I have brought proofs of--" But Elsie's hand was already laid in his, while glad tears sprang to her eyes.
"You shall show us them at another time if you will; but I could never doubt such a face as yours, and can not tell you how glad I am to have at last found a relative on my mother's side of the house.

Cousin, you are welcome, welcome to Ion!" And she turned to her husband.
"Yes," he said, offering his hand with the greatest cordiality, "welcome indeed, and not more so to my little wife than to myself." "Thanks to you both," he said with a bow and smile.

"Cousin," with an earnest look at his hostess, "you are _very_ like a picture I have of your grandmother.

But," with a glance at the wide-eyed little ones, looking on and listening in wonder and surprise, "can it be that you are the mother of all these?
yourself scarce more than a bairn in appearance." Elsie laughed lightly.

"Ah, cousin, you have not examined me closely yet I have not been a bairn for many years.