"I presume neither of us would consent to an
exchange of partners. Are you fond of children, Mrs. Travilla?"
"Very."
"Shall I show you mine?"
"I should like to see them, if you please."
Mrs. Balis at once led the way to the nursery, where she exhibited, with
much motherly pride and delight, her three darlings, the eldest five, the
second three years of age, the third a babe in the arms. They were
bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked children, full of life and health, but to
Elsie's taste not half so sweet and pretty as Rosebud.
Mrs. Balis next conducted her guest to her boudoir; a servant brought in
refreshments, consisting of a variety of fruits, cakes, and confections,
with wine sangaree and lemonade. After partaking of these, the ladies had
a long talk while awaiting the return of their husbands. The gentlemen
were gone much longer than had been anticipated, and I am not sure the
wives did not grow a little uneasy. At all events they left the boudoir
for the front veranda, which gave them a view of the avenue and some
hundred yards of the road beyond in the direction from which the travelers
must come. And when at length the two were descried approaching, in a more
leisurely manner than they went, there was a simultaneous and relieved
exclamation, "Oh, there they are at last.
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