Everyone regarded it with evident satisfaction, Violet saying gayly, "After all, my dear, can any lovelier or better place be found than this--our own sweet home?"
"There is no dearer spot on earth to me, my love," he answered, with a smile that spoke fond affection, and delight in her appreciation of his efforts for her happiness and enjoyment.
"I think no place on earth could be more beautiful than Viamede,"
remarked Lulu; "but this is more charming because it is our very own."
"Yes," chimed in Grace, "papa"s and mamma"s and ours. It is ever so good in you, papa, to let us own it too."
"Ah?" he returned laughingly, "but that is because I own you, you know."
He had lifted baby Ned to his high chair, and now all seated themselves and the blessing was asked.
They were a lively, happy little dinner-party, the children allowed a share in the conversation.
"Papa," asked Grace at length, "are we to begin lessons to-morrow?"
"No," he replied, "I will give you two days to run about and see everything here, at Ion, Fairview, the Oaks, and so forth. Then you must settle down to work and be very good and industrious if you want to be of the Annapolis party in June."
"Oh, that will be so delightful, papa, and we do intend to be as good and industrious as possible!" she exclaimed, Lulu adding, "I am sure I do, and if I should deserve punishment, papa," she went on in an undertone hardly audible to anyone but him, for as usual she was seated close at his right hand, "please do make it something else than being left at home."
"I have little fear of being compelled to punish you in that way or any other, daughter," he replied, giving her a loving look.
"Thank you, dear papa; it is so kind in you to say that; and Gracie and I do just love to belong to you," raising her voice a little, "Don"t we, Gracie?"
"I do, I"m sure," returned Grace, with a loving smile up into her father"s face.
"Well, what shall we do this afternoon?" queried Violet. "I for one feel inclined to go all over the house and grounds, to look at every dear, familiar spot."
"Well, my dear, then that is what we will do," responded her husband; "and the children may go with us or refrain, as they please," with a smiling glance from Lulu to Grace, which both answered with an eagerly expressed desire to accompany him and Violet; Grace adding, "But I do want to see Elf and Fairy more than anything else."
"Well, dear child," said her father, "they are disporting themselves out yonder in the meadow, and you may run out to look at and pet them as soon as we leave the table, if you wish."
"Oh, thank you, papa, that is just what I"d like to do!" she replied.
"And I think all the rest of us will be glad to go with you," said Violet.
Ned, however, presently began to nod, and had to be carried away to his crib before the others were quite ready to leave the table.
"I think Elsie, too, looks as if she would enjoy a nap more than anything else," remarked the captain, with a kind look at his youngest daughter, who seemed to be very nearly nodding over her plate.
"Oh, no, papa!" she said straightening up and opening her eyes very wide; "please, I want to see the ponies first."
"Very well, so you shall, and the nap can come afterward," he returned in an indulgent tone.
"Then, as we are all done eating, shall we not go at once, my dear?"
asked Violet.
"I think it would be well to do so," he returned. "Put on your hats, children, and we will go."
Elf and Fairy seemed glad to see their young mistresses, who stroked, patted, and fed them with bits of sugar. The next thing was to explore every nook and corner of the grounds, which to them all looked lovelier than ever.
Then they returned to the house, little Elsie willingly submitted to being laid in her crib, for she was very sleepy, and the captain, Violet, Lulu, and Grace went over the whole house, finding it in beautiful order, and saying to each other that it seemed a sweeter home than ever.
By that time there were callers from Ion, the Oaks, Roselands, and the Laurels, those from Ion bringing the news that Grandma Elsie invited all to a family reunion to be held at her home on the afternoon and evening of the next day. An invitation that every member of the Woodburn family was glad to accept.
"Ah, Brother Levis," said Rosie coaxingly, "you surely will not be so unkind as to require lessons of us to-morrow?"
"No, little sister, to-morrow and the next day may be given up to amus.e.m.e.nt; but after that I shall hope and expect to have some very industrious pupils."
"As you certainly shall," she replied, with a grave, emphatic nod; "I am glad of the promised holiday; duly grateful for it, too, as I presume all your scholars are."
"Yes, yes, indeed we are, sir!" was the hearty response from Evelyn and Walter, Lulu and Grace adding, "And so are we, papa."
The callers left early, declining an invitation to stay to tea; the family partook of their evening meal; Grace and the little ones, wearied with their journey, the excitement of the homecoming, and seeing so much company, went early to bed; an errand took the captain into the village for a short season, and Violet and Lulu were left for an hour or more to each other"s society.
They were on the veranda together, pacing slowly back and forth, each with an arm about the other"s waist.
"Oh, Mamma Vi, isn"t it just delightful to be at home again?" exclaimed Lulu.
"Yes, indeed! when the home is such an one as ours, and with such a man as your father at the head of affairs," returned Violet. "Lu dear, I"m so glad that you and all his children love him as you do, though really I do not see how any one of you could help it."
"Nor do I, Mamma Vi; and I"m very glad that you love him so too; that makes me love you even better than I could if you didn"t appreciate him so highly. But we can"t love him so dearly without loving one another; can we?"
"No, certainly not; I am very fond of all five of his children as well as of their father," Violet replied, with her low, sweet laugh.