“With pleasure,” she replied, and turning to her father, “Shall we not make up a party, papa?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said. “It is a lovely morning for a drive and we may as well do so, all going who have time and inclination.”
“I wonder if our young guest is awake yet,” Violet said to her husband as they turned away from the telephone. “Shall I send a servant up to see?”
“No, my dear, I think I wouldn’t,” the captain replied. “I told her last night to lie and sleep as late this morning as she would, ring for her breakfast when she was ready to eat it, and it should be carried up to her. Ah! there is her bell now. I will direct that it be taken up at once, and then we will have family worship.”
On coming down nearly an hour later Marian found the family gathered upon the front veranda. The captain rose on her appearance and gallantly handed her to a seat, remarking that she was looking much better and brighter than on her arrival the previous evening.
“Yes, sir,” she said, “and I feel far better. I was very weary with my long journey (what a very big country America is!), but I slept well and am almost rested now.”
Just then a carriage was seen to turn in at the gates opening upon the high-road. Ned greeted its approach with a shout of delight.
“Gan’ma tumin’! gan’ma tumin’. Oh, I so blad, I so blad!”
“Yes, Neddie boy, we are always glad to see dear grandma,” said his father. “Grandpa Dinsmore too, Cousin Ronald, Rosie and Walter. They are all there, I see.”
The next minute the carriage had drawn up at the foot of the steps and the captain was assisting his guests to alight and bidding them heartily welcome.