Part 14 (1/2)
”Oh, thank you, dear Ned,” she returned, her eyes s.h.i.+ning with pleasure; ”no woman ever had a more generous husband than mine. But there are so many ways for your money to go, and I have several that would be, with remodelling and retr.i.m.m.i.n.g, tasteful, handsome, and becoming as any new one.”
”But you must have a new one, my love,” Edward replied decidedly. ”I can easily afford it, and it is a great pleasure to me to see my little wife well and becomingly dressed.”
”A very nice speech, my dear husband,” returned Zoe laughingly, ”and really I have not the heart to refuse you the pleasure of seeing your wife arrayed in finery just suited to your taste. So I am very glad you are willing to go with me and a.s.sist in the selection. Shall we take the babies along?”
”To help with the shopping? I doubt if we would find them of much a.s.sistance.”
”They are good little things though, and would not be any hindrance,”
returned the young mother laughingly. ”But the trip might interfere with their morning nap, so if you think best we will leave the darlings at home.”
”I really think they would have a more comfortable time,” Edward said; ”we also. Hark! there's the telephone. Excuse me a moment, my dear.”
”Certainly, my love, but as I may possibly be the one wanted, I'll go along; by your leave,” she added laughingly, running after him as he left the room.
The call proved to be from Mrs. Elsie Leland. A telegram from Viamede had reached them also, and they would be at Ion in the course of an hour to talk over necessary arrangements for the journey, if, as they supposed, Edward and Zoe would like to take it in company with them.
They too were invited, of course?
”Yes,” Edward answered; ”mamma would certainly not neglect her eldest son at such a time. Come over as soon as you like, prepared to drive into the city with us to make necessary purchases before setting the dressmakers at work upon suitable adornments for the ladies of our party.”
”Nothing to be bought for the gentlemen, I suppose?” was Elsie's response, accompanied by a low, sweet laugh. ”Will be happy to accept your invitation. Good-by till then.”
”Now let us go back and finish our breakfast,” said Zoe. ”If the Lelands are to be here in half an hour we have no time to spare.”
They were turning away when the bell rang again.
It was Ella Conly who called this time. The same invitation for herself and brothers had just been received. They knew that Ned and Zoe must of course have shared the summons to Viamede, and, if convenient, they would call at Ion after tea that evening to talk over plans and preparations.
They were cordially urged to do so. Then Edward called to his Uncle Horace at the Oaks, his Aunt Rose at the Laurels, and Aunt Lora Howard at Pinegrove, and learned to his satisfaction that all had received, and would accept the same invitation. But they had not yet settled upon their plans in regard to needed preparations and the time of setting out upon their journey.
Edward suggested that it might be satisfactory for all to meet at Ion that evening and talk the matter over, an invitation which was promptly accepted by all.
”Now let us finish our breakfast,” Edward said, leading the way back to the table.
”Yes,” said Zoe, ”for I am sure that I for one have no time to waste if I'm to be ready to start for the city in an hour.”
She was ready, however, when, in less than an hour, the Fairview carriage drove up bringing the Lelands. Elsie declined an invitation to alight. ”We have none too much time now,” she said, ”for shopping cannot always be done in haste, and we are not making a very early start. Just get in here with us, you two, will you not? There is plenty of room, and we can talk over matters and settle plans as we drive.”
”A very good idea, and we are much obliged,” returned Edward, handing Zoe in and taking a seat by her side.
”Who is to be married, Elsie?” asked Zoe. ”Surely it could not be mamma herself?” she added, with a light laugh. ”I feel quite sure she would not accept the best and greatest man upon earth.”
”And I feel as sure of that as you do,” said Mrs. Leland. ”She thinks of my father not as lost to her but waiting for her to rejoin him in the better land. I have been trying to think who the coming bride is to be, and suppose it is Betty Johnson.”
”But it may be that the groom and not the bride belongs to our family,”
remarked Lester. ”Who more likely than d.i.c.k Percival?”
”Why, yes, to be sure!” exclaimed Edward. ”It is about time d.i.c.k had a wife. And mother would of course be interested and ready to do anything in her power to make it pleasant for him and her.”
”Well, I should really like to know something more about it before choosing gifts for her,” remarked Zoe.