“Yes, sir; and I’d like to know what’s going to be done to-day.”
“Well, I believe I can inform you. Everybody who wants to go, and has been faithful in attendance to preliminary duties, will spend the day, by invitation, at the Oaks; Rosie’s day and yours beginning when your two hours of school duties are over.”
“Oh, I like that! I’m glad, Cousin Mary, that you are to see the place, it is so lovely there, and was mamma’s home when she was a little girl and when she grew to be a young lady; and there are the rooms that used to be hers, and the one she was married in.”
“I shall be greatly interested in looking at them all, as well as glad to visit Cousin Horace and his family,” returned Miss Keith.
“I believe we are all invited?” Edward remarked interrogatively, turning to his wife.
“Yes, my dear,” Zoe replied, “even to the babies, who, I hope, will have a good time together in the nursery or out in the grounds.”
“Yes,” said Rosie, “Sisters Elsie and Violet were talking of going with all the children and young folks of each family. Aunt Rosie too expects to be there with her husband and all the children. The Howards are going also, the Conlys too; so that we shall be the same large party that were here yesterday.”
“And next week,” said Zoe, “we are all to assemble at Woodburn one day, at the Laurels on another, then at Fairview, and afterward at Roseland.”
“What a grand time we shall have!” continued Rosie; “and how can anybody be expected to give his or her mind to lessons? I have serious thoughts of petitioning my big brother—the captain—for a week of holidays.”
“How would it do to beg off from attendance upon the parties in order to do justice to your studies?” asked her grandfather in the tone of one suggesting an agreeable alternative.