"Arranging themselves in different orders of battle," he replied, and proceeded to explain each movement as it was made.
"It's ever so nice to see them," she said, "though I do hope they won't ever have to do any real fighting."
"I hope not, indeed," her father said; "but in this wicked, quarrelsome world the only way to secure peace is to show that we are ready for self-defence in case of attack."
"How beautifully and promptly every signal is obeyed!" remarked Grandma Elsie. "It is a sight worth coming a long distance to see."
"Yes, Mamma," said Violet; "and I'm proud of our navy, even though it is so inferior in size to that of England."
"Inferior in size, but in nothing else, I believe, Mamma Vi," said Max, speaking with some excitement. "You know we've whipped the British twice on the sea in spite of their navy being so very much larger than ours."
"Yes, Maxie, I believe I'm as proud of that fact as even you can be," laughed Violet, while his father gave him a look of mingled amusement and pride.
"I think," remarked Edward Travilla, "that from the beginning of our national life our navy has been one to be proud of."
"In which I entirely agree with you," said the Captain. "But the exhibition seems to be over for to-night, and the hour is a late one to find our young people out of bed."