"Never mind, old fellow, your turn will come one of these days, I hope," said Chester. "Perhaps when you two have waited as long as Lu and I have now."
"Ah, I'm afraid we have even a longer wait than that before us," returned Harold.
"But we can see each other every day—be together a good deal of the time," remarked Grace, in low, soothing tones.
"Well, let us have the thing settled, by hearing what father has to say about it," said Max, for at that moment the captain might be seen approaching their group.
"About what, my son?" he asked, as he took a vacant seat close at hand, for he had overheard the last few words.
"As to the place where our nuptials should be celebrated, sir," returned Max, with a little, happy laugh.
"Where else but in your homes?" asked his father. "I should like to have both my children married in my house, but Eva and you, I suppose, would prefer to have yours and hers in her home—Fairview."
"No, sir," said Evelyn, "my very strong wish is to have mine celebrated in my own old home—the house my father built and owned—Crag Cottage."
"Ah, my dear child, that is natural!" returned the captain in a tone of mingled surprise and acquiescence, "and I should be loath to stand in the way of such a wish. But I thought you and Lucilla were planning to have but one ceremony for the two couples of you?"
"Yes, sir; and since talking it over we have concluded that Crag Cottage would be a suitable place for it, if you do not object."