Evelyn was the most eager for the start; it seemed so long since she had last seen her young husband, and they were hoping he might get a furlough and spend some weeks with her at Crag Cottage, their pretty home on the Hudson.
They tarried in San Francisco long enough to acquaint themselves with all its beauties, then wended their way eastward as fast as the cars could carry them. They felt it still too early in the season for an immediate return to their southern homes, but they scattered to various places in the north-some to visit relatives, some to the seaside, while several accepted an invitation from Evelyn to spend some weeks at Crag Cottage. She knew that her aunt, Elsie Leland, was already there, and had everything in order for their reception. Grandma Elsie, Dr. Harold Travilla, Grace Raymond and her sister, Lucilla, were the others who accepted the invitation. But Captain Raymond, Violet and their two younger children expected to visit for some weeks one of Long Island’s seaside resorts.
Max had written to Evelyn that he hoped for a furlough that would enable him to join her at their cottage and spend with her the few weeks she would care to stay there; and she was looking forward to that reunion with eager delight, while journeying from far-off California to the home of her childhood.
“Father and Mamma Vi,” she said to them as they journeyed through the State of New York, “stop with me at Crag Cottage and make at least a little visit there. I think you will see Max if you do. I have a feeling that he will be there to meet us on our arrival.”
“Thank you, daughter,” returned Captain Raymond, with a look of pleasure, “I shall be happy to accept your invitation if it suits my wife to do so. What do you say, Violet, my dear?”
“That I accept gladly! I shall be pleased to see both Max and the pretty cottage; as well as to be Eva’s guest for a few days.”
“And what will Elsie and I do?” asked Ned, with a roguish look. “Go on to the seashore by ourselves?”
“No, little brother, we wouldn’t any of us be willing to trust you to do that,” laughed Evelyn, “and large as you are, I think the cottage can be made to hold you two in addition to the others.”
“Oh, good! I’m glad of that, for I always enjoy a visit to Crag Cottage,” cried Ned, clapping his hands in glee.
“And I hope you will be often there visiting your brother and sister,” said Evelyn, smiling affectionately and patting the hand he had laid upon the arm of her seat.