"Perhaps so, if—if you won't think it disrespectful."
"Not a bit of it. Call me Harold, or I'll be very apt to call you Mrs. Dinsmore one of these days."
They ended with a laugh and cordial handshaking, just as the captain appeared in the outer doorway. Then they joined him in a stroll about the grounds.
"There is a dark cloud in the east," remarked Lucilla, in a regretful tone; "we are likely to have a rainy day, are we not, papa?"
"Yes," he said, "but it need not necessarily be an unpleasant one. We may find plenty of indoor employment and recreations."
"Yes," said Harold, "there have been many pleasant rainy days in my past experiences. And they are not so bad for a strong, healthy man, even if he must go out in the rain."
"And when gardens and fields are needing rain, we long and pray for it," added Lucilla.
"How is Grace this morning?" asked Harold.
"She was still sleeping when I left the room," replied Lucilla; "but probably she is up and ready for the call to breakfast by this time."
"And there it is," said the captain, as the sound of the ringing of a hand-bell came from the house; "so let us go in and not keep the others waiting."