“Ah! An astonishing bit of news! She was not expected so soon?”
“No, not for some weeks yet, but the parents are very happy over her prompt arrival. So far both mother and child are doing well.”
“That is good news; all you have told me is good news, although it seems a little odd to think of myself as a grandfather,” remarked the captain with a smile. Then turning to Lucilla, who joined them at that moment, he told the news to her.
“Oh,” she cried, “how nice! Harold, can I go in now, speak to Eva and look at her treasure?”
“Not yet,” he said; “she needs rest and I think is sleeping. We will let you in some hours later.”
“Thank you. I don’t want to go to her until her physician considers it quite safe to do so,” returned Lucilla.
“Nor do I,” said the captain, “though I shall be pleased to get sight of my first grandchild.”
“Oh, yes, she has made you a grandfather, papa,” laughed Lucilla. “How odd that seems!”
“And you, Grace and Elsie, aunts; Ned—my little Ned—an uncle.”