CHAPTER XV.
Grace had gone over to Fairview with her little brother and sister,accompanied by their nurse, Mamma Vi having told her she might learn herlessons there, and if Evelyn cared to hear her recite, that would answervery well.
Evelyn was entirely willing, and they had just finished a few minutesbefore the carriage from Woodburn came driving up the avenue, bringingGrace's father and sister Lulu.
They had already paid a call at Ion, and now had come to make a shortone at Fairview, and pick up Gracie, little Elsie, and Ned.
"Papa, papa!" shouted the two little ones, running to meet him as hecame up the steps into the veranda, and holding up their faces for akiss.
"Papa's darlings!" he responded, taking them in his arms to caress andfondle them, then letting them go to give Gracie her turn.
"Is my feeble little girl quite well this morning?" he asked, in tendertones.
"Yes, papa, thank you," she replied, giving him a vigorous hug, "and oh,so glad to see you! Have you come to take us--Elsie and Ned andme--home for a while again?"
"I have," he said, returning her hug. "I can't have your mamma atpresent, as her mother needs her, but my dear babies I need not dowithout."
"Am I one of them, papa?" asked Gracie, with a smile. "I'm almosteleven; but I don't mind being one of your babies, if you like to callme that." His only reply was a smile and a loving pat on her cheek, forthe two little ones were tugging at his coat and coaxing for a drive.
"Why, Elsie and Ned, you haven't kissed me yet," said Lulu. "Gracie andEva did while you were exchanging hugs and kisses with papa, and I thinkit's my turn now."
"So it is! I love you, Lu," cried Elsie, leaving her father for a momentto throw her arms round Lulu's neck in a hearty and loving embrace; Nedquickly followed suit, then running to his father again, renewed hisrequest for a drive in the carriage.
"Yes, my son, you shall have it presently," said the captain; then heproposed to Evelyn that she and her two little cousins should join theparty for a short drive in another direction, before he would take hisown children home to Woodburn.
His invitation was joyfully accepted and in a few minutes they had allcrowded into the captain's carriage and were driving down the avenue.
The little ones were very merry, and the captain did not check theirmirth. He was, in fact, in very good spirits himself, because thus farGrandma Elsie's cure had progressed so favorably. It continued to do sofrom that time till in two weeks she was able to be up and about a partof every day, and Violet returned to Woodburn, though daily, when theweather permitted, she drove over to Ion and spent an hour or more withher mother.
Quite frequently the captain drove her over himself, and leaving herthere, went on into the village to attend to some business matter,calling for her on his return.
On one of these occasions, going into the parlor he found there hiswife, her mother, eldest sister and grandparents in earnest conversationwith the doctor.
When the customary greetings had been exchanged, Grandma Elsie said tohim, with a smile, "Captain, these good people seem to have leaguedtogether to send, or to take me, to Viamede to spend the winter, CousinArthur having given it as his opinion that a warmer climate than thiswould probably be of benefit just at this time."
"In which I presume he is quite right, mother," returned the captain."And surely there is no difficulty in the way?"
"Nothing insurmountable," she replied.
"But we want some one to go on in advance and see that everything is inorder for mamma's comfort," said Violet, giving her husband a look thatwas half entreating, half one of confident assurance that he would denynothing to her or her loved mother which it was at all in his power tobestow.
"That, I think, would certainly be the better plan," he returnedpleasantly, "and if no one more competent than myself is to be had andit suits my wife to accompany me, my services may be considered asoffered."
Hearty thanks were at once bestowed upon him by all present.
But he disclaimed all title to them, saying, "I now have everything inorder at Woodburn, so that I may feel quite easy in leaving it for evena protracted stay; and to get a view of Viamede will be a new anddoubtless very pleasant experience to me, with wife and little onesalong; my daughters can go on with their studies under my tuition, thereas well as at home, and my intended visit to Max can be paid beforestarting for the far South. I only fear," he added, with a pleasantglance at Mrs. Leland, "that I may be offering to take upon myself aduty which is much to the taste of one of my brothers-in-law and mightbe better performed by one or both of them.
"No, captain," replied Mrs. Leland, "you need have no such fear, asneither of them is just now in a position to leave home, unless it werequite necessary for dear mamma's comfort."
"Then we will consider it settled that Violet and I are to go," said thecaptain, turning to her with his pleasant smile. "How soon can you beready, my dear?"
"By the first of next week if my husband wishes to start by that time,"returned Violet gayly. "Oh, I am quite delighted at the prospect ofseeing again that one of our sweet homes, and especially of doing so incompany with you, Levis."
