CHAPTER X.
"Ah! so you are up, Gracie dear," Lucilla said, looking in the nextmorning at the communicating door between their rooms. "I have been downin the grounds with papa for the last half hour, and he bade me come andtell you to dress for a drive; for we are to go on our shoppingexpedition to-day instead of to-morrow."
"Are we?" exclaimed Grace. "To-day will suit me as well as to-morrow;but why have papa and mamma changed their plans?"
"It is all for my benefit," laughed Lucilla. "You must know that ChesterDinsmore has been so good as to invite me to attend a boat ride andpicnic with him to-morrow, and, to my surprise, papa gave me fullpermission to go."
"That was very kind of him," remarked Grace, "and I hope you will have adelightful time."
"I don't know," Lulu returned, with doubtful tone and look. "I think Ishall not half enjoy it without you; and papa says you are too feeble togo on such an expedition without him; you would need him to take care ofyou and see that you did not overexert yourself."
"Yes; and, of course, papa is right; he always knows what is best for meand all of us."
"So I think, and I did not at all expect him to say I could go. I wasn'tvery anxious that he should, either; though I dare say it will be verypleasant as the Dinsmore girls are going, and, perhaps, Rosie Travillatoo."
"Oh, I think you will enjoy it! I hope so, I am sure," exclaimed Grace,looking both pleased and interested. "Now please tell me what dress youare going to wear to the city to-day, and advise me about mine."
"I hadn't thought about it, yet," said Lucilla; "but there, I hear papacoming into our sitting room. I'll run and ask him what he would adviseor direct about it. It is a matter of great importance, you know"; andwith that she laughed merrily, turned about, and ran to meet theirfather.
He decided the knotty question, promptly saying: "The gray dresses madefor you both a few weeks ago will be very suitable, I think." Then hebade her help Grace and also change her own dress, because they wouldmake an early start for the city, going very soon after leaving thetable.
"I am glad to hear that, papa," she returned, "for a drive in the earlymorning air is so pleasant. But I wish I had no occasion to change mydress, because I fear that will take up all the time of your morningcall here on Gracie and me."
"I think not, if you are prompt in your movements," he said. "I shallsit here for some little time reading the morning paper."
"Oh, I am glad of that! and perhaps, papa, if you look over theadvertisements you may find something that will help us in the searchfor the pretty things we want to buy."
"Very possibly," he replied. "I will look them over at once."
"Thank you, sir. I'll do as you bid me and be back again as soon as everI can; for I don't like to lose a minute of my father's morning call,"she said, giving him a bright, loving look, then hurrying back to hersister.
"We'll have to make haste, Gracie," she said, "if we don't want to missaltogether our morning chat with papa. We are to wear our new graydresses, he says."
"That suits me nicely, for I think them becoming, pretty, and suitable.Don't you?"
"Yes; I think nobody has better taste or judgment about dress than ourfather."
"Just my opinion; and we may well think so, considering how many lovelydresses and ornaments he has bought for us, selecting them without thehelp or advice of anyone. There, sister dear, your dress is on all rightand I shall make haste to change mine while you put the finishingtouches to your attire."
They joined their father in a few moments, talked over theadvertisements he had been examining and the question of thedesirability of this and that article as a wedding gift to Rosie, buthad reached no decision when the breakfast bell rang.
"Well, daughters," the captain said, "we will go down now to ourbreakfast and, while we are eating, talk the matter over with yourmamma. She probably knows better than we what would be likely to pleaseRosie."
"But we do not need to decide until we see the things, do we, papa?"asked Lucilla.
"No, certainly not, and we may find something very handsome and suitablethat we have not thought of. I hope it will be a pleasure to both of youto look over the pretty things and make a selection."
"You dear father," Grace said, smiling up into his eyes, "you are alwaysthinking of something to give your children pleasure."
"Yes," he said, returning her smile, "perhaps because it reacts uponmyself, giving me a great deal of pleasure."
They found Violet and the little ones already in the breakfast room;morning greetings were exchanged, then they seated themselves at thetable, the captain asked a blessing, and the meal began.
They chatted pleasantly while eating, the principal subject of discoursebeing their errand to the city. Violet had not heard Rosie express adesire for any particular thing, but thought they would probably seesomething in the stores that would strike them as handsome and suitable.
