“Oh, thank you, sir! Mamma Vi, we’ll take our noisy games far enough away from the house not to disturb you.”
“I shall not mind the noise,” said Violet. “I have always been used to boys, and take great pleasure in seeing them enjoy themselves.”
This talk was at the breakfast table, and an hour or two later the guests began to arrive.
The sports were such as the little girls did not care to take part in, but they found much entertainment in looking on, and felt a sisterly delight in seeing how intensely Max enjoyed it all.
The visitors were a polite, good-humored set, the captain’s presence among them was a restraint as well as a pleasure, and nothing occurred to mar the harmony of their intercourse.
When the time came for the good-byes, there were warm hand-shakings and earnest asseverations that never in their lives had they had a better time.
Max’s party was now successfully over. Lulu’s birthday was near at hand, yet nothing was said about its celebration. She waited from day to day, hoping that her father would mention the subject and say that she, too, should have a party; but kind as he was and thoughtful for her comfort and enjoyment in every other respect, he seemed to have forgotten that he had ever spoken of such an intention, and never to reflect that she might reasonably expect the same indulgence that had been shown her brother and sister; so at length she sorrowfully concluded that he thought her late misconduct had rendered her unworthy of such a treat.
She was quite sure of it when the very last evening before her birthday had come and still she had received no intimation that any notice whatever was to be taken of it.
She was unusually silent all the evening, seemed to keep a little apart from the others, and now and then sighed softly to herself.
Several times her father’s ears caught the sound, but he merely gave her a kindly inquiring glance and went on with his talk.