The captain considered a moment. "I would not like to disappoint Max,"he said. "I think I must visit him next Saturday--as I shall notprobably be able to see him again before next spring. But I will makenecessary arrangements beforehand and I think we may leave for the Southby Wednesday morning of next week, if that will suit you, my dear?"
"Entirely," she said; "it will give me just about time enough to geteverything ready without hurry or confusion."
So it was settled, everybody seeming well satisfied with thearrangement.
A little more time was spent in discussing plans, then the captain andViolet bade good-by and set out on their return home.
"You are well pleased with the prospect of this visit to Viamede,Violet, my dear?" the captain said, as they drove rapidly along thefamiliar road.
"Oh, yes, indeed," she answered brightly; "Viamede is so lovely, a sortof earthly paradise I have always thought, and I am really delighted atthe thought of showing it to you. Ah, I am quite sure, having your dearsociety there, I shall enjoy it more than ever!"
"Thank you, dearest," was his smiling response. "I am certainly pleasedwith the prospect of seeing that earthly paradise, particularly with youto share my enjoyment. And how pleased Lulu and Gracie will be, for Ihave often heard them speak of Viamede as even lovelier than Woodburn,which they evidently esteem a very delightful and lovely home."
"As it assuredly is, my dear," was Violet's smiling rejoinder. "I couldnot ask a lovelier, happier home than that which my husband--the verybest and dearest of husbands--has provided for me. Oh, I often askmyself, 'Is there anybody else in all the wide world who has so much tobe thankful for as I?'"
"Ah, that fortunate mortal is surely he who sits by your side at thismoment, my darling," he answered in moved tones, taking her hand in hisand pressing it affectionately.
But the carriage was turning in at the Woodburn gates and presently theglad shout of little voices was borne to their ears on the eveningbreeze. "There it is! Papa and mamma have come home!"
A joyously tumultuous greeting followed, the little flock gatheringabout them as they alighted, talking, laughing, dancing around them,claiming their attention and their caresses.
Elsie and Ned pleaded for a ride, and Grace and Lulu seemed not averseto sharing it. So there was a hasty bundling up in capes and hoods,cloaks and shawls, papa piled them in, followed them, taking Ned on hisknee, and away they went for a mile or more down the road, then backagain, and were presently taking off their outdoor garments in the hall,mamma helping the little ones.
Then all gathered about the tea-table with appetites that madeeverything taste very good indeed. Elsie and Ned were too busy to talkmuch, but Lulu and Grace were unusually gay and mirthful, and theirfather indulged them in more than usual chat and laughter that wereneither rude nor boisterous.
Neither
he nor Violet said anything of the new plans for the winter tillthe babies had had their evening romp and been taken away to bed.Violet, as usual, went with them, and the captain was left alone withLulu and Grace.
They were hanging lovingly about him as was their custom on suchoccasions, and he drew one to each knee, saying in low, tender tones,"My darlings! my precious little daughters! How rich I feel in thepossession of my five dear children!"
"And how rich we feel with our dear, dear father! to say nothing of ourdear, sweet Mamma Vi and the two darling babies!" responded Lulu,putting her arm about his neck and her lips to his.
"Yes; and our dear big brother Maxie," added Grace.
"Yes, I was just going to mention him," said Lulu. "I am both very fondand very proud of Max. I wouldn't swap him for any other body's brotherthat ever I saw; no not even for all the nice brothers that Rosie has."
"Neither would I," said Grace, "though I'm fond of them all."
"Papa, when is it that we are going to see Max?" queried Lulu. "Sometime in January I know you said, but will it be to spend New Year's withhim?"
"No; wouldn't you like to go sooner than that?" he asked, stroking herhair and looking down lovingly, smilingly into her eyes.
"Oh, yes, indeed, papa! if it suits you to go and to take me," sheanswered eagerly. "It seems now a long, long while that I have beenseparated from Max, and the sooner I may go to see him the better. Buthave you changed your plans about it?"
"Yes," he replied. "I have something to tell you both which will showyou why, and also prove pleasant news to you, I think."
Then he proceeded to tell them of the plans laid that afternoon at Ion,and which made it necessary that, if he went to see Max at all thatwinter, he must do so before the end of the week already begun.
His news that their winter was to be spent at Viamede was hailed withdelight by both the little girls.
"I am so glad!" cried Grace, clapping her hands and smiling all over herface.
"I, too," exclaimed Lulu. "Viamede is so, _so_ beautiful, and to haveyou there with us, you dear papa, will make us--me any way--enjoy it atleast twice as much as I did before."