"Is Elsie going with you to-day, papa? and am I?" asked Neddie.
"Yes, my son, if you want to go," the captain replied. "And would youlike to buy some gifts for Aunt Rosie, too?"
"Oh, yes, yes indeed, papa!" cried, both children, Elsie adding: "But Ihave only a little money. I'm afraid it won't be enough to buy anythinghandsome enough for a wedding present."
"Well," their father said reflectively, "you have been good children,and I feel inclined to give you each a present of ten dollars, which youmay dispose of as you like."
"Oh, thank you, papa!" both cried delightedly, Ned adding: "I s'poseit's for us to buy something for Aunt Rosie with; isn't it, papa?"
"If you want to use it for that you may; but you are not compelled to doso; you can spend it for someone else, or for yourself if you choose."
"I'm going to spend mine for Aunt Rosie," Elsie announced. "It was verynice and kind in her to choose me for a flower girl at her wedding, andI'd like to give her something very pretty; something that she wouldlike. Mamma, you will help me to choose my present, won't you?"
"With pleasure, daughter; and I am sure your papa and sisters will helpus in our selection. They all have good taste."
"And y'll all help me, too, won't you?" asked Ned. "I want to buy theprettiest thing I can find for Aunt Rosie."
"Yes; you shall have all the advice you want, my son," his father said."And now, as you have all finished eating, we will go to the library andhave family worship; then make ourselves ready and set off upon our tripto the city."
"I think we couldn't have selected a better time for our expedition,"Violet said as they entered their carriage; "the air is bracing, theweather delightful, and the roads are in excellent order, are they not,my dear?"
"Yes," the captain answered, "we could ask no improvement, and I thinkwill travel rapidly enough to reach the city in very good season." Theydid so and were successful in finding what they esteemed beautiful giftsfor the coming bridal. And Rosie's pleasure on receiving them was asgreat as they, the givers, had hoped. She had many handsome and valuablepresents, but none seemed to gratify her more than these from herWoodburn relatives and friends.
"I like those gray dresses of yours, girls; they are both pretty andbecoming, and very suitable for such a trip as we have taken to-day,"remarked Violet as they rode homeward. "You will wear yours to thepicnic to-morrow, I suppose, Lu?"
"If papa approves," answered Lucilla with a laughing look at him.
"Entirely," he said; "though I shall not insist if you prefer somethingelse."
"That reminds me of some of my Nantucket experiences of years ago," sheremarked. "Do you remember, papa, how I missed going to the 'squantum'with the rest of you because I took off the suitable dress Mamma Vi haddirected me to wear, and donned some very unsuitable finery?"
"Yes," he replied, "that was an unhappy time for both the rebelliouslittle girl and her father."
"Yes, papa; oh, I'm afraid I gave you many a heartache in those days. Iremember I wanted very much to dress in white for the clambake, someweeks after that, but you wouldn't al
low it. I was a very foolish littlegirl, and now I am very glad I had a wise, kind father to keep me inorder."
"You were not rebellious about that second disappointment," he said witha smile, "and in the years that have passed since then you have learnedto be very submissive to your father's wishes and directions."
"Yes, sir, because I have found out from experience that he is far wiserthan I, and always seeks my best interests."
"That is certainly what he wishes to do, daughter; for the welfare ofall his dear children lies very near his heart."
"Yes, papa; you love us all, I know," little Elsie said with a bright,glad look up into his face.
"Of course papa does," said Neddie; "if he didn't he wouldn't give usmoney to spend, and ever so many other nice things; or take us to thecity for such a good time as we have had to-day."
"Yes, our dear papa is very good to us all," said Grace. "We have had adelightful drive, a fine time in the city, and now here we are at ourown lovely home again," she added as the carriage turned in at the greatgates.
"It is nearing tea time, daughters, and you had better go at once toyour rooms and make yourselves neat for the evening," the captain saidas he helped Lucilla and Grace to alight.
"Yes, sir," they answered and hastened up the broad stairway, followingViolet and the two little ones.
"Dere's a gemman in de parlour a-waitin' for to see you, cap'in," said aservant, coming leisurely in from the back veranda.
