Elsies Kith and Kin | Page 3

if Edward could have gone with me; but any place with
him is better than any other without him."
"Well, I don't believe I should have been willing to stay behind, even in
your place. I've always had a longing to spend a winter there visiting
my sister Isa, and my cousins Elsie and Molly. Cal and Art say, perhaps
one or both of them may go on to spend two or three weeks this winter;
and in that case I shall go along."
"Perhaps we may go at the same time, and what a nice party we will
make!" said Zoe. "There," glancing from the window, "I see my
husband coming, and I want to run out and speak to him. Will you
excuse me a moment?" and scarcely waiting for a reply, she ran gayly

away.
Meeting Edward on the threshold, "I have no lessons to recite this
time," she said; "but you are not to scold, because I've been prevented
from studying by company. Ella is spending the day with me."
"Ah! I hope you have had a pleasant time together--not too much
troubled by fear of a lecture from the old tyrant who bears your
lessons," he said laughingly, as he bent his head to press a kiss of
ardent affection upon the rosy lips she held up to him.
"No," she laughed in return: "I'm not a bit afraid of him."
Zoe had feared the hours when Edward was unavoidably absent from
her side would be very lonely now while the other members of the Ion
family were away; but she did not find it so; her studies, and the work
of making various pretty things for Christmas gifts, keeping her very
busy.
And, when he was with her, time flew on very rapid wings. She had
grown quite industrious, and generally plied her needle in the evenings
while he read or talked to her. But occasionally he would take the
embroidery, or whatever it was, out of her hands, and toss it aside,
saying she was trying her eyes by such constant use; and, besides, he
wanted her undivided attention.
And she would resign herself to her fate, nothing loath to be drawn
close to his side, or to a seat upon his knee, to be petted and caressed
like a child, which, indeed, he persisted in calling her.
This was when they were alone: but very frequently they had company
to spend the day, afternoon, or evening; for Ion had always been noted
for its hospitality; and scarcely a week passed in which they did not pay
a visit to the Oaks, the Laurels, the Pines, or Roselands.
Also a brisk correspondence was carried on with the absent members of
the family. And Zoe's housekeeping cares and duties were just enough
to be an agreeable variety in her occupations: every day, too, when the

weather permitted, she walked or rode out with her husband.
And so the time passed quite delightfully for the first two months after
the departure of the Viamede party.
It was a disappointment that Edward found himself too busy to make
the hoped-for trip to Viamede at Christmas-time; yet Zoe did not fret
over it, and really enjoyed the holidays extremely, giving and receiving
numerous handsome presents, and, with Edward's assistance, making it
a merry and happy time for the servants and other dependants, as well
as for the relatives and friends still in the neighborhood.
The necessary shopping, with Edward to help her, and the packing and
sending off of the Christmas-boxes to Viamede, to the
college-boys,--Herbert and Harold,--and numerous other relatives and
friends far and near, Zoe thought altogether the most delightful
business she had ever taken in hand.
A very merry, happy little woman she was through all those weeks and
months, Edward as devoted as any lover, and as gay and light-hearted
as herself.
"Zoe, darling," Edward said one day at dinner, "I must drive over into
our little village of Union--by the way, do you know that we have more
than a hundred towns of that name in these United States?"
"No, I did not know, or suspect, that we had nearly so many," she
interrupted, laughing: "no wonder letters go astray when people are not
particular to give the names of both county and State. But what were
you going to say about driving over there?"
"I must see a gentleman on business, who will be there to meet the
five-o'clock train, and leave on it; and, in order to be certain of seeing
him, I must be there at least fifteen or twenty minutes before it is due.
Shall I have the pleasure of my wife's company in the carriage? I have
ordered it to be at the door by fifteen or twenty minutes