Something, however, was soon said that put all else out of his sisters’ minds. The Captain turned to them with his merry smile, saying, “Pray what would Miss Susie and Miss Bessie say to coming up to London with me to see Mamma?”
The two girls bounded upon their chairs; Susan’s eyes grew round, and Bessie’s long; the one said, “O Papa!” and the other, “Oh, thank you!” and they looked so overwhelmed with ecstasy, and all the three elders laughed.
“Then you will behave discreetly, young women?”
“I’ll try,” said Susan; “and Bessie always does. Oh, thank you, Papa!”
“Grandmamma should be thanked; she asked me to bring a child or two, to be with Mamma when I go down to Portsmouth. We had thought of Susan; but I think Betty deserves some amends for what she has undergone.”
“Oh yes, Papa! thank you!” cried Susan, Sam, and David, from their hearts; John and Annie because the others did so.
“Then you won’t kick her out if she shares your berth, Sue?”
“Oh, I am so glad, Papa! It is so nice to go together.”
“Then, Miss Fosbrook, will you be kind enough to rig them out? I must drive into Southminster at ten o’clock; and if you would be so good as to see them smartened up for London there, I should be much obliged to you.”
The mere drive to the country town was a great event in itself, even without the almost incredible wonder that it was to lead to; and the delights of which Ida and Miss Fosbrook had told them in London went so wildly careering through the little girls’ brains, that they hardly knew what they said or did, as they danced about the house, and ran up-stairs to get ready, long before ten o’clock.