"No, sir," said Edward, hurrying shoreward again, "that's my task; you have your children to take care of."
"Your mother is my child, Ned, and I think I shall take care of her," Mr. Dinsmore said, hastening back to the little crowd still at the water's edge.
"We will have to let her decide which of us shall have the honor," said the captain.
"That I won't," Mr. Dinsmore said, laughingly, stepping to his daughter's side and taking her in his arms.
"Now, you two may take care of the younger ones," he added, with a triumphant glance at his two rivals.
"Ah, Ned, we are completely outwitted," laughed the captain.
"Yes; with grandpa about one can't get half a chance to wait upon mother. Betty, shall I have the honor and pleasure of conveying you aboard of yonder vessel?"
"Yes, thank you; I see Harold and Herbert are taking Rosie and Walter," she said. "But I warn you that I am a good deal heavier than Zoe."
"Nevertheless, I think my strength will prove equal to the exertion," he returned, as he lifted her from the ground.
Lulu and Grace stood together, hand in hand, Max on Gracie's other side.