CHAPTER II.
Immediately on leaving the table, they all--entertainers andentertained--set out on the short drive to Sunnyside, where, onarriving, they found their relatives and friends from Beechwood and theOaks waiting to offer their congratulations and wish them happiness andprosperity in their married life.
Being all acquaintances and friends of so long standing, theywere shown over the whole house by the happy owners, and cordialcongratulations were freely bestowed.
"In view of the comforts, conveniences and beauties of theestablishment, I should like to see Chester and offer mycongratulations on his success in winning a lovely wife, and having sodelightful a home to share with her," remarked Mrs. Horace Dinsmore, asshe was about leaving. "But I can't stay longer if I am to make duepreparation for attending the party at Woodburn to-night," she added.
"And you wouldn't miss that for something, would you?" laughed Mrs.Hugh Lilburn. "I am sure I wouldn't."
"No; for I daresay we will have a delightful time. I know no betterentertainers than the Captain and Vi."
"Nor do I," said Mrs. Leland; "and this being so extra an occasion theywill doubtless do their best."
"I think they will, and I hope no invited guest will stay away or bedisappointed," said Grace, with a merry look and smile.
"No danger of either calamity, Gracie," said Mrs. Dinsmore. "Ah,there's our carriage at the door," and with a hasty good-bye and acordial invitation to all present to make frequent visits at the Oaks,she and her husband and daughter departed.
The Beechwood friends lingered a little longer, as did those fromFairview and Woodburn. But at length Grace said she thought it time togo home for, of course, there were some matters she ought to attend toin preparation for the evening.
"Shall I send you in the carriage?" asked Lucilla.
"Oh, no, thank you, sister dear; the short walk will be good for me,"returned Grace gaily, "for Elsie, too, I think, and for Ned; though he,I suppose, will prefer to ride his pony."
"Yes, of course I will," said Ned. "He needs to be taken home, anyway."
They made their adieus and passed out on the veranda.
A servant brought the pony up, and Ned was about to mount when thelittle steed remarked, "I think a young gentleman might feel ashamed toride while his lady sisters must go afoot."
"You do!" exclaimed Ned, drawing back with a look of mingled surpriseand chagrin. "Well, they said they wanted to walk--preferred it toriding; and--and besides they couldn't both ride on your back at once."
"Two do ride the same horse at once sometimes," seemed to come verydistinctly from the pony's lips.
"Who is making you talk, I wonder?" cried Ned, turning to look abouthim. "Oh, Brother Max, it was you, wasn't it?" as he caught sight ofhis brother and sisters standing near.
"What was?" asked Max quietly.
"The person making the pony talk. I almost thought for a minute itreally was the pony; though, of course, ponies can't talk. And I didn'tmean to be selfish. Gracie won't you ride him home? Elsie and I canwalk just as well as not."
"Yes, of course we can; it's a very short and very pleasant walk,"returned Elsie, with prompt cheerfulness. "So Gracie dear, you ride thepony."
"Thank you both," said Grace, "but I really prefer to walk, as I havehad very little exercise to-day."
"There, you silly little pony, see what a mistake you made!" cried Nedgleefully, as he mounted his steed.
"Well, little master, didn't you make a mistake, too?" the pony seemedto ask.
"Oh, Brother Max, I know it's you, so only good fun," laughed Ned."Good-bye all. I'll get home first and tell papa and mamma you arecoming, Gracie and Elsie."
With the last words, he galloped down the avenue, leaving Max and hissisters standing on the veranda looking after him.
"Doesn't he ride well?" exclaimed Grace, in a tone that spoke muchsisterly pride and affection. The others gave a hearty assent, Maxadding, "He is a dear little, bright little chap. I am decidedly proudof my only brother."
"As I am of my little one; but still more so of my older one," saidLucilla. "But I must go back to my remaining guests. Good-bye, my twodear sisters. I shall expect and hope to see you both over here everyday."
"It is very likely you will see us here at least that often," laughedGrace, "and we will expect an honest return of each and every visit."
"We'll get it, too," cried Elsie; "Lu could never stay away a whole dayfrom papa."
"It would certainly take very strong compulsion to make me do so," saidLucilla. "Good-bye again. I hope to see you both in my old home a fewhours hence, and here some time to-morrow."
With that she passed into the house while her sisters hastened away inthe direction of Woodburn.
"It will soon be time to send the carriage for Chester," said Max,accompanying her, "Suppose I give the order now."
"Yes, do," she replied, "I'd like to have him here as soon as possible;and if he should not be quite ready, Jack and the carriage can be keptwaiting."
"Certainly. I'll go and give the order, then rejoin you and our guestsin the drawing-room."
As Max stepped out upon the veranda again two carriages came drivingup the avenue--one bringing Mr. and Mrs. Lacey from the Laurels, theother Mr. and Mrs. Croly from Riverside.
"Oh, Max, how glad I am to see you again!" exclaimed Rosie, as heassisted her to alight. "It seems an age since you went away, and youhave been exposed to such perils I hope I shall have a chance to hearthe story of your experiences in that fight at Manila. Such a chance asI couldn't get at any of the late parties."
"Thank you, I hope we will have time and opportunity for a number oftalks," he replied, releasing the hand she had put into his and turningto greet Mrs. Lacey, whom he addressed as Aunt Rose, and whose greetingwas quite as cordial as her niece's had been.
"You have the Fairview and Beechwood folks here now I see," remarkedMrs. Croly, glancing toward their waiting vehicles.
"Yes; walk in and let us have you all together," returned Max. "Wewill make a small party in anticipation of the large one to be held atWoodburn some hours hence."
