"Never doubt it, my darlings; never for a moment," he said in a moved tone.
"Oh, so here you are, girls!" exclaimed a familiar voice just in their rear. "I have been all round the verandas, looking for you, but you seemed to be lost in the crowd or to have vanished into thin air."
"Certainly not that last, sister Rose," laughed the captain. "I am happy to say there is something a good deal more substantial than that about them."
"Yes, I see there is; they are both looking remarkably well. And now I hope we can have a good chat. There has hardly been an opportunity for it yet—there being such a crowd of relations and friends, and such a commotion over the wedding—and you know I want to hear all about what you did and saw in Florida. Also to tell you of the improvements we are talking of making at Riverside."
"You will have hardly time for a very long talk, Rosie," said her mother, joining them at that moment. "The call to dinner will come soon. But here are comfortable chairs and a sofa in which you can rest and chat until then."
"Yes, mamma, and you will join us, will you not? And you too, brother
Levis?" as the captain turned toward the outer door.
"I shall be pleased to do so if my company is desired," he replied, taking a chair near the little group already seated.
"Of course it is, sir. I always enjoyed your company even when you were my respected and revered instructor with the right and power to punish me if I failed in conduct or recitation," returned Rosie in the bantering tone she had so often adopted in days gone by.
"I am rejoiced to hear it," he laughed.
"And you may as well make yourself useful as story-teller of all you folks saw and did in Florida," she continued.