"Me too," said Grace; "the happiest place for me is always where my owndear father is with me," hugging him tight and kissing him again andagain.
"My darling! my precious darlings!" the captain said in response andcaressing them in turn.
"I'm so sorry for poor Maxie," remarked Grace presently, "that he can'tsee you every day, papa, as we do, and be kissed and hugged as we are;and that he can't go to Viamede with the rest of us." She finished witha heavy sigh.
"Yes," her father said, "I am sorry for him, and for ourselves, that heis not to be with us. But my dear boy is happy where he is, and I in thethought that he is preparing himself to do good service to our country;to be a valuable and useful citizen."
"And we are all ever so proud of him--our dear Maxie; but I'm glad I amnot a boy. Women can be very useful in the world too, can't they, papa?"
"Yes; yes, indeed, my darlings; the world couldn't go on without women,any more than without men; both are necessary, and the one sex to be asmuch honored as the other, and I hope and trust my daughters will allgrow up to be noble, true-hearted, useful women, always trying to doearnestly and faithfully the work God has given them to do."
"I hope so, indeed, papa!" responded Lulu in an earnest, thoughtfultone; "if I know my own heart I do want to be a very useful woman whenI'm grown up--a useful girl now--serving God with all my might; but oh,I do so easily forget and go wrong!"
"Yet I can see very plainly that my dear little girl is improving," herfather said, softly smoothing her hair with his hand, "and I'm sure--forthe Bible tells us so--that if you fight on, looking to God for help,you will come off conqueror and more than conqueror in the end."
"Yes, papa; oh, I am so glad the Bible says that!"
There was a moment's silence; then Grace said, with a sigh and a voicefull of tears, "Oh, I do so wish I could see Maxie before we go so faraway from him! Papa, wouldn't they let him come home for just a littlewhile?"
"No, daughter; but how would you like to go with Lulu and me to pay hima little visit?"
"O papa! so much if--if you think I won't be too tired to go on toViamede so soon afterward."
"I really think you could stand the two journeys, coming so neartogether, now that you are so much stronger than you used to be; and asyou can lie and rest in the cars, and we go by water from New Orleans.Don't you feel as if you could?"
"Oh, yes, papa, I feel almost sure I could!" she cried joyously.
"Then we will try it," he said, fondling her; "you will have no packingto do--I am sure Mamma Vi and Lulu will be pleased to attend to all thatfor you--and the journey to Annapolis is not a very long or fatiguingone. So, should nothing happen to prevent, you shall make one of ourlittle party to visit Max."
Grace's eyes shone with pleasure and Lulu exclaimed delightedly, "Oh, Iam so glad, Gracie! It will double my pleasure to have you along; andyou needn't worry one bit about your packing of clothes or playthings,for I'm sure I can see to it all with Christine or Alma to help me; oreven if I should have to do it all myself."
"Oh, thank you, Lu!" exclaimed Grace, "you are just the very best sisterthat ever I saw! Isn't she, papa?"
"I think her a very good and kind sister, and it makes me a proud andhappy father to be able to give her that commendation," he answered,with a loving look down into the eyes of his eldest daughter.
Just then Violet re-entered the room and a merry, happy hour followed,while plans and prospects were under discussion.
"Won't you excuse Gracie and me from lessons the rest of the time beforewe start for Viamede, papa?" asked Lulu coaxingly.
"No, daughter," replied the captain, in a pleasant tone; "there is verylittle either of you will be called upon to do in regard to thepreparations for our southward flitting, so no occasion for you to misslessons for so many days. Of course you cannot study on the boats andcars, at least I shall not ask it of you, and when we get to Viamedeyou will be glad of a little holiday to rest and run about, seeingeverything that is to be seen; and all that will cause quite sufficientloss of time from your lessons."
"Oh, dear," sighed Lulu, "I think it must be ever so nice to be grown upand not have any lessons to learn."
"Ah, Lu," laughed Violet, "I am not so sure that grown up folks have nolessons to learn; in fact I begin to have an idea that their lessons arenot seldom more trying and wearisome than those of the children."
"Yes, Mamma Vi," responded Lulu, with a blush, "and I'm sorry andashamed of my grumbling. Papa, I'm just determined I will be good and docheerfully whatever you bid me; I have always, always found your way thevery best in the end."
"Why, yes, Lu; of course papa always knows far better than we do what isbest for us," said Grace, leaning lovingly up against him and smiling upinto his face.
"Papa is very happy in having such loving, trustful little daughters,"he said, passing his hand caressingly over Gracie's golden curls.