“O, Eva!” cried the latter, “how pretty you are in that dress! and how perfectly lovely you looked in the picture!”
“Oh, hush, you mustn’t flatter,” returned Evelyn, laughing, as she threw her arms round Lulu and kissed her with warmth of affection. “I’m so glad you came! you, too, Gracie,” kissing her also; “I was afraid you might not be well enough.”
“Oh, yes: I’m better,” said Grace; “and, oh, I wouldn’t have missed it for anything!”
There was a great deal of laughing and talking going on, and Captain Raymond, exchanging remarks with some of the other grown people, had not noticed Evelyn till this moment; but now he turned toward her with a kind fatherly smile, and held out his hand, saying, “Ah, my dear, how do you do? Allow me to congratulate you on your successful performances, and to hope you will repeat them at Woodburn next week.”
“Oh, yes, Eva, you will, won’t you?” cried Lulu.
Eva smiled pleasantly, “I shall be glad to do anything I can to help with the sports, and I expect a very good time,” she said. “It’s ever so good in you and Aunt Vi to make another party for us young folks, captain.”
“I shall feel fully repaid if it proves a happy time to you all,” he replied.
“I must go now and change my dress,” said Evelyn. “Captain, may I carry Lu off with me to the rooms we girls are occupying?”
“Yes, if you don’t keep her too long; we will be starting for home in about half an hour.”
“Thank you, papa; I promise to be back by that time,” said Lulu.