“Oh, you are such a dear, good, kind papa,” laughed Lulu, giving him a vigorous hug. “You’d never allow ponies or horses to be abused, but I guess I know which you care most for—the ponies or your children.”
“Yes, indeed, we do,” Grace said, seizing his hand and lifting it to her lips; “you love us ever so much more than you do the ponies; but oh, I am so glad we are going, and that we may take them along; it’ll be so nice to ride them there.”
But little preparation was needed, and in a few days the voyage was begun. That and the sojourn upon the island which followed, were almost one long delight to the children, and enjoyed but little less by the older members of the party.
They went again to every place of interest they had visited before, and with quite as much pleasure; they sailed again about the harbor by both moonlight and daylight, went on fishing excursions and “squantums,” and had many a delicious gallop over the breezy hills and downs.
CHAPTER XXII.
Every hour of the sojourn at Nantucket had been enjoyed by the Raymonds, yet when they came in sight of Woodburn, with its lawn trees, shrubbery and woods glorious in their autumn robes of crimson, scarlet, russet and gold, every face was wreathed in smiles.
“Fleeting glories, but very beautiful while they last,” remarked the captain.
“Yes, indeed,” said Violet; “I know no more charming place than home after all!”
“Such a home as ours, Mamma Vi,” supplemented Max.
“Yes; it is just the very sweetest of homes,” cried Lulu, with enthusiasm. “And yet it is nice to go away to the sea sometimes.”