"Good-morning, father, and Percy too! Why, you are out unusually early, are you not?" Lucilla exclaimed, holding out a hand to him. "Is it haste to catch the first glimpse of Erie—not lake but city—that has brought you on deck so soon?"
"Not only that, Miss Lu; it is a delightful time for being on deck—the sunrise was very beautiful," he said, taking the pretty hand for an instant, and giving it a friendly squeeze; "but you are a trifle too late for that."
"Yes," she said; "but I have seen it a number of times, and may hope to see it many times more on the waters of lakes or oceans."
"I hope you may," he returned pleasantly. "I wish with all my heart that every sort of enjoyment may be yours—now and always."
"Very kind of you," she said with a smile; "but I doubt if it would be best for me to be always free from every sort of trial and trouble. Papa," turning to him, "shall we have our usual stroll back and forth upon the deck—Percy joining us, if he wishes?"
"Yes," her father answered, drawing her hand within his arm; and the three paced back and forth, chatting pleasantly on the ordinary topics of the day till joined by the other members of their party and summoned to the breakfast table.
There was no disappointment in the visit to Erie; it proved quite as interesting as any one of the party had anticipated; the return voyage was delightful. They anchored for the night in the near vicinity of the island where they had landed on first coming to the neighborhood, and whence they received their daily mail.
CHAPTER XII.
"I wonder if Walter won't be joining us soon?" Lucilla remarked to her father as they walked the deck together the next morning.
"Probably. I should not be surprised to see him at any time," the captain said in reply. "I have sent in for the early mail, and—why here comes the boat now; and see who are in it!"