"Ah! has he been here long?"
"'Bout ten minutes, I reckon, sah."
The captain hastened into the parlour and found Chester Dinsmore there.Cordial greetings were exchanged, and Chester received a warm invitationto stay to tea, which, however, he declined, saying that he had alittle professional work on hand which must be done that evening if hewas to take to-morrow for a holiday. "I came over, captain," he added,"to thank you for allowing me the privilege of taking your daughter,Miss Lucilla, to the picnic to-morrow, and to ask if--if you would notbe so very kind as to remove your prohibition of--of love-making on mypart, and----"
"No, Chester," the captain said in kindly but grave accents, as theyoung man halted in his speech, "you surely forget that my objection wason account of my daughter's youth, and that she is only a few monthsolder now than she was then. I do not want her to begin to think oflovers for several years yet, and am objecting to your suit for thatreason only. I show no greater favour in this matter to anyone else. Andyou may feel that I am showing confidence in you in permitting her to goto to-morrow's picnic in your care."
"Yes, sir; thank you, sir. I shall not abuse your confidence, and,though I find it hard not to be permitted to speak and use my bestefforts to win the prize I so covet, it is some consolation that youtreat other suitors in the same way."
"Perhaps, too, that my daughter is equally indifferent to them all," thecaptain remarked with a smile. "And by the way, my young friend, don'tyou suppose it may be a trifle hard for Lucilla's father to resign thefirst place in her heart to someone else?"
"It is according to nature, sir," Chester said, returning the smile."You served Cousin Elsie so when you stole Cousin Violet's heart; andCousin Elsie's husband had taken her from her father. It has been theway almost ever since the world began; so I suppose it is all right."
"Yes; but a father has a right to say it shall not begin too soon withhis own daughter. Wedlock brings cares and responsibilities that shouldnot be allowed to fall too soon upon young shoulders, and it is mydesire and purpose to keep my dear young daughters free from them untilthey reach years of maturity."
"Putting it so, captain, it does seem that you are acting kindly bythem, though I must insist that it is hard on the lovers," Chesterreturned between a smile and a sigh. "But I think you may trust yourdaughter with me to-morrow without much fear that I will abuse yourconfidence. And I am not at all sure that I could gain anything byspeaking. We are good friends,--she and I,--but I doubt if she cares acent for me any other way."
"As to that," the captain said in kindly tone and with his pleasantsmile, "I still have the happiness of believing that, as yet, her fatherholds the first place in her heart. I cannot hope that it will be soalways--perhaps I ought not to wish it; but I do rejoice in the firmconviction that such is the fact at present."
"No one can blame you for that, sir," Chester said, rising to takeleave, "but, ungenerous as it sounds, I cannot help hoping that, one ofthese days, I may be able to shift your position to the second place,taking the first myself. It sounds dreadful selfish, but fathers have togive way to lovers and husbands if the human race is to continue. I hopeto be here in the morning, captain, a little after nine o'clock, with acarriage, to take Miss Lu to the wharf where the boat will be lying. Ipromise to take the best of care of her, to do and say nothing of whichher father would disapprove, and to bring her home safely, Providencepermitting, before dark."
"I have no doubt you will, Chester, and I trust her--one of my choicetreasures--to you with confidence in your purpose to be the faithfulguardian of her safety, and perfectly trustworthy as regards the matterof which we have been speaking," were the captain's parting words to hisyoung visitor as he saw him out to the veranda.
"Thank you, sir; I hope to prove faithful to the trust. Good-evening,"Chester returned, then sped away down the drive.
He thought it best, as did the captain also, that Lucilla should be leftin ignorance of his call.
She came downstairs when the tea bell summoned the family to partake oftheir evening meal, and at its conclusion all gathered upon the frontveranda, as was their custom. They had not been there very long when theFairview carriage was seen to turn in at the great gates and comeswiftly up the drive. As it drew up before the entrance they perceivedwith pleasure that it contained Mr. and Mrs. Leland and Evelyn, GrandmaElsie, and Rosie. A warm welcome was given them, all were comfortablyseated--the young girls in a group together a little to one side of theolder people--and soon an animated chat was being carried on by eachparty.
