"Who I am?" returned the manlike voice, seeming to speak from a greater distance, "Well, sir, that"s for me to know and you to find out."
"Now please tell us which of you it was--Cousin Ronald and Max," said Ned, looking from one to the other.
"That"s for us to know and you to find out, little brother," laughed Max.
"Papa," said Ned, turning to their father, "I wish you"d order Max to tell."
"Max is of age now and not at present under my orders," replied Captain Raymond, with a humorous look and smile, and just then came the call to the tea table.
Ned was unusually quiet during the meal, gazing scrutinizingly every now and then at his father or Max. When they had returned to the veranda he watched his opportunity and seized upon a moment when he could speak to his brother without being overheard by anyone else.
"Brother Max," he queried, "won"t you ever have to obey papa any more?"
"Yes, little brother," returned Max, looking slightly amused, "I consider it my duty to obey papa now whenever it pleases him to give me an order; and that it will be my duty as long as he and I both live."
"And you mean to do it?"
"Yes, indeed."
"So do I," returned Ned with great decision. "And I think all our sisters do too; because the Bible tells us to; and besides papa knows best about everything."
"Very true, Ned; and I hope none of us will ever forget that or fail to obey his orders or wishes or to follow his advice."
CHAPTER XVI.
Dr. Percival had so far recovered as to be considered able to lie in a hammock upon an upper veranda where he could look out upon the beauties of the lawn, the bayou, and the fields and woods beyond. Dr.
Harold Travilla was still in attendance and seldom left him for any great length of time, never alone, seldom with only the nurse--Maud, one of d.i.c.k"s sisters, or some other relative being always near at hand, ready to wait upon him, chat pleasantly for his entertainment, or remain silent as seemed best to suit his mood at the moment.
He was very patient, cheerful, and easily entertained, but did not usually talk very much himself.
One day he and Harold were alone for a time. Both had been silent for some moments when d.i.c.k, turning an affectionate look upon his cousin, said in grateful tones, "How very good, kind, and attentive you have been to me, Harold. I think that but for you and the other two doctors--Cousins Arthur and Herbert--I should now be lying under the sod; and I must acknowledge that you are a most excellent physician and surgeon," he added with an appreciative smile and holding out his hand.
Harold took the hand and, pressing it affectionately in both of his, said with feeling, "Thank you, d.i.c.k. I consider your opinion worth a great deal, and it is a joy to me that I have been permitted to aid in helping on your recovery; but I am no more deserving of thanks than the others. Indeed both Herbert and I felt it to be a very great help to be able to call Cousin Arthur in to give his opinion, advice, a.s.sistance; which he did freely and faithfully. He is an excellent physician and surgeon--as I know you to be also: knowledge which increases the delight of having been--by G.o.d"s blessing upon our efforts--able to pull you through, thus saving a most useful life."
"Thank you," replied d.i.c.k in a moved tone. "By G.o.d"s help I shall try to make it more useful in the future than it has been in the past--should he see fit to restore me to health and vigor. I feel at present as if I might never again be able to walk or ride."
"I think you need change of climate for a while," said Harold. "What do you say to going North with us, if Captain Raymond should give you and Maud an invitation to take pa.s.sage in his yacht?"
"Why, that is a splendid idea, Harold!" exclaimed d.i.c.k, with such a look of animation and pleasure as had not been seen upon his features for many a day. "Should I get the invitation and Bob come back in time to attend to our practice, I--I really shall, I think, be strongly inclined to accept."
"I hope so indeed," Harold said with a smile, "and I haven"t a doubt that you will get it; for I know of no one who loves better than the captain to do good or give pleasure. Ah! speak of angels! here he is with his wife and yours," as just at that moment the three stepped out from the open doorway upon the veranda.
"The three of us, Harold? Are we all angels to-day?" asked Violet, with a smile, stepping forward and taking d.i.c.k"s hand in hers.
"Quite as welcome as if you were, cousin," said d.i.c.k. "Ah, captain! it was you we were speaking of at the moment of your arrival."
"Ah? a poor subst.i.tute for an angel, I fear," was the rejoinder in the captain"s usual pleasant tones. "But I hope it was the thought of something which it may be in my power to do for you, Cousin d.i.c.k."
"Thanks, captain; you are always most kind," returned d.i.c.k, asking Harold by a look to give the desired explanation, which he did at once by repeating what had just pa.s.sed between him and Dr. Percival in regard to a Northern trip to be taken by the latter upon his partner"s return from his bridal trip.
Captain Raymond"s countenance brightened as he listened and scarcely waiting for the conclusion, "Why, certainly," he said. "It will be an easy matter to make room for Cousins d.i.c.k and Maud, and a delight to have them with us on the voyage and after we reach home until the warm weather sends us all farther North for the summer."
"Oh, delightful!" cried Maud. "Oh, d.i.c.k, my dear, it will set you up as nothing else could; and you may hope to come back in the fall as well and strong as ever."
Dr. Percival looked inquiringly at Violet.
"Yes, cousin," she said with a smile, "I think we can make you very comfortable; and that without inconveniencing anybody; especially as Grandpa and Grandma Dinsmore decline to return in the _Dolphin_. They go from here to Philadelphia by rail, to visit her relations there or in that region. So you need not hesitate about it for a moment, and,"
glancing at her brother, "you will have your doctor along to see that you are well taken care of and not allowed to expose yourself on deck when you should be down in the saloon or lying in your berth."
"Yes," laughed Harold, "I shall do my best to keep my patient within bounds and see that he does nothing to bring on a relapse and so do discredit to my medical and surgical knowledge and skill."
"Which I should certainly be most sorry to do," smiled d.i.c.k. "If I do not do credit to it all, it shall be no fault of mine. Never again, cousin, can I for a moment forget that you stand at about the head of your profession--or deserve to, certainly--as both physician and surgeon. Captain, I accept your kind offer with most hearty thanks. I feel already something like fifty per cent. better for the very thought of the rest and pleasure of the voyage, the visit to my old home and friends, and then a sojourn during the hot months in the cooler regions of the North."
From that time his improvement was far more rapid than it had been, and Maud was very happy over that and her preparations for the contemplated trip, in which Grandma Elsie and Cousins Annis and Violet gave her valuable a.s.sistance.
At length a letter was received telling that the newly-married pair might be expected two days later. Chester brought the news to Viamede shortly after breakfast and all heard it with pleasure, for they were beginning to feel a strong drawing toward their northern homes.
"It is good news," said Grandma Elsie; "and now I want to carry out a plan of which I have been thinking for some time."
"In regard to what?" asked her father.
"The reception to be given our bride and groom," she answered. "I want it to be given here; all the connection now in these parts to be invited, house and lawn to be decorated as they were for our large party just after the wedding, and such a feast of fat things as we had then to be provided."
"That is just like you, mother," said Captain Raymond; "always thinking how to give pleasure and save trouble to other people."
"Ah, it seems to me that I am the one to do it in this instance," she returned with a gratified smile, "having the most means, the most room of any of the connection about here, abundance of excellent help as regards all the work of preparation and the entertainment of the guests; indeed everything that the occasion calls for. d.i.c.k and Maud are in no case to do the entertaining, though I do certainly hope they may both be able to attend--he, poor fellow, lying in a hammock on the veranda or under the trees. If they like they may as well come fully prepared for their journey and start with us from here."
"A most excellent and kind plan, cousin, as yours always are," said Chester, giving Mrs. Travilla a pleased and grateful look. "I have no doubt it will be accepted if Dr. Harold approves."
"As he surely should, since it is his mother"s," remarked Violet in her sprightly way. "Suppose you drive over at once, mamma, see the three, and have the whole thing settled."
"A very good idea I think, Vi," was the smiling rejoinder. "Captain, will you order a carriage brought round promptly, and you and Vi go with me?--taking Elsie and Ned also, if they would care for a drive,"
she added, giving the little folks a kindly inquiring look.
Both joyfully accepted the invitation, if papa and mamma were willing; Elsie adding:
"And if Cousin d.i.c.k is not well enough for us to go in, we can stay in the carriage or out in the grounds, till you and papa and mamma are ready to come back."
"Yes," said her father; "so there is no objection to your going."
"There will still be a vacant seat," said Grandma Elsie, "will you not go with us also, Grace? I have heard Harold say driving was good exercise for you."
"Oh, thank you, ma"am," said Grace. "I should like it very much, if papa approves," glancing with an inquiring smile at him.
"Certainly. I am quite sure that my daughter Grace"s company will add to my enjoyment of the drive," was the captain"s kindly response.