“Yes, we will,” said Grace. “But oh,” she sobbed, “it’s so very dreadful that papa is hurt so!”
“But it might have been a great deal worse, Gracie,” said her brother, with a tremble in his voice. “I thought at first that papa was dead; he was so still and white, and didn’t know any thing at all.”
“Max,” exclaimed Lulu, sobbing bitterly as she spoke, “I wish you’d take your gun along, and if we meet Thunderer shoot him right down dead.”
“Why no, Lu! I wouldn’t dare do such a thing without papa’s leave; the horse belongs to him and is worth a great deal of money; so I wouldn’t have any right to kill him. Beside, papa has forbidden me ever to handle my gun when you girls are by: because accidents with firearms happen so often, even when they’re in the hands of men.”
“Well, I just hope he’s broken his neck before this, jumping a hedge or something,” cried Lulu fiercely. “Come, Gracie, we’ll go up-stairs now and put on our hats and habits.”
CHAPTER XIX.
A messenger had been dispatched early that morning from Woodburn to Ion with the news of the arrival of Violet’s son; then Zoe and Rosie had ridden over to Fairview with the tidings, and brought Evelyn back with them.
They were all three on the veranda now, waiting and watching for the coming of Captain Raymond, or Max with Lulu and Grace.
“What on earth can be keeping them?” exclaimed Rosie at length. “They must be greatly taken up with that new-comer—my second nephew. How nice and funny it seemed at first to be an aunt! but it’s quite an old story now.”
“And I can never be one,” remarked Eva, between a sigh and a smile; “though I confess the thought never struck me before.”