"Yes, you dear papa, I know that and it makes me, oh, so happy," she said with joyous look and tone.
"As I think you have reason to be, Lu," Violet said, regarding her husband and his daughter with a smile of pleased sympathy.
"It is time for our evening service, and then for my daughter to go to her bed and take her beauty sleep," remarked the captain looking at his watch.
"Yes, papa," laughed Lucilla, "I need all of that kind of sleep that I can get."
CHAPTER X.
"Ah! so you are up, Gracie dear," Lucilla said, looking in the next morning at the communicating door between their rooms. "I have been down in the grounds with papa for the last half hour, and he bade me come and tell you to dress for a drive; for we are to go on our shopping expedition to-day instead of to-morrow."
"Are we?" exclaimed Grace. "To-day will suit me as well as to-morrow; but why have papa and mamma changed their plans?"
"It is all for my benefit," laughed Lucilla. "You must know that Chester Dinsmore has been so good as to invite me to attend a boat ride and picnic with him to-morrow, and, to my surprise, papa gave me full permission to go."
"That was very kind of him," remarked Grace, "and I hope you will have a delightful time."