"Hark! What is that Cousin Ronald is saying?" exclaimed Lucilla, and
they paused in their talk to listen.

"I want you all, old and young," he said in his blithe, cordial tones,
"to come and have as good and merry a time as possible, to celebrate the
third birthday of my little namesake grandson. We talked the thing over
at the dinner table and all agreed that there could be no better way of
celebrating that most important event."

"It certainly is a delightful time of year for an outdoor party in this
region of country," remarked Mrs. Dinsmore, "and I, for one, accept the
invitation with pleasure."

"As I do," said her husband.

"And I!" "And I!" "And I!" added the others in turn.

The young girls were highly pleased: it was by no means their first
invitation to Beechwood, and they felt sure of being hospitably and well
entertained. Ella, Hugh's wife, had been mistress of the mansion before
the marriage of the old gentleman and Annis, and so continued to be,
with Annis' full consent, but there was no jarring between them; they
were congenial spirits, and enjoyed each other's society. Ella was fond
of the old gentleman, too,--the only father she had ever known,--and her
little ones, Ronald and his baby sister, were to all a strong bond of
union.

"It is to be an afternoon party, I suppose?" remarked Mrs. Dinsmore in a
tone of inquiry.