"Well, Lu," the captain presently overheard Rosie saying, "I suppose youare invited to to-morrow's picnic; I heard you were to be--you andGracie both. Are you going?"
"I believe I am," replied Lucilla. "I have had an invitation, and papahas given me permission to accept it; but he thinks Gracie is not strongenough to go on such an excursion without him along to take care ofher."
"Yes, I suppose that is so," said Rosie. "I am sorry, for I am going andI should like to have Gracie's company. Rather than do without it Iwould even take Brother Levis' too," she added with a laugh and in alittle louder tone, turning a playful look upon him as she spoke.
His quick ear had caught the words.
"Can that be so, Sister Rosie," he said with assumed gravity. "Well,unfortunately, I cannot go, as I have had no invitation. Also as I havealready declined the invitation for Grace, she cannot go. But I trustshe is not greatly afflicted by this state of affairs."
"No, indeed, papa," responded Grace with a contented little laugh. "Itis very far from being a trial to have to stay in this sweet home withyou and mamma, Elsie and Ned."
"I hardly supposed you would have time and inclination to go, Rosie,"said Lucilla.
"Oh, yes, indeed!" laughed Rosie. "I think it advisable to seize all thepleasures of single blessedness while I can."
"But married folks can go to picnics."
"Yes, so they can--to some of them; but this is only for the unmarried,who have gotten it up."
"Did you have a hand in that?" asked Lucilla.
"No; it was the work of our young gentlemen friends--my brothers,cousins, and some others."
"Of course you have not yet heard from your friends, the Crolys?" Lulusaid inquiringly.
"No; there has not been time; unless they had telegraphed; as, perhaps,they may, to Cousin Arthur. Speak of angels! here he comes!" sheexclaimed, as, at that moment, a gig turned in at the great gates andcame on rapidly toward the house.
Dr. Arthur Conly was in it, and, presently, h
aving reached the verandasteps, drew rein, bade good-evening, and announced to his cousins Elsieand Rosie that he had received a telegram from the Crolys thanking himfor his invitation and saying that it was accepted and they might beexpected in a few days.
"Ah! that is good news, if it suits you all at Roselands," said GrandmaElsie.
"As I think it does, cousin," returned the doctor. "At all events theyall seemed pleased; which I think is particularly kind in Sister Maryand Cal."
"Yes," said Rosie, "and I hope and believe the Crolys will prove soagreeable as guests, or boarders, that they will never regret it."
"So do I," Arthur said; "also I think that the Crolys will find us allso agreeable that they will never regret it."
"Won't you alight and take a seat among us, doctor?" asked the captainhospitably.
"Thank you; I should enjoy doing so, but duty calls in anotherdirection, a sick patient needing prompt attention. Good-evening to youall"; and, turning with the last words, he drove away.
"So, Rosie, you are likely soon to be able to make the acquaintance ofyour future mother-in-law," said Violet. "But you don't seem alarmed atthe prospect."
"No; because I am not. From all Will has told me I think she must be alovely and lovable woman; as he thinks his future mother-in-law is."
"And as all to whom she bears that relation can testify," remarked thecaptain with an affectionate, appreciative glance at the sweet face ofGrandma Elsie.
"I, for one," said Mr. Leland heartily; "and I feel entirely sure ofZoe, the only other one to whom she bears that relationship."
"You are all very kind, very ready to pass my imperfections by,"responded Mrs. Travilla's sweet voice. "And if I am a good mother, I canassure you that it is at least partly as a a consequence of having goodsons and daughters."
"May you always be able to say that, mother," responded the captainheartily. "It would be a sorry sort of man or woman who could be anyother than a good son or daughter to you."
"Oh, Lu!" said Evelyn presently, "didn't you tell me you were going intothe city to-morrow to do some shopping?"
"Yes; but we did it to-day, in order that I might have to-morrow freefor the picnic. We all went to the city and had a very pleasant andsuccessful time."
"Shopping is apt to be very fatiguing work," said Grandma Elsie. "I seeGrace looks weary. Dear child, if you feel like retiring, do not let ourpresence hinder you for a moment."
"Thank you, Grandma Elsie; but I don't like to miss a minute of yourcall," returned Grace, exerting herself to speak in a lively tone.
"I'd like to tell about what we bought," said Ned, "but I suppose I mustnot."
