CHAPTER XVI
“HOME, sweet home!” exclaimed Lucilla as their carriage turned into thedriveway on that first evening after the Dolphin had come into port.“Home, sweet home! There’s no place like home.”
“Except Woodburn, our dear old home,” returned Max in jesting tone.
“No; Woodburn and Sunnyside-so near together, and their inhabitants sonearly related—seem to make but one home to me.”
“And to us all, I think,” said Evelyn.
“And you are right, I am sure,” said Chester, as the carriage drew upbefore the entrance. “Ah, here we are at the very threshold of ourSunnyside! Wife, brother and sister, a glad welcome home to you all.”With the last word he threw open the carriage door, sprang out upon theveranda steps, turned and helped Lucilla to alight. Max, his wife andbaby followed.
A joyous welcome was given them all by the waiting servants, andthey passed in, each couple to their own part of the commodious andbeautiful dwelling.
“Welcome home, my darling,” said Max to his wife. “Welcome home, babydear, papa’s sweet little pet,” taking the infant in his arms as hespoke. “Oh, Eva, my love, how rich we are, with her added to all ourother lesser blessings!”
“Indeed, we are! She is a great blessing,” said Eva, caressing thechild as he held it in his arms. “To me she seems more than all otherstaken together-except her father,” she added, smiling up into his face.
“And to me she is the next one to her mother,” responded Max, bestowinga very loverlike caress upon his wife as she stood close at his side.“How good my father has been to provide us with this lovely home, sonear to his that we seem to belong to his family still.”
“Yes,” she said with emotion. “And what a dear father he is! I amso glad and thankful that he seems to look upon me as his very owndaughter. I had been so hungry for a father after my own was taken tothe better land.”
“Yes, dearest, I think I can understand that hunger, though I have beenspared the sad experience,” replied Max, his tone speaking even moresympathy than his words.
“And, oh,” he added, “I want my little wife to be the most blessed,happy woman in the world.”
“I ought to be; and I think I am when my husband is with me,” shereturned with a smile of love and joy. “What is it, Kitty?” as aservant came in, looking as if she had some pleasant news to impart.
“Why, missus, dere’s sumfin’ jus’ come over from Woodburn. De cap’n hesends it for de baby,” replied the woman, grinning broadly as she spoke.
“Ah, is that so?” asked Max. “Where and what is it?”
“Sumfin’ for de baby to ride in, sah, an’ it’s out on de poach,” sheanswered, hurriedly leading the way, Eva and Max following, he with thebaby still in his arms.
They presently found on the front veranda as handsome a baby carriageas either of them had ever seen, and were both delighted with it. Itwas ready furnished with pillows, and a beautiful afghan of a mostdelicate shade of baby-blue silk lined with white silk, covered withwhite duchess lace, with blue ribbon bows on each corner, to match theumbrella, it being of the same shade, and also covered with duchesslace. On a corner of the afghan was pinned a bit of paper bearing thewords: “From Grandmamma Vi to little Mary Raymond.” On the under sideof the afghan were the initials “M. R.” in blue embroidery silk.
Max laid the baby in, Evelyn covered her carefully with the afghan, andfor some minutes Max drew her back and forth on the veranda, she cooingas if enjoying the ride.
Chester and Lucilla had quite a good deal to tell each other of theirexperiences during the past weeks of separation, and were chatting andlaughing merrily in her pretty boudoir, when some slight sounds madeby the baby and its parents and carriage excited their curiosity andbrought them hurrying downstairs to learn what was going on there.
“Oh, how pretty!” cried Lucilla, as she caught sight of the littlevehicle. “How fine for our darling baby! Where did it come from?”
“It is father’s gift,” answered Max; “the dear, kind father who alwaysthinks of everything he can possibly do to add to the happiness of hischildren.”
“He does, indeed!” exclaimed Evelyn. “Nobody could have a better,kinder father.”
“We are all going over to Woodburn this evening,” said Max, “and wewill take baby in her carriage.”
“She, as queen of the party, will ride, and the rest of us will walk,”laughed Lucilla. “Oh, you little darling, auntie hopes you will alwaysbe able to ride when you want to.”
“Doubtless she will if it is best for her,” said Max. “It looks now asif she were born for easy times, but no one can tell what may be instore for either us or her in the future.”
“Father would say, ‘Don’t allow yourself to be troubled with anxietyin regard to the future; remember the teaching of the Thirty-seventhPsalm, Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land,and verily thou shalt be fed,’” said Lucilla.
“Yes,” agreed Evelyn, “if we all had perfect trust in Him, I am sure weshould be free from anxiety and very happy.”
“I am sure you are right about that,” said Chester, “and if we practiseit—that teaching—we shall be a happy set.”
“I hear our call to supper,” said Lucilla. “Eva, won’t you and Max comein and sup with us?”
