“Oh, won’t he be tickled!” laughed Lucilla.
“We will see,” laughed the captain, “for here he comes,” as Ned was seen at that moment approaching them in their walk.
“Good-morning, papa and Sister Lu,” he cried, as he drew near. “Good-morning, Uncle Harold.”
“Good-morning,” returned his father. “Have you heard the news?”
“News, papa? No, sir; what is it?” he asked, putting his hand into that of his father. “Nothing bad, I guess, ’cause you look pleased; and so do sister and uncle.”
“I hope you, too, will be pleased when you hear it,” said his father. “You have a little niece, Ned. You are an uncle.”
“Oh, am I? Why how did it happen? Where is she?”
“Only a little baby,” laughed Lucilla. “Brother Max and Sister Eva are her father and mother.”
“And God gave her to them a little while ago,” added their father. “And I want you to remember to make no noise anywhere about the house, because your Sister Eva is not well and noise would be very apt to make her worse.”
“Yes, sir, I think I can remember to be quiet so as not to hurt Sister Eva or wake the baby if it is asleep. I’d like to see it, though.”