"Very true, my dear," he said.
"Then that is where we shall go," said the captain.
"That includes your four children, I suppose, papa?" remarked Lucilla, half enquiringly, half in assertion.
"Unless one or more of them should prefer to remain at home—here on the yacht," he replied. "How about that, Neddie, my boy?"
"Oh, papa, I don't want to stay here! Please let me go with you and mamma," exclaimed the little fellow, with a look of mingled alarm and entreaty.
"You certainly shall, if you want to, my son," returned his father. "I am happy to say that my little boy has been very good and given no unnecessary trouble in visiting the Fair thus far. And I can say the same of my little Elsie and her older sisters also," he added, with an affectionate look from one to another.
"Thank you, papa," said Lucilla and Grace, the latter adding, "I think it would be strange indeed should we ever intentionally and willingly give trouble to such a father as ours."
"I don't intend ever to do that," said little Elsie earnestly, and with a loving upward look into her father's face.
"I am glad to hear it, dear child," he returned, with an appreciative smile.