“No, my dear baby girl is not so selfish as that, I am sure,” he returned with a loving look into the rosy, dimpled face. “But I feel quite sure Gracie does not want to go.”
“And somehow papa always knows what we want, Elsie,” Grace said with a contented little laugh.
“And as you will have Grandma Elsie, Aunt Elsie, Rosie and Evelyn along to help you select your dresses and other things, you won’t miss me if I stay at home, Marian,” said Lulu. “I want to get out our school-books—Gracie’s and mine—and arrange our desks ready for school; for papa says we are to begin lessons again to-morrow.”
“I shall miss you, I know,” Marian answered with a smile; “but of course it is by no means necessary that you should go, and I should be sorry to be a hindrance to you.”
Half an hour later the carriages from Ion and Fairview were seen coming up the drive. The Raymonds and their guest were all on the veranda, watching for them, Marian ready dressed for the little jaunt.
“Well, here we are!” called out a cheery voice as the foremost vehicle drew up in front of the veranda. “How many of you are going with us?”
“Only one—our young guest,” the captain replied, handing Marian in as he spoke. Cousin Ronald, Grandma Elsie, and her daughter Rosie were its occupants, and each gave Marian an affectionate morning greeting. Then Violet stepped forward for a moment’s chat with her mother, in which Rosie and the captain joined; thus leaving Marian and Mr. Lilburn the opportunity for a bit of private chat of their own.
“Lassie,” he said with a kindly smile, “dinna forget that you are a sort o’ adopted child o’ my ain, and that I hae a father’s right to at least help provide you wi’ a’ things needful,” slipping a roll of bank-notes into her hand.
“Oh,” she exclaimed, half under her breath and with starting tears, “how good and generous you are to me! I never had half as much in all my life.”