“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.