"Unless it might be Captain or Edward Wells," he added with a quizzical glance at Mildred.
"The hand looks familiar," remarked Mrs. Keith carefully breaking the seal; then opening out the sheet, "Horace Dinsmore!" she exclaimed, "And he is coming to see us! Oh, what a pity that Aunt Wealthy has just missed him!"
"A pity indeed!" echoed her husband. "But he may stay with us some weeks, and perhaps take Lansdale on his way home."
"I hope he won't; won't stay here long, I mean," muttered Rupert in an aside to Mildred. "I didn't like him the other time."
"Nor I, very much, but perhaps he has improved."
"Mother, who is he?" the younger ones were asking.
"My cousin; his mother and mine were sisters."
"Were? Aren't they now?" queried Zillah.
"Yes, dear, but they both went home to heaven many years ago. My mother first—before Aunt Eva married Mr. Dinsmore and went away down south to live.