“Edward,” said Helen, “you look very knowing; I do believe you are in the secret.”
“Oh! it is no secret now,” Edward said: “we are on the road to the Dyke, and I have been helping mamma this morning to prepare for the trip; only I would not talk about it, for fear the weather should disappoint you.”
“I will try to bear disappointments better,” said Lewis, who had not forgotten the incident of the morning; “and then papa and mamma will not be afraid of letting me know their plans.”
“Well,” interrupted Helen, “I must say I like excursions better when they are quite unexpected, as this was.”
“So do not I,” said Edward, “there is a great deal of enjoyment in thinking of, and preparing for, them beforehand.”
“Then,” said his father, “it seems you and Helen are both satisfied; but there is one pleasure still which may belong to us all; and you seem quite to have forgotten it.”
“Oh! papa,” cried Lewis, “you mean the pleasure of retrospection: every one likes the pleasures of retrospection.”
“Then, my boy,” said his father, “it should be our constant desire, so to pass each day and hour as that the retrospect may, at least, give us no cause for pain.”
“I think we shall all be very happy to-day; do not you, dear aunt?” asked Helen.
Mrs. Ashton smiled as she repeated: