Part 31 (2/2)

”I think Elsie, too, looks as if she would enjoy a nap more than anything else,” remarked the captain, with a kind look at his youngest daughter, who seemed to be very nearly nodding over her plate.

”Oh, no, papa!” she said straightening up and opening her eyes very wide; ”please, I want to see the ponies first.”

”Very well, so you shall, and the nap can come afterward,” he returned in an indulgent tone.

”Then, as we are all done eating, shall we not go at once, my dear?”

asked Violet.

”I think it would be well to do so,” he returned. ”Put on your hats, children, and we will go.”

Elf and Fairy seemed glad to see their young mistresses, who stroked, patted, and fed them with bits of sugar. The next thing was to explore every nook and corner of the grounds, which to them all looked lovelier than ever.

Then they returned to the house, little Elsie willingly submitted to being laid in her crib, for she was very sleepy, and the captain, Violet, Lulu, and Grace went over the whole house, finding it in beautiful order, and saying to each other that it seemed a sweeter home than ever.

By that time there were callers from Ion, the Oaks, Roselands, and the Laurels, those from Ion bringing the news that Grandma Elsie invited all to a family reunion to be held at her home on the afternoon and evening of the next day. An invitation that every member of the Woodburn family was glad to accept.

”Ah, Brother Levis,” said Rosie coaxingly, ”you surely will not be so unkind as to require lessons of us to-morrow?”

”No, little sister, to-morrow and the next day may be given up to amus.e.m.e.nt; but after that I shall hope and expect to have some very industrious pupils.”

”As you certainly shall,” she replied, with a grave, emphatic nod; ”I am glad of the promised holiday; duly grateful for it, too, as I presume all your scholars are.”

”Yes, yes, indeed we are, sir!” was the hearty response from Evelyn and Walter, Lulu and Grace adding, ”And so are we, papa.”

The callers left early, declining an invitation to stay to tea; the family partook of their evening meal; Grace and the little ones, wearied with their journey, the excitement of the homecoming, and seeing so much company, went early to bed; an errand took the captain into the village for a short season, and Violet and Lulu were left for an hour or more to each other's society.

They were on the veranda together, pacing slowly back and forth, each with an arm about the other's waist.

”Oh, Mamma Vi, isn't it just delightful to be at home again?” exclaimed Lulu.

”Yes, indeed! when the home is such an one as ours, and with such a man as your father at the head of affairs,” returned Violet. ”Lu dear, I'm so glad that you and all his children love him as you do, though really I do not see how any one of you could help it.”

”Nor do I, Mamma Vi; and I'm very glad that you love him so too; that makes me love you even better than I could if you didn't appreciate him so highly. But we can't love him so dearly without loving one another; can we?”

”No, certainly not; I am very fond of all five of his children as well as of their father,” Violet replied, with her low, sweet laugh.

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