"Cousin Ronald, can't you make some fun for us?" asked Ned at the
breakfast table the next morning. "We haven't had any of your kind
since we came here."
"Well, and what of that, youngster? must you live on fun all the
time?" asked a rough voice directly behind the little boy.
"Oh! who are you? and how did you come in here?" he asked, turning
half round in his chair, in the effort to see the speaker. "Oh, pshaw!
you're nobody. Was it you, Cousin Ronald? or was it brother Max?"
"Polite little boys do not call gentlemen nobodies," remarked another
voice that seemed to come from a distant corner of the room.
"And I didn't mean to," said Ned, "but the things I want to say will
twist up, somehow."
"That bird you are eating looks good," said the same voice; "couldn't
you spare me a leg?"
"Oh, yes," laughed Ned, "if you'll come and get it. But one of these
little legs wouldn't be much more than a bite for you."
"Well, a bite would be better than no breakfast at all; and somebody
might give me one of those nice-looking rolls."
"I'm sure of it if you'll come to the table and show yourself,"
replied Ned.
"Here I am then," said the voice close at his side.
"Oh, are you?" returned Ned. "Well, help yourself. You can have
anything you choose to take."
"Now, Ned, do you call that polite?" laughed Lucilla. "As you invited
him to the table you surely ought to help him to what he has asked
for."
At that Ned looked scrutinizingly at Cousin Ronald's plate, then at
his brother's, and seeing that both were well filled remarked, "I see
he's well helped already and oughtn't to be asking for more till he
gets that eaten up."
"Oh, you know too much, young man," laughed Max. "It isn't worth while
for Cousin Ronald and me to waste our talents upon you."
"Oh, yes, it is, Brother Max," said the little fellow, "for it's fun,
even though I do know it's one or the other or both of you."
"Oh, Cousin Ronald," exclaimed Elsie, "can't you make some fun at the
wedding, as you did when Cousin Betty was married? I don't remember
much of it myself, but I've heard other folks tell about it."
"Why not ask Max instead of me?" queried Mr. Lilburn.
"Oh!" cried the little girl, "I'd like to have both of you do it. It's
more fun with two than with only one."
"And it might be well to consult cousins Maud and Dick about it,"
suggested Grandma Elsie. "You can do so to-day, as we are all invited
to take lunch at Torriswood."
"Are we? oh, that's nice!" exclaimed Elsie, smiling brightly. "You
will let us go, papa, won't you?"
"Yes; I expect to take you there."
"And if we all go Cousin Ronald and Max might make some fun for us
there. I guess the Torriswood folks would like it," remarked Ned
insinuatingly.
"But might not you grow tired--having so much of it?" asked Max.
"No, indeed!" cried the little fellow. "It's too much fun for anybody
to get tired of it."
"Any little chap like you, perhaps," remarked the strange voice from
the distant corner.
"Pooh! I'm not so very little now," returned Ned.
"Not too little to talk a good deal," laughed Grandpa Dinsmore.
"This is a lovely morning," remarked Dr. Harold, "the roads are in
fine condition too, and I think the distance to Torriswood is not too
great to make a very pleasant walk for those of us who are young and
strong."
"And there are riding horses and conveyances in plenty for any who
prefer to use them," added his mother.
Evelyn, Lucilla, and Max all expressed their desire to try the walk,
and Grace said, "I should like to try it too;" but both her father and
Dr. Harold put a veto upon that, saying she was not strong enough, so
must be content to ride.
"Cousin Ronald and brother Max, can't we have some fun there to-day,
as well as at the wedding time?" said Ned in his most coaxing tones.
"Possibly, bit laddie," returned the old gentleman pleasantly. "If I
am not too auld, your good brother is no' too young."
"But you are the more expert of the two, sir," said Max; "and perhaps
it may be the better plan for us both to take part."
"Ah, well, we'll see when the time comes," responded the old
gentleman. "I like well to please the bit laddie, if it can be done
without vexing or disturbing anybody else."
"I don't think it can do that," observed Ned wisely, "for it's good
fun and everybody likes fun. Even my papa does," he added with a
smiling glance up into his father's face.
"Yes; when it does not annoy or weary anyone else," the captain said
in return.
"Will Chester be over here this morning, Lu?" asked Violet.
"He expected to when he went away last night," was the reply. "But
possibly he may not come if he hears that we are to go there."
"I think he is too much a man of his word to be hindered by that," her
father said, giving her a reassuring smile.
And he was right, for Chester was with them even a little earlier than
usual.
"Maud told me you were all coming over to lunch with her," he said,
"but as some of you have never seen the place, I thought you might not
object to a pilot, and the exercise would be rather beneficial to me."
"You are right there," said Harold. "You know that as your physician I
have prescribed a good deal of outdoor exercise."
"Yes; I have been taking the prescription, too, and I find it
beneficial; especially when I am so fortunate as to secure pleasant
company." His glance at Lucilla as he spoke seemed to imply that there
was none more desirable than hers.
"Then, as the walk is a long one, I would suggest that we start as
soon as may suit the convenience of the ladies," said Harold, and
Evelyn and Lucilla hastened to make such preparation as they deemed
necessary or desirable.
The Parsonage was scarce a stone's throw out of their path and they
called there on their way. They owed Isadore a call and were willing
to make one upon her sister Virginia also--now making her home at the
Parsonage--though she had not as yet called upon them.
They found both ladies upon the veranda. Isadore gave them a joyful
welcome, Virginia a cool one, saying, "I should have called upon you
before now, but I know poor relations are not apt to prove welcome
visitors."
"But I had thought you were making your home at Viamede," said Dr.
Harold.
"No; not since Dick and Bob removed to Torriswood. I couldn't think of