CHAPTER XVII.
At Woodburn Captain Raymond and his eldest daughter had had their usualearly ramble together about the grounds; then, coming in, had found alarge mail, containing a number of business letters for him, awaitingthem.
"I hope they are such as I can answer for you on the typewriter, papa,"Lucilla said cheerfully.
"Yes," he replied; "if you have time and inclination to do so."
"Always time to work for my father," she said, giving him a bright,sweet smile, as she seated herself before the machine.
"Then we will do it at once," he said, returning the smile as heuncovered the machine and put the paper in place for her. "'Businessbefore pleasure' is a good rule, and my dear, helpful daughter makes itan easier one for me to follow than it would be without herassistance."
"I am so glad it does, papa; so glad I am of some use to you," shereturned, blushing with pleasure as she spoke.
"I know you are, daughter dear, else I should not call upon you forthese services," he said heartily; then, glancing over a letter he hadjust opened, he began dictating.
He had not said anything to her about the talk he and Donald Keith hadhad the night before, nor did he intend to. So sure of the result was hethat it did not seem at all necessary, and he thought the knowledge ofwhat was before her would only cause her embarrassment and discomfort.He did not know what opportunity Keith might seize, and it seemed betterto leave her in ignorance of his intentions.
"Is that all, father?" she asked presently, when several letters hadbeen written.
"Yes, daughter," he replied; "and now we can feel free for the day. Ihope it will be a pleasant one to you."
"I expect it to be, papa," she returned; "Pinegrove is a beautifulplace, and the Howards are delightful people. No relation to me, buttolerably near cousins to Mamma Vi, you know."
"Yes; Mrs. Howard being half sister to her grandfather," he said with anamused look. "They can hardly be called near relatives, but are veryestimable people, and I think the half day may be passed very pleasantlywith them and the visiting relatives."
"I like Flora Howard. Papa, don't you think she might make a nice wifefor Captain Keith, if only they should take a fancy to each other?"
"I hadn't thought of it. She is rather young--not much older than mydaughter Lulu, I judge; so had better not be thinking of marriage foryears to come."
"Yes, sir; but a good many girls do, you know; girls that haven't such adear, good father as mine to make them feel that they never want toleave him for anybody else."
"You are sure you don't want to leave yours?" he asked with a searching,though smiling look into her face.
"Oh, papa, you can't doubt it, I am sure!" she exclaimed, giving him alook of ardent affection.
"No, I do not," he returned; "I am very sure--since you have told me soat least a dozen times--that my dear eldest daughter loves me betterthan she does any other man living, and wants me to keep her all my ownfor years to come."
"Yes, indeed, papa," she said with a happy laugh, "that is just what Iwant you to do."
"Then we entirely agree. There is the breakfast bell, and I hope mydaughter feels ready to obey its summons."
"Yes, sir; it is a welcome sound."
It was a bright and cheerful party that presently gathered about thetable, and a lively conversation was carried on while they partook ofthe tempting viands. The new home about to be prepared for Rosie, itspresent condition, the beauty of the situation, the grounds, thebuilding, and the improvements to be made by alterations and additions,were themes dilated upon for a time; then the approaching marriage ofDick and Maud came under discussion, and the questions were broachedwhether she would wear the dress she had worn as Rosie's bridesmaid,and whether she would have the same attendants.
"I hope she will," little Elsie said. "I'd like to be flower girl again,and my dress is all ready, so that it wouldn't make any trouble orexpense."
"That is very thoughtful in you, little sister," laughed Lucilla.
"I am really sorry there is no time or opportunity to buy presents forMaud," remarked Violet in a regretful tone.
"Yes, it seems a pity," said Captain Raymond; "but perhaps they can besent on to her later. If people will marry in haste they will have totake the consequences. I hope that in this case one of them will not berepenting at leisure."
"I don't believe it will," said Violet. "They are of the same kith andkin, and know pretty much all about each other."
"Keith," said Captain Raymond, "send your plate up again; I see it isalmost empty."
"Thank you, no; I want to save some appetite for the later breakfastthat I am told I must share with the rest of you at Pinegrove. Our goodfriends there might feel hurt should I do it scant justice."
"How soon do we go, papa?" asked Grace.
"As soon after prayers as the ladies are dressed and ready."
"The little girls and boys too, papa?" asked Ned somewhat anxiously."Elsie and I are to go, aren't we?"
"Oh, yes, my son, and I hope will have a very pleasant time. I am glad Ican trust you to be good, well-behaved children."