“Do, friends and relatives; we will be very glad to have you partakewith us,” said Chester.
“Thank you both,” said Max. “I think our supper is just about ready,but if you will allow its dishes to be added to yours we may share witheach other, and probably enjoy doing so.”
All agreed that that was a good idea, and the plan was immediatelycarried out.
The Sunnyside folks were not more glad to see their home than were theWoodburn people to reach theirs. The captain’s carriage contained, nothis own family only, but his future son-in-law also. Harold was biddingan affectionate good-bye to Grace on the veranda at Ion when her fathersaid laughingly:
“Don’t indulge in adieus just here and now, Harold, but come with us toWoodburn. Who can tell but there may be a patient there longing for asight of Dr. Harold Travilla’s face?”
“Thank you, captain; a kind invitation, and flattering to my medicaland surgical skill and supposed desire to be helpful to others; but Ishould be sorry to crowd you.”
He and her father were helping Grace into the vehicle as he spoke.
“There’s abundance of room, Harold,” said Violet; “get right in andtake that seat beside Grace.”
“Yes, obey that lady’s orders as I do,” laughed the captain.
“I thought I had outgrown that business,” laughed Harold; “but I willobey in a moment, when I have said good-night to mother and the rest.”
That did not take long, and the captain’s “Plenty of time for that”seemed to afford satisfactory permission. In five minutes the carriagewas on its way down the avenue.
“Now, Tiny, you are on your way to that pretty home I’ve been tellingyou about,” said Elsie, stroking and patting her little pet monkey.
“What are you telling her for, Elsie?” asked Ned. “Why don’t you waitand let her be surprised when she gets there? Surprises are nice. Ialways like to be surprised.”
“Something of a mistake, Ned,” said his uncle. “Some surprises are farfrom agreeable.”
“What kind, uncle? please tell me about some.”
“Well, I have heard of it happening to a man to learn that all of asudden he had lost all his money.”
“Oh, that’s not so bad. He could earn more.”
“Maybe he could; but if so, he’d a good deal rather add that to what hehad before than have only that.”
“There must be a good many kinds of surprises,” returned the littlefellow thoughtfully, “and I’d rather have some other kind than that.When papa gave me my pony, that was a very pleasant surprise. Oh, I wasjust delighted.”
“And these tee-tees were a very, very agreeable surprise to both ofus,” said Elsie, patting
and stroking hers, seated in her lap.
“And I’m thinking Eva and Max will soon have a very agreeablesurprise,” said Grace, smiling up into her father’s face.
“I hope so,” he said, returning the smile.
“Oh, what about?” queried Ned, with tone and look of curiosity andexcitement.
“No doubt you will learn when they—your brothers and sisters—come overto Woodburn this evening,” answered his father.
“Will I?” cried Ned. “Oh, I hope they’ll come early; at least, beforeElsie and I have to go to bed.”
At that everybody laughed, and his mother quietly remarked that she wassurprised to find him exhibiting so much curiosity, as it seemed to beunderstood that that quality belonged rather to women and girls than tomen and boys.
“Quite a mistake and slander, my dear,” laughed her husband, thenchanged the subject of conversation by calling attention to a newbuilding going up on a neighboring plantation.
A few minutes later their carriage turned into the Woodburn driveway,and presently they were leaving it for the veranda of the spaciousand lordly dwelling where the servants were assembled, Christine,their lady-like housekeeper, at their head, to welcome the returnedtravellers to their home. Everybody seemed full of joy over it; and thechildren were delighted with the curiosity shown in regard to their newpets and the to-do made over them.
A bountiful and most appetizing repast had been prepared for theirreception, and they presently seated themselves about the table. Ablessing was asked, and the captain began carving a fine turkey,Violet pouring the tea. The table was charmingly furnished withbeautiful china, cut-glass, silver, flowers, and dishes of mostappetizing-looking food.
“It is really very pleasant to be at home and at one’s own tableagain,” remarked the captain, after an appreciative glance over theboard.
“Whose table was it that you sat down to on the Dolphin?” laughedViolet.
“My own, I believe,” smiled the captain; “but, somehow, I feel more athome here.”
“It is delightful to be here; but I miss Lu,” sighed Grace.
“Well, daughter, she is not far off. Keep up your spirits; she willprobably be here in the course of an hour.”
“Husband, brother, sister, baby and all with her, I presume,” addedHarold sportively. “And baby will probably come in her own coach, likethe grand lady she is,” laughed Violet. “I shall enjoy seeing her init.”
“Resting on and covered by the beautiful furnishings provided by yourgenerosity and taste, mamma,” said Grace, with a loving, appreciativelook at her young stepmother.
“Are we going to have a party to-night?” asked Ned.
“Not exactly,” said his father; “at least, it will be only a home partyof what I call our own immediate family—my children and grandchild.”
