“No, not the fiftieth surely!” exclaimed the captain. “Really I think that, judging from her looks alone, no one would take her to be over forty.”
“So we all think, and everybody says she has a remarkably young face. But it will be her fiftieth birthday, and we, her children, want to do her unusual honor. Of course, as you know, my dear, we always remember the day, and each of us has some little gift for her, but this, being her semi-centennial, we think should be observed in some special manner.”
“I agree with you, and what do you propose doing in order to celebrate it appropriately?”
“We have not fully decided that question, and would be glad of suggestions and advice from you, if you will kindly give them.”
“I am sensible of the honor you do me, but must take a little time to reflect,” was his pleasant rejoinder.
“Papa, how old are you?” asked Grace with sudden animation, as if the question had just occurred to her.
“About twenty-four years older than Max,” replied the captain, turning upon his first-born a look of fatherly pride and affection.
“And I’m almost fifteen,” added Max.
“That makes papa thirty-nine,” remarked Lulu. “You’ll be forty next birthday, won’t you, papa?”
“Yes, daughter.”