“Better not, just yet,” said his father. “But what have his sisters to say about him?” turning to them.
“I’m ever so glad to see him,” said Grace.
“He’s a darling, and I mean to love him dearly,” said Lulu.
There was no cloud on her brow as at the news of Elsie’s birth; no fear in her heart that her father would love her less for the advent of this new treasure.
“Papa,” asked Grace, “are you just as much his father as ours?”
“Just as much, daughter, no more no less,” answered the captain, laying his hand tenderly on her head, and smiling down into her eyes.
“So now we have two brothers; that’s nice!” she remarked with satisfaction.
“I have but one,” said Max.
“We will go down to breakfast now,” said the captain, carefully covering up the babe again; “I directed that the bell should not be rung for fear of disturbing your mamma, who is asleep,” and he led the way from the room, moving with care to make no noise.
“How strange it seems without mamma,” remarked Grace as they took their places at the table.