"Yes," assented Rosie, "we are all relatives and friends, and I for onecan never see too much of Sister Elsie or Cousin Ronald, to speak ofonly one of each family."
Hearty greetings were exchanged, a short time spent in cheerful chat,then one set of visitors after another took their departure till atlength Max, Evelyn and Lucilla were left alone, though looking almostmomentarily for Chester's homecoming.
"It has probably been a hard day with him. I fear he will be too wearyfor much enjoyment to-night," sighed Lucilla.
"I hope not," said Max. "The meeting with so many relatives and friendswill probably be restful. Ah, there's the carriage now, just coming upthe driveway."
It brought Chester, and he showed himself to be in excellent spirits,though somewhat weary with the labors of the day. He reported thatall seemed to be going right with the business in hand, and he hadlittle doubt that he should gain his hoped-for reward. His audience ofthree listened with keen interest to all he had to say. When he hadfinished Eva rose saying, "I must go now and attend to housekeepingmatters so that Max and I may be ready in good season for our Woodburnfestivities."
"Stay, Eva," said Lucilla, "I have ordered an early light tea for thefour of us. We wont want a very hearty meal to spoil our appetites forthe refreshments to be served at Woodburn."
"No, certainly not; it is very kind in you to provide for us as well asfor yourselves," returned Evelyn; Max adding, "It is, indeed, sistermine."
"Well, really," laughed Lucilla, "it was for my own pleasure quite asmuch as for yours." And tears came into the eyes gazing with sisterlyaffection into those of Max. "I want to entertain you while I can,"she added, "for there is no knowing when Uncle Sam may be ordering youquite out of reach."
"Oh, don't let us talk of that!" exclaimed Eva. "Let us banish it fromour thoughts for the present."
"That is good advice," said Max, his voice a t
rifle husky; "it's whatI'm trying to do for the present; for however much a man may love theservice--a little wife such as mine must be far nearer and dearer."
"Yes," said Chester; "if you had only chosen the law, we might now bepartners in my office, as well as in this house."
"And I perhaps might ruin the business by my stupidity," returned Max,with playful look and tone.
"Hark! there's the tea-bell," said Lucilla. "I invite you all out tothe dining-room."
After a pleasant social half hour spent at the tea-table, each coupleretired to their own apartments to dress for the evening entertainmentat Woodburn.
"This is one of the occasions for the wearing of the wedding-gown,is it not?" Max said inquiringly to Evelyn, as they passed into herdressing-room.
"Yes," she said lightly. "You will not mind seeing me in it for thesecond time, will you?"
"I shall be very glad to. It is both beautiful and becoming," hereturned, with a fond look and smile. "Ah, my Eva, I think no one everhad a sweeter bride than mine," he added, passing his arm about her anddrawing her into a close embrace.
"They say love is blind and it must be that which makes me look solovely in your eyes; for my features are by no means so good andregular as those of some others--your sisters Lu and Grace, forinstance," returned Evelyn, with a pleased little laugh.
"Those sisters of mine are both beautiful in my eyes, but there issomething--to me--still sweeter in this dear face," he answered tothat, giving her a fond caress as he spoke.
"And your love is so sweet to me, I am so glad to belong to you," shereturned low and feelingly, laying her head on his breast while gladtears shone in her eyes. "I have only one cause for grief left," shewent on presently--"that we cannot live together all the time, as Luand Chester may; yet spite of that I would not change with her oranybody else."
"I hope not, darling," he said, laughingly. "Nor would I any more thanyou. I think we were made for each other."
"So do I; and when compelled to part for a season we will consoleourselves by looking forward to the joy of the reunion."
"So we will, dear one; and in the meantime we will have the pleasure ofcorrespondence."
"Yes, indeed! a letter from my husband will be a great treasure anddelight to me."
"Not more than will be one from my wife to me," he returned, giving hera gleeful caress.
Meantime, Chester and his Lucilla were similarly engaged. Chester wasvery proud and fond of his bride and anxious to show her to neighboursand friends in her wedding dress; so expressed his satisfaction when hesaw it laid out in readiness for the occasion.
"I am glad it pleases you," said Lucilla, "and I own to liking it rightwell myself. Eva is going to wear hers, too. So it will seem somethinglike a repetition of our wedding day."
"Which makes it very suitable for your father's house. It was adisappointment to him, I know, not to have his daughter and son marriedin his own house."
"Yes, I suppose so; but dear father is so unselfish that he preferredto let us have our own way, especially on Eva's account."
"I know it, and mean to try to copy his example in that--seeking toplease others rather than myself."
"As I do; I should like to resemble him in character and conduct asmuch as some persons tell me I do in features and expression."
"Yes; you are very like him in both," Chester said, with anaffectionate and admiring look and smile; "in character and conductalso, if your admiring husband be any judge."
The Sunnyside couples were the first of the guests to reachWoodburn--though, in fact, they hardly considered themselves guests,or were deemed such by the family there; it was but going home to theirfather's house, where they had an hour of keen enjoyment before otherrelatives and guests began to arrive.
Everything went smoothly; the company was made up of congenial spirits,the entertainment was fine and evidently enjoyed, and when they badegood-night and scattered to their homes it was with the expectationof meeting again the next evening at Fairview. The Dinsmores of theOaks had planned to give the second entertainment, but Mr. and Mrs.Leland claimed it as their right, because of their near relationship toEvelyn, and the fact that Fairview had been her home for so many years.
They were now nearing the end of the week; this was Thursday, theFairview party would be held on Friday evening and Saturday allpreferred to spend quietly in their own homes or with the nearest anddearest. And that was the plan carried out. The Fairview party passedoff as successfully as had the Woodburn one, and Saturday and Sundaybrought a rest from festivities which was welcome to all.