But do tell me who is the fortunate man?"
"Suppose you try your skill at guessing."
"Perfectly useless, never had any. It must be somebody I don't know."
"My good little woman, you know him well."
"Either of Harry's brothers-in-law? Richard? Harold?"
"No, no, no; you are wide of the mark! Could you suppose papa would ever
consent to such a mixture of relationships? Why, it would make papa my
brother and mamma's brother her son-in-law."
"So it would. Well, I give it up and beg of you to put a speedy end to my
suspense."
Lucy bent her head to listen, and Elsie murmured the name low and softly,
the rose deepening on her cheek as she spoke. For a moment Lucy seemed
struck dumb with astonishment. Then, "Elsie!" she exclaimed, "I can't
believe it; you are only jesting."
Elsie shook her head with a low, musical, happy laugh.
"He's splendid, I don't deny that; but then--only think--your father's
most intimate friend from boyhood up; and almost as old."
"Some people seem like wine--to improve with age. But Mr. Travilla is not
old to me now. He has been standing still, I believe, while I have grown
up to him."
"And you really are in love with him?"
"He has all my heart, all the love I could give to any one, and I respect,
honor, and trust him as I do no one else but my father.
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