“Captain Raymond?” the stranger said inquiringly, lifting his hat as he spoke.
At that Mr. Lilburn sprang to his feet and came forward, exclaiming, “What, Hugh, my mon, is it you?” grasping the young man’s hand and giving it a hearty shake. “It’s one o’ my sons, captain,” turning glad, shining eyes upon his host. “I was not expecting him, for he had given me no warning of his coming.”
“You are very welcome, sir,” said the captain, taking the hand of the young man in a cordial grasp.
At that Grandma Elsie, Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, and Violet hastened forward with like greetings and expressions of pleasure at seeing him again after the lapse of years since their weeks of friendly intercourse at the sea-shore.
“But you should be my guest, cousin,” said Mrs. Travilla. “We shall be going home presently, and will be most happy to have you accompany us.”
“Oh, no, mother, it will not do for you to rob us of our guest so promptly,” said Captain Raymond.
“No, indeed, mother dear, we must have Cousin Hugh here with his father, at least for the first few days,” Violet hastened to say; and so it was settled after a little more discussion, and a servant was dispatched to the village for Hugh’s baggage.
Just as that matter was fairly arranged, Dr. Conly, Herbert, and Walter returned to the house.
When they and Hugh had been introduced and had exchanged greetings, Croly inquired if they had succeeded in catching the bugler.
“No, we didn’t get so much as a glimpse of him,” returned Walter. “But then you see it was growing quite dark in the wood, so that it wasn’t so very difficult for a nimble-footed fellow to make his escape.”
THE Conlys claimed it as their privilege to entertain the connection on the following day, and before leaving Woodburn that evening gave Mr. Hugh Lilburn a cordial invitation to make one of the company, which he accepted with evident pleasure.
Again the weather was delightful, every one in good health and spirits, and the host and hostess were most kind and attentive, making each guest feel welcome and at home.
Roselands was again a beautiful place; its fields in a higher state of cultivation than ever before, yielding excellent crops, Calhoun having proved himself a wise, industrious, scientific planter and manager, while Arthur assisted with his advice and professional gains; so that they had at length succeeded in paying off all indebtedness and could feel that the estate was now really their own.