Part 13 (2/2)
”Oh, I don't know exactly, sir; it will depend somewhat upon the answers, I think,” she returned laughingly, putting an arm round his neck and kissing him with ardent affection.
”Then let me go through the ordeal as soon as possible,” he responded, patting her cheek and pressing his lips to hers.
”I hope it won't be a very dreadful ordeal to you, papa,” she said, smiling up into his eyes. ”Firstly, then, are we to have school as usual between this and the time of the wedding?”
”Yes,” was the prompt, decided reply.
”Oh, dear!” she said between a sigh and a laugh, ”I 'most wish you were one of the fathers that could be coaxed. But oh, please don't begin to look sorry and grave. I'm determined I will be good about that and everything; just as good as I know how to be; and if I'm not I just hope you'll punish me well, only not by refusing to allow me to act as bridesmaid to Cousin Betty.”
”Love to your father and a desire to please him seems to me a far better motive for good behavior than fear of punishment,” he said with grave look and tone.
”Yes, sir; and that is my motive; please believe it, my own dear, dear father,” she said, lifting dewy eyes to his.
”Then I have strong hope that my pleasure in the coming festivities will not be spoiled by having a naughty, rebellious little daughter to deal with, or an idle one, either. Now what else?”
”Only this, papa: that if you should have letters to write you will let me help you, using my typewriter, you know.”
”Thank you, my dear little helpful daughter. Should I find that I have letters you could answer for me in that way, I will call upon you for your offered a.s.sistance, as I well know it will be a pleasure to you to render it,” he replied, with a smile and another tender caress. ”And I hope you feel no doubt that it is not for lack of love for his dear child that your father refuses the holiday you have asked for.”
”No indeed, papa. I know you love me dearly. It would break my heart to think you didn't.”
”As it would mine to think my little girl did not love me. Now you must go at once to bed. Good-night and pleasant dreams.”
CHAPTER IX.
IT was early morning at Ion, breakfast awaiting the return of Mr. Edward Travilla, who had ridden into the village on some business errand, leaving word that he would be back within the hour to partake of the morning meal with his wife.
Zoe, tastefully attired, was on the veranda, and the twin babies, fresh from their bath, looking, the young mother averred, like little angels in their dainty white robes, were toddling about there, laughing, cooing, and prattling. They were the idols of her heart. She romped and played with them now, but with frequent pauses to listen for the sound of a horse's hoofs or gaze down the avenue, saying in joyous tones to the babies, ”Papa is coming, coming soon; dear, dear papa! and mamma and his darlings will be so glad to see him. Ah, there he is at last!” she added at length, as a horseman turned in at the great gates and came at a quick canter up the avenue.
He lifted his hat with a bow and smile to his wife as he drew near; then alighting at the steps, where a servant took the reins and led the horse away, he hastily ascended them, and the next moment was seated with a little one upon each knee.
”Papa's darlings!” he said, caressing them in turn; ”papa's dear pets!”
”Tell papa we have been wanting him,” said Zoe, standing alongside, smoothing Edward's hair with softly caressing hand, and smiling down fondly into the faces of the three; ”tell him he stayed so long we did not know how to wait.”
”I must acknowledge I am a trifle late, my dear,” Edward said, smiling up into the pretty, rosy face, ”detained by business; but here is my atonement,” handing her a telegram which he took from his pocket.
Zoe read it aloud. It was an invitation to a wedding (whose it did not say), at Viamede to take place in three weeks from that day.
”Why, who on earth can be going to be married?” she exclaimed in surprise. ”Rosie? Evelyn? Lulu? Every one of them is too young.” Then with a look into Edward's laughing eyes, ”Now you needn't laugh, Ned. I know and acknowledge that Rosie is a little older than I was when we married, but we would not have made such haste except under those peculiar circ.u.mstances.”
”Quite true, my dear,” he responded. ”But I suppose you will hardly think it necessary to decline the invitation on that account?”
”Oh, no indeed,” was the quick, laughing rejoinder. ”I am altogether in favor of accepting--shall begin my preparations at once. But there's the breakfast bell.”
When they had fairly begun their meal the subject was renewed, Edward remarking, ”My dear, you will want a new dress. If you like we will drive into the city this morning, make necessary purchases, and at once set Alma or some other dressmaker at work.”
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