"It's nice and kind in you to say that," returned Elsie, with a loving look and smile. "But don't feel as if you must come to bed as early as I do, but go back and enjoy Brother Max, Uncle Harold, and Chester a little longer, for I am sure they want you."
"Well, then I'll kiss you good-night, you darling little sister, and go back to them for perhaps another hour," Grace said, accompanying her words with a tender caress.
She found the gentlemen still on deck, where she had left them, and they gave her no reason to doubt that her society was welcome to them.
An hour was spent in cheerful chat, and some singing of appropriate songs and hymns, then they bade good-night, and all retired to their staterooms, Max having first attended to all his duties as captain of the vessel.
The night passed quietly, and the next morning all woke rested and refreshed, ready to enjoy their breakfast, and after that the walks and talks upon deck, varied by resting in steamer chairs while chatting and gazing out upon the water and the land, out of sight of which they seldom were. The weather was all that could be desired, and they rejoiced in that fact for both themselves and their friends, the shoppers.
The latter came on board soon after the yacht had come to anchor again in New York harbor. Their bright, cheerful faces told at once of success with what had been undertaken and of satisfaction with their purchases, and their tongues speedily repeated the pleasant story of beautiful silks, satins, laces and other trimmings, for in the family circle they did not care to make a secret of their needful, or desirable, preparations for the approaching ceremony.
All passed the night on the vessel, Violet remarking that one night at the best of hotels was quite enough for her; she felt so much more at home on their own delightful yacht. But shortly after breakfast the children were taken into the city to select their bridal gifts, their father and mother going along with them. Grace, in compliance with a suggestion from her father, was quite willing to entrust the selection of her gifts to him and Mamma, shopping being always wearisome work for her.
Grandma Elsie, Evelyn, and Lucilla remained on the vessel, with Grace, to take a good rest, while the young men went in search of their gifts for the brides that were to be.
"How many dresses did you have fitted?" asked Grace.
"Two apiece," replied her sister; "our wedding gowns and one other for each of us. The others were expressed home at once, to be made up by our own dressmakers, who, as you know, have our measures, so that they may be ready to wear by the time we return, or very soon after."