CHAPTER XVI
“Home, sweet home!” exclaimed Lucilla as their carriage turned into the driveway on that first evening after the Dolphin had come into port. “Home, sweet home! There’s no place like home.”
“Except Woodburn, our dear old home,” returned Max in jesting tone.
“No; Woodburn and Sunnyside-so near together, and their inhabitants so nearly related—seem to make but one home to me.”
“And to us all, I think,” said Evelyn.
“And you are right, I am sure,” said Chester, as the carriage drew up before the entrance. “Ah, here we are at the very threshold of our Sunnyside! Wife, brother and sister, a glad welcome home to you all.” With the last word he threw open the carriage door, sprang out upon the veranda steps, turned and helped Lucilla to alight. Max, his wife and baby followed.
A joyous welcome was given them all by the waiting servants, and they passed in, each couple to their own part of the commodious and beautiful dwelling.
“Welcome home, my darling,” said Max to his wife. “Welcome home, baby dear, papa’s sweet little pet,” taking the infant in his arms as he spoke. “Oh, Eva, my love, how rich we are, with her added to all our other lesser blessings!”
“Indeed, we are! She is a great blessing,” said Eva, caressing the child as he held it in his arms. “To me she seems more than all others taken together-except her father,” she added, smiling up into his face.
“And to me she is the next one to her mother,” responded Max, bestowing a very loverlike caress upon his wife as she stood close at his side. “How good my father has been to provide us with this lovely home, so near to his that we seem to belong to his family still.”