“I, too,” exclaimed Blanche. “Oh, it would be lovely! better than going to the Eastern States, if we cannot do both.”
“Oh, we can do both,” said Stuart, “if we do not stay too long at any one place.”
“Yes, of course, we do not expect ever to have another honeymoon,” laughed Percy. “If nobody objects, I’ll write at once to Aunt Wealthy that we hope and expect to accept her invitation.” A moment of silence, then Blanche said:
“I think you are safe in doing so, as we have all expressed a desire to make the visit.”
“Yes; then I’ll write to-night,” said Percy. “Oh, by the way, I received a letter from Cousin Horace Dinsmore, junior—who is about my own age—accepting an invitation I sent him the other day to be one of our groomsmen.”
“I am pleased to hear it,” said Ethel. “Having heard a great deal about the family I have wanted very much to see them.”
“Which I intend you shall one of these days, if I have to take you all the way down there,” laughed Percy.
“Possibly you maybe able to induce them to pay us a visit this coming summer or fall,” said Stuart. “I own to a strong desire to see them myself; so many years having passed since there was an exchange of visits that I have no recollection of any of the family.”
“I should think not,” laughed Percy; “for if I am not mistaken none of them have visited our part of the country since you were born. I was taken down there in my babyhood, but, of course, have no recollection of the circumstances, or of the relatives I saw there. But we have heard so much talk about them, and read so many of their letters, that it almost seems as if we had seen and known them.”
“Yes, I believe you are right,” Stuart said musingly. “I shall be pleased to make the acquaintance of Horace, junior, so am very glad he is coming. It brings up the number of our groomsmen to six—Horace, Harry Eldon, Stuart Landreth, and the three cousins of the brides—George, William, and Albert.”