"We'll get it, too," cried Elsie; "Lu could never stay away a whole day from papa."
"It would certainly take very strong compulsion to make me do so," said Lucilla. "Good-bye again. I hope to see you both in my old home a few hours hence, and here some time to-morrow."
With that she passed into the house while her sisters hastened away in the direction of Woodburn.
"It will soon be time to send the carriage for Chester," said Max, accompanying her, "Suppose I give the order now."
"Yes, do," she replied, "I'd like to have him here as soon as possible; and if he should not be quite ready, Jack and the carriage can be kept waiting."
"Certainly. I'll go and give the order, then rejoin you and our guests in the drawing-room."
As Max stepped out upon the veranda again two carriages came driving up the avenue—one bringing Mr. and Mrs. Lacey from the Laurels, the other Mr. and Mrs. Croly from Riverside.
"Oh, Max, how glad I am to see you again!" exclaimed Rosie, as he assisted her to alight. "It seems an age since you went away, and you have been exposed to such perils I hope I shall have a chance to hear the story of your experiences in that fight at Manila. Such a chance as I couldn't get at any of the late parties."
"Thank you, I hope we will have time and opportunity for a number of talks," he replied, releasing the hand she had put into his and turning to greet Mrs. Lacey, whom he addressed as Aunt Rose, and whose greeting was quite as cordial as her niece's had been.