"Just what I think," said Max. "No more generous man than he ever lived."
"I only hope he won't ruin himself by heaping expensive gifts and favors upon us," said Evelyn.
"I hope not, indeed!" sighed Lucilla, with a slight tremble in her tones.
"Don't be anxious and troubled about it, sister mine," said Max very kindly. "I happen to know that father has abundant means. And being so generous of nature it is a delight to him to give—especially to his wife and children."
"What a dear, good father he is! It is just a delight to me that I may call him that now," said Evelyn.
Their carriage reached its destination some minutes ahead of the captain's, and they immediately alighted and gazed about them with wondering and delighted eyes—so many improvements had been made since last they saw the place, trees and flowers, lovely and fragrant, having been transplanted from other places to adorn this. They wandered here and there, expressing in looks and joyous exclamations admiration, gratitude, and delight.
They had hardly made acquaintance with all the beauties of the place when the other carriage drove up and the rest of the family joined them. Then, as the captain afterward said, they well-nigh overwhelmed him with the extravagant outpouring of their admiration, gratitude, and delight.
"I am very glad that you are all so well pleased," he said, in return. "My wife and I have greatly enjoyed this labor of love,—the overseeing and directing of these improvements,—and that they find such favor with you all more than repays us. But, come, let us go inside and see how well you are satisfied with things there."
He led the way as he spoke, and they found themselves in a wide hall with a broad and easy stairway leading to the rooms above, and on either side, on that floor, large, elegantly furnished rooms,—parlors, libraries, dining rooms, a set for each little family,—beautiful lace curtains at the windows, handsome paintings handsomely framed, on the walls, many of them presents from Grandma Elsie and others of the Ion family and Violet's relatives on the neighboring estates, and other gifts and adornments too numerous to mention.