Elsie was not sorry that at that moment a summons came for her from her father.
She obeyed at once, Annis and Lora accompanying her to the drawing-room, where they found she was wanted to play and sing; some of the stranger guests having expressed a desire to hear her.
It was always a trial to her to play before strangers, but she sat down to the piano, in obedience to her father’s direction, without hesitation or excuse, and acquitted herself to his entire satisfaction and apparently to that of all the guests.
She did not leave the drawing-room again, or have any more talk with Enna, until it was time to prepare for the ride home.
It seemed lonely to go back without the cousins, and especially to leave Annis behind. But as compensation she had her father and mother all to herself for the whole evening, and was allowed to sit longer than usual in her favorite seat upon his knee.
Annis was there again the next morning in good season to prepare her lessons for the day, and the two met as joyfully as if the separation had been for weeks.
After their recitations Annis had to have her new dress fitted, then to take her riding lesson, before returning to Roselands.
Elsie saw her off, then went to her papa’s study, where he was busily writing. She knew she was welcome there if she did nothing to disturb him, so took a book and seated herself on the farther side of the room.
Mr. Dinsmore was still at his writing-desk when a servant came in with a visiting-card which he handed to his master, saying he had shown the gentleman into the parlor.
“It is a business call,” Mr. Dinsmore said, glancing at the card. “Just show him in here, John.”