Mr. Travilla had a kindly, hearty hand-shake, and gentle sympathizing
words for him, then presented Vi and Baby Harold.
Meanwhile the greetings were being exchanged by the others. Lora met her
brother, and both Rose and Elsie, with the warm affection of earlier days,
mingled with grief for the losses and sorrows that had befallen since they
parted.
Mr. Howard, too, was cordial in his greeting, but Louise and Enna met them
with coldness and disdain, albeit they were mere pensioners upon Horace's
bounty, self-invited guests in his house.
Louise gave the tips of her fingers to each, in sullen silence, while Enna
drew back from the offered hands, muttering, "A set of Yankees come to spy
out the nakedness of the land; don't give a hand to them, children."
"As you like," Mr. Dinsmore answered indifferently, stepping past her to
speak to Mrs. Murray and the servants; "you know I will do a brother's
part by my widowed sisters all the same."
"For shame, Enna!" said Lora; "you are here in Horace's house, and neither
he nor the others ever took part against us."
"I don't care, it was nearly as bad to stay away and give no help,"
muttered the offender, giving Elsie a look of scorn and aversion.
"Be quiet, will you, Madam Johnson," said her old father; "it would be no
more than right if Horace should turn you out of the house.
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