“Many thanks, my dear captain, that I seem to be included in thenumber forming that happy family,” said Harold, with a bow and pleasedsmile.
“Yes,” laughed Violet, “but don’t imagine that I am going to permit youto call me mamma, considering that you are my younger brother.”
“So I am, Mrs. Raymond; but by no means young enough to be an obedientson to you,” Harold returned in playful tone, “or, indeed, any son atall. It will be well enough to bear that relationship to your husband,but fairly ludicrous to pretend to bear it to so young and fair a ladyas yourself.”
“I should think the fairness would make it a trifle less objectionable,if anything could,” returned Violet with mischievous look and smile.
“Really, those mutual relationships make small difference, exceptas they may affect your docility when you are the patient and I thephysician,” returned Harold gravely.
“All of us obey your orders when you are the doctor, uncle,” remarkedElsie. “Sister Grace never will do a thing that you tell her not to.”
“Of course not,” laughed Grace. “Where would be the use of employing aphysician, if you didn’t follow his directions?”
At the conclusion of the meal all repaired to the veranda to awaitthe coming of the Sunnyside folk. It was a warm October evening, thegrounds looking beautiful in their autumn robes, and there seemed nopleasanter place to lounge in than that, with its abundance of mostcomfortable settees and chairs.
“It is very nice to be at home again,” said Grace with a happy sigh. “Iwouldn’t be willing to give up this dear home for any of the beautifulplaces I have been in.”
“I am glad you are so well satisfied, daughter,” the captain respondedin a pleased tone, “and I hope you will never have less love for yourfather’s house.”
“Oh, good, good! There they come!” cried Ned, springing to his feet andclapping his hands as the little group was seen approaching from thedirection of Sunnyside.
“Yes, children and grandchild,” said the captain, as he and Haroldhurried to meet them.
“Many, many thanks, father, for this beautiful and useful gift to ourbaby daughter,” said Max almost before they had fairly met.
“And not from baby’s father only, but from her mother also,” saidEvelyn; “many, many thanks to you and Mamma Vi for both the carriageand its lovely furnishings.”
“Ah, those last are gifts especially from my wife,” returned thecaptain.
“Yes, oh yes, I know and appreciate it; but, no doubt, they were givenwith your approval. Ah, Mamma Vi,” as Violet approached, “I hardly knowhow to thank you enough for your lovely gifts to my baby daughter.”
“Then don’t try,” returned Violet in mirthful tones. “I assure you, thepleasure I found in doing it was reward enough. How is the little dearthis evening? Ah, I see she is sound asleep. How nicely her papa musthave rolled the little coach along to get her in that condition.”
“She does more sleeping than anything else so far in her life,” laughedMax, looking down admiringly into the sweet, fair baby face resting soquietly on the soft pillow.
The children, following their parents, had met them now.
“Oh, we want to see the dear baby!” they said in excited, but ratherhushed, voices. “Let us look at her, Brother Max.”
“Not yet,” he answered. “Let us keep her asleep as long as we can; thenwhen she wakes of herself she will probably be in a pleasant mood. Idon’t like to hear a baby cry. Do you?”
They had reached the house, and the gentlemen lifted the coach up intothe veranda without waking the young sleeper.
Lucilla was on the veranda, gazing about from side to side.
“Oh, how sweet the dear old home does look!” she cried. “I want to goall over this story and the next just now. May I, father?”
“Certainly, my child. It is your own home now quite as much as it everwas; because you are as much as ever my own dear daughter.”
“Thank you for those kind, loving words, father dear,” she returnedwith emotion, laying a hand on his shoulder as she stood at his sideand giving him a look of ardent affection.
At that he bent his head and kissed her on forehead, cheek and lips.
“It is my turn now, papa,” said Grace sportively, coming up to hisother side.
“So it is, my darling,” he returned, repeating for her exactly what hehad done to Lucilla.
Elsie had noted it all with interest.
“Now, papa, isn’t it my turn?” she asked, her eyes shining, her lipscurling with a smile of love and entreaty.
“Yes, little daughter, yes, indeed! You are no less dear than yourolder sisters. Come and give and take the caresses papa loves toexchange with you.”
Violet and Evelyn preferred to keep watch over the sleeping babe, butall the others joined in making the circuit of the rooms Lucilla hadexpressed a desire to see. They found them all in good order, Christinebeing an excellent housekeeper, and having good and competent servantsunder her.
“It is delightful to come home to houses so well ordered and neat asthis and Sunnyside have proved on this occasion, Mamma Vi,” Lucillaremarked on her return to the veranda.
“Yes,
and I think I fully appreciate it,” replied Violet. “You foundyours in good order?”
“Perfect. It could not have looked better if I had been there tooversee the work.”
“And I can say just the same of mine,” said Evelyn.