"Almost a cousin! Shall we consider you quite one?" asked Mr. Dinsmore,
warmly shaking the hand held out to him in cordial greeting.
"Thank you, I shall feel highly honored," the young man answered in a
gratified tone, and with a glance of undisguised admiration and a
respectful bow directed towards Elsie. Then turning with an almost
reverential air and deeper bow to Mrs. Travilla, "And, madam, may I have
the privilege of placing you alongside of my dear old aunt, and addressing
you by the same title?"
"You may, indeed," was the smiling rejoinder. "And my son here, I suppose,
will take his place with the others as cousin. No doubt we are all
related, if we could only go back far enough in tracing out our
genealogies."
"To Father Adam, for instance," remarked Mr. Travilla, laughingly.
"Or good old Noah, or even his son Japheth," rejoined Harry, leading the
way to a family carriage sufficiently roomy to hold them all comfortably.
"Your checks, if you please, aunt and cousins; and Simon here will attend
to your luggage. Servants' also."
Elsie turned her head to see a young colored man, bowing, scraping, and
grinning from ear to ear, in whom she perceived a faint resemblance to the
lad Simon of four years ago.
"You hain't forgot me, miss?" he said.
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