"Better wait till you have the articles here to show, my son," said hisfather.
"Yes; we had to leave them to be marked; but Aunt Rosie will see themsome of these days," said the little fellow.
"And she is very willing to wait till the right time comes," Rosie said,putting an arm about him and giving him a kiss; for he had gone to herside.
"I'm afraid it will be a good while to wait," he returned. "Papa was sokind, he gave us--Elsie and me--each ten dollars to do what we pleasedwith. Lu and Gracie had a good deal more, 'cause they are older, youknow, and----"
"There, that will do, Ned," laughed his mother. "It is your bed time.Say good-night to grandma and the rest, and Elsie and you and I will runaway for the present."
The callers did not stay very long after Violet's return to the veranda,and soon after their departure the captain held his evening service andthen advised Lucilla and Grace to retire at once, that the coming daymight find them fully rested and refreshed.
They obeyed with cheerful alacrity, and arose the next morning feelingnone the worse for the exertion of the previous day.
Chester came promptly at the appointed hour, found Lucilla ready for theexcursion, and they drove away in fine spirits. Chester spared no painsto make himself agreeable to his companion, but was careful not to do orsay anything of which her father could disapprove. He brought her homeagain before dark, slightly fatigued, but gay and lively, with much totell of the pleasant experiences of the day.
"Did Rosie go?" asked Grace.
"Yes, and was very merry; indeed, so we all were. We were rowing aboutand fishing most of the time."
"Both at once?" queried her father with an amused look.
"No, sir; we kept still enough while trying to catch the fish, and wecaught as many as we could eat, then landed, made a fire,--the young mendid, I mean,--cooked the fish, made coffee, and we had our dinner. Wegirls spread a tablecloth on the grass and got out the good things inthe baskets. They were in great plenty, quite a variety, and all verygood and palatable. I think the air and rowing had given us all fineappetites so that everybody ate heartily and seemed to enjoy it."
"And you were not sorry you went?"
"No, indeed! I am much obliged to you, father, for letting me go," sheadded, turning to him with a look of love and gratitude.
"You are very welcome, daughter," he said, "and I am glad you enjoyedit. There is an old saying that 'all work and no play makes Jack a dullboy,' and I think girl nature does not differ in that respect."
"Oh, you dear papa! none of your children are ever allowed to have allwork and no play," she exclaimed, giving him a look of ardent affection."You take a great deal of trouble to give us pleasure; you always have."
"Yes, indeed," said Grace; "it seems to be papa's greatest delight togive pleasure to his wife and children. Don't you think so, mamma?"
"Indeed I do," returned Violet heartily. "I have never known a moregenerous or unselfish person than my husband and your father."
"And what shall I say?" queried the captain. "That when I am the personunder discussion no greater flatterers can be found than my wife andolder daughters?"
"Oh! we will excuse you from saying anything on the subject, sir,"laughed Violet.
"Now, what kind of a time did you all have staying at home without me?"asked Lucilla. "I hope you have missed me a little."
"Of course we did," replied Grace.
"Your father missed both his daughter and his amanuensis," said thecaptain.
"Oh! there were letters to be answered?" she exclaimed. "Please let medo it now, papa?"
"No, dear child, I answered them myself; and if I had not I should notlet you work to-night, after all the fatigue of the day."
"You are so kindly careful of me and all of us, papa," she said with agrateful, loving look into his eyes. "I am somewhat tired, but not toomuch so to use the typewriter, if you wanted any work done on it. It issuch a pleasure to be of even a little service to my dear father."
"And such a pleasure to your father to be served by so dear and loving adaughter," he returned; "one so valuable to me that I cannot consent tohave her broken down with too much of either work or pleasure. You mustgo to bed presently and try to take a good night's rest after theexertions of the day."
"I am ready to go whenever my father bids me," she said in a cheerfultone; "and I want to begin my night's sleep early enough to be ready formy usual stroll with him about the grounds before breakfast."
"Yes; I should be sorry to have to take that without the pleasantcompany of my early bird of a daughter," he said. "I should miss hersadly."
Lucilla's eyes shone. "Thank you, papa! it is very nice in you to saythat," she said, "and I dearly love those early walks with you."