“Oh, I do believe we can, Aunt Zoe; for the dear little things love us now, I’m sure,” cried Elsie, giving Tiny a hug and a loving pat.
But the older people were chatting about the necessary preparations for the journey, and the children grew quiet to listen. Their plans were laid in a few moments, and within twenty-four hours all embarked for New Orleans, in the same boat, and on reaching that city the two companies parted, Edward and his charges starting eastward in the Dolphin, Captain Raymond and his taking a westward-bound train on the Southern Pacific.
The little company, especially the younger ones, were in fine spirits; they were pleasant companions for each other, the weather was fine, and the prospect of sight-seeing before them quite delightful. The children had many questions to ask about what they should see in California, which the older people, especially their father, were kindly ready to answer.
“At what place will we stop first, papa?” asked Elsie.
“At Coronado Beach, which is not very far from Los Angeles. We will take rooms at the Hotel del Coronado, which is an immense building, yet very homelike and delightful. It has an inner court, with trees, flowers and vines, and around that court many suites of rooms, each with its own bath and sitting-room, so that a party of guests such as ours can be very comfortable and as private as they please.”
“And if they don’t want to be very private I suppose they can mingle with other folks, can’t they, papa?” asked Ned.
“Yes, indeed; there is almost every kind of amusement that is found elsewhere. Probably fishing and yachting, walking and driving along the beach, will suit us as well or better than anything else; there is a drive of twelve miles along the beach at low tide.”
“But I fear we will find it too warm for outdoor sports at this time of year,” remarked Mrs. Dinsmore.
“No, grandma, I think not,” said Dr. Harold. “I have been told the summer climate is better than the winter—never too warm for comfort, dry and tempered as it is by the ocean breeze. You do not find there the raw, searching dampness felt at Eastern seaside resorts; but I’m told it is too cold for the comfort of invalids during the March rains. They are happily over now, and I think that even our invalids will find the weather comfortably warm.”
“And comfortably cool?” queried his mother, giving him a proudly affectionate look and smile.