Donald Keith was on the watch for an opportunity to tell to Lucilla thestory of his love, but none offered. They drove to Pinegrove, andafterward to Roselands, in the same carriage, but it had a number ofother occupants, and the conversation was general. But, fortunately forLucilla, she had no suspicion of his designs upon her, so was entirelyat her ease with him.
The Pinegrove party was a success, everybody enjoying it fully; the veryyoung in playing games, the older ones strolling about the grounds,chatting, laughing, singing.
The breakfast, quite a grand affair, was served about noon, and some twohours after it was over they all left the grove for Roselands.
Little had been said at Pinegrove about the approaching marriage, but itcame under discussion at Roselands, and to the extreme satisfaction ofthe two little Elsies it was decided that they should act as flowergirls, as they had at Rosie's wedding. The same bridesmaids and maid ofhonour were chosen also; with the understanding that they should allwear the same dresses worn as Rosie's attendants.
"And, of course, you will wear yours, Maud," said Laura Howard. "It islovely and very becoming, and the shade so delicate that I should thinkit would do almost, if not quite, as well as if it were white."
"It is very pretty, and as becoming as any I own," Maud said with aslight smile. "I haven't time to buy another, and, if one's bridegroomis all right, it doesn't really matter whether the wedding dress isperfectly white or not."
"Certainly not," laughed Dick. "I should rather by far marry the rightwoman in a black calico than the wrong one in the handsomest of whitesatins; even with Brussels or point lace on it in abundance."
"Well, then, I may feel entirely easy," Maud said, echoing his laugh,"for I shall certainly be better and more appropriately attired than ina black dress, or calico of any colour."
"Of course you will," said Grace, "I think that dress of yours is lovelyand extremely becoming. No one need be ashamed of such a wedding dressas that."
"And I am determined that she shall have a lovely wedding," said Mrs.Sue Dinsmore; "as much like what I have been told Sister Elsie's was aspossible. The house shall be trimmed with abundance of flowers, and thebride and groom shall stand in the very same spot that theirpredecessors did; and I dare say the refreshments will be pretty nearlya reproduction of what were served that evening; as nearly as I canmanage it, at all events."
"It really won't matter if there are some added luxuries, my dear," herhusband remarked in a jesting tone, and with a twinkle of fun in hiseye.
"No, I presume not; it will be better to err on that side than on theother," she returned demurely. "I mean, however, to make up to poor Maudfor the lack of a new wedding dress; at least so far as I can."
"As I do," said Mrs. Travilla, smiling kindly upon the expectant bride.
"And it is only the pressure of Dick's haste--the lack of time forit--that keeps her brothers
from providing her with as handsome awedding outfit as could be desired," remarked Chester, looking slightlyannoyed and hurt.
"Yes, Chester, we all know that," a chorus of voices exclaimed, hisUncle Dinsmore adding: "And as we are all relatives or connections, itreally matters very little. Dick may be thankful--and I don't in theleast doubt that he is--to get Maud, without considering how she isattired, or of what her wardrobe consists."
"I say amen to that, uncle," smiled Dick, "and shall only enjoy speedilysupplying anything lacking in her wardrobe. I'll be glad, indeed, tohave the right."
"Very good in you, Dick; but it isn't the bridegroom's place to supplythe trousseau," said Chester, only half mollified. "And there is nooccasion, seeing her brothers are able to do it, and willing, to saynothing of her own means."
"Oh, Ches, don't be vexed," said Maud. "It will all be right; I have avery good wardrobe, and don't mean to let Dick buy anything for me thislong while."
At which Dick laughed meaningly, as much as to say: "In regard to that Ishall do as I please or think best."
Chester was somewhat out of sorts; he did not like to have his sisterhurried into marriage without a trousseau, and he had noticed somethingthat displeased him still more in Captain Keith's manner toward LucillaRaymond. It was hard, very hard, he thought, that her father would notallow him to tell her the story of his love. He would have been stillmore indignant had he known that Keith was allowed that privilege.
As for Keith, he was looking out for an opportunity to avail himself ofthe father's permission; not very hopefully, but still not in entiredespair; thinking that clever courting might perhaps win her in the end.And he felt that she was worth much effort and long waiting for.
The afternoon passed quickly and the party broke up early, partlybecause of the necessary preparations for to-morrow's wedding. The Oaksfamily, having the most of that to attend to, were the first to leave,and the others soon followed.