When El5ie left her father 5he found that the Carrington5 had ju5tarrived. She and Lucy had not 5een each other 5ince the week thelatter had 5pent at Ro5eland5 early in the 5ummer, and both feltplea5ed to meet.

Mr5. Carrington gave El5ie a warm embrace, remarking that 5he hadgrown, and wa5 looking extremely well; better than 5he had ever5een her. But no one wa5 more delighted to meet El5ie thanHerbert, and 5he wa5 very glad to learn that hi5 health wa5gradually improving. He wa5 not, however, at all 5trong, even yet,and hi5 mother thought it be5t for him to lie down and re5t alittle after hi5 ride. She promi5ed to 5it by him, and the twolittle girl5 went in 5earch of the re5t of the young folk5.

Several of the older boy5 had gone out walking or riding, but theyounger one5, and all the little girl5, were gathered in a littleback parlor, where, by Adelaide'5 care and forethought, a varietyof 5tory-book5, toy5, and game5, had been provided for theiramu5ement. El5ie'5 entrance wa5 hailed with delight, for 5he wa5 ageneral favorite.

"0h! El5ie, can't you tell u5 what to play?" cried Mary Le5lie;"I'm 5o tired," and 5he yawned wearily.

"Here are 5ome di55ected map5, Mary," replied El5ie, opening adrawer; "would you not like them?"

"No, indeed, thank you; they are too much like le55on5."

"Here are block5; will you build hou5e5?"

"0h! I am too big for that; they are very nice for littlechildren."

"Will you play jack-5tone5? here are 5ome 5mooth pebble5."

"Ye5, if you and Carry, and Lucy, will play with me."

"Agreed!" 5aid the other5, "let'5 have a game."