"Well, my dear," she said laughingly, "I make no rash promises. You know I never have equalled Elsie in submissiveness."
"No; and yet you have usually shown yourself amenable to authority."
"Perhaps because it has so seldom been exerted," she saucily returned. "My dear, we have not yet had our first quarrel."
"And have lived together for thirty odd years. I think it would hardly be worth while to begin after so long a delay."
"Nor do I," she said, "therefore shall probably yield to your wishes in this matter—or commands, call them what you will; especially as they are in full accord with my own inclinations."
"Elsie," he said, turning to his daughter again, "I have taken the liberty of inviting some guests to Ion this morning."
"Liberty, papa!" she exclaimed. "It would be impossible for you to take liberties with me or mine; I consider your rights and authority in any house of mine fully equal, if not superior to my own. If the mistress of the mansion be subject to your control," she added, with a bright look up into his face, and much of the old time archness in her smile, "surely all else must be."
"Thank you, daughter; then I have not taken a liberty, but I have invited the guests all the same. You do not ask how it happened or who they are, but I proceed to explain.
"In glancing over the morning paper, while you and Rose were attiring yourselves for the drive, I saw among the items of news that Donald Keith is in our city. So I dispatched Solon with a carriage and a hastily written note, asking Donald to come out to see us, bringing with him any friend or friends he might choose."
"I am glad you did, papa; they shall have a warm welcome. But will it not make it necessary for us to return home earlier than we intended?"