“Yes, she is one of the family,” assented Captain Raymond heartily.
“I will go and bring her,” said Max, hurrying from the room, to return in a very few minutes carrying his baby and with his wife by his side.
The little one was cooing and smiling.
“Excuse me, friends and relatives, for bringing in this uninvited young girl, for I can assure you she will not repeat anything that is said,” laughed Max as Eva took possession of a chair handed her by Harold, and he gave the child to her. The door opened again at that moment and Elsie Raymond’s voice was heard asking:
“May I come in, papa?”
“Yes, daughter, you are wanted here,” was the pleasant-toned reply, and as she came near to him he drew her to his knee, saying:
“We are talking of Grace’s wedding, trying to decide when it shall be.”
“Oh, is it going to be soon, papa?” she exclaimed. “I thought it wasn’t to be for years yet. And I don’t want my dear Sister Grace to be taken away from us to another home.”
“No, and she shall not be for a year or more, and then not out of the grounds.”
“Oh, I am glad of that! You will build them a house in our grounds, will you, papa?”