"No, I am not, Mamma Vi, not in the least; for I would far rather be papa's daughter than his wife. But, I suppose, you would rather have him to yourself for a while now, so I will go down——"
"No, no, Lu dear, stay here with us," interrupted Violet, while the captain drew his daughter a little closer, saying, "Stay where you are. Cannot I have and enjoy you both at once?"
"Oh, I'm glad enough to be allowed to stay, if you both want me," exclaimed Lucilla, with a pleased little laugh. "But I thought I had had my turn and was afraid I'd be in the way now."
"When I find you in the way I shall not hesitate to give you an order to go below," her father said, with a look of amusement.
Then, taking her hand in his and giving the other arm to Violet, he resumed the interrupted promenade of the deck till they were joined by the children and older members of the family party.
Then came the summons to the breakfast table. All were in excellent spirits, greatly enjoying the pleasant change from yesterday's storm to the lovely weather of to-day. Most of the day was spent upon the deck holding the Sabbath services usual with them there, then in reading and conversation suited to the sacred time, or in gazing out over the waters, watching the passing vessels, and as they steamed from the lake into the St. Lawrence River and pursued their way among the islands there, gazing upon them with interest and curiosity.
"Are we going to stop at any of them, papa?" asked Grace.
"I think not," he replied. "We are in some haste to reach Montreal, as we hope to find letters there from the home folks."
"Yes," said Grandma Elsie, "I am hoping to hear from my boys—Harold and Herbert—that they have arrived safely at home; also for some news from all the other dear ones in that vicinity."
"And we hope it will be all good news," added Captain Raymond cheerily.