"Elsie! Papa said I might come and see how
beautiful you are!" he cried, as if resolutely mastering some strong
emotion, "but I'm not to say anything to make you cry. I'm not to hug you
hard and spoil your dress. Oh, but you do look like an angel, only
without the wings. Mr. Travilla, you'll be good, _good_ to her, won't
you?" and the voice almost broke down.
"I will, indeed, Horace; you may be sure of that. And you needn't feel as
if you are losing her, she'll be back again in a few weeks, please God."
"But not to live at home any more!" he cried impetuously. "No, no, I
wasn't to say that, I----"
"Come here and kiss me, my dear little brother," Elsie said tenderly; "and
you shall hug me, too, as hard as you like, before I go."
He was not slow to accept the invitation, and evidently had a hard
struggle with himself, to refrain from giving the forbidden hug.
"You may hug me instead, Horace, if you like," said Mr. Travilla; "you
know we're very fond of each other, and are going to be brothers now."
"Yes, that I will, for I do like you ever so much," cried the boy,
springing into the arms held out to him, and receiving and returning a
warm embrace, while the sister looked on with eyes glistening with
pleasure.
"Now, in a few minutes I'll become your brother Edward; and that's what I
want you to call me in future.
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