an elegant time and it's just lovely here at Torriswood," said little Elsie Embury, "but as it is Uncle Dick's place we can come here often; and besides Viamede is quite as pretty, and we are to go there for the rest of the day."
"Oh, yes! aren't you glad?" responded several other young voices.
The carriages which had brought them were now seen to be in preparation to convey them to that desired destination, and presently one after another received its quota and departed.