“Didn’t I put my veto on that?” queried her husband.
“Yes, and yet I venture to assert that you are every whit as curious as I to know what it all meant. Cousin Horace, you are called upon to explain.”
“Will you do me a favor?”
“Gladly, if it is in my power.”
“There, children, you see it’s all settled with a word.”
“What’s settled?” asked Mildred.
“That Annis shall have, or rather already has, your consent to her acceptance of a little present from Elsie. I shall explain further anon.”
After breakfast and prayers, Mildred was taken to the sewing-room and shown the intended gift, while the desired explanation was made.
She was not so proud in her wealth as she had been in her poverty, and gracefully accepted for Annis, though she perceived that the present was by no means the trifle Mr. Dinsmore had represented it.
“I had intended to give Annis her dress,” she said, “but I doubt if I could find anywhere such exquisitely fine mull or lace so beautiful and costly as this, and I think it will be very nice to have the dresses alike. This lace is superb!” examining it more closely. “You are making Annis a most generous gift, Cousin Horace,” she added, looking up with cordial affection into his handsome, kindly face, as he stood by her side, “and I thank you and dear Elsie, a thousand times.”