"Two hours," she answered, holding up her watch, "and there is the
tea-bell."




CHAPTER XVIII.

What thou bidst,
Unargued I obey; so God ordained.

--MILTON.


"I hope you don't intend to hurry this child away from me, Horace?"
remarked Miss Stanhope inquiringly, glancing from him to Elsie, as she
poured out the tea.

"I'm afraid I must, Aunt Wealthy," he answered, taking his cup from
her hand, "I can't do without her any longer, and mamma and little
brother want her almost as badly."

"And what am I to do?" cried Miss Stanhope, setting down the teapot,
and dropping her hands into her lap. "It just makes a baby of me to
think how lonely the old house will seem when she's gone. You'd get
her back soon, for 'tisn't likely I've got long to live, if you'd only
give her to me, Horace."

"No, indeed, Aunt Wealthy; she's a treasure I can't spare to any