“What a lovely morning,” remarked Mrs. Dinsmore. “This is one of our delicious October days.”
“Yes, and quite a good deal of it would be properly spent in walking and driving,” said her husband. “Shall I take you and Elsie over to Woodburn and Sunnyside?”
“You may take me in either way that suits you best,” she returned with a pleased smile.
“And you, Elsie?” he asked.
“Thank you, father,” she said, her tone and look indicating a grateful appreciation of his kindness in giving the invitation. “I last evening accepted an invitation from Walter; but we might make up a family party and all go. ‘The more the merrier,’ as I am sure the Woodburn folk will think.”
“Oh, do, do! Let us all go!” cried little Lily. “I want to see the monkeys again.”
At that everybody laughed, and Grandpa Dinsmore said:
“Very well, you can visit the monkeys, and the rest of us our relatives.”
Lily hung her head and blushed.
“I didn’t mean I cared more about the monkeys than about aunt and uncle and the cousins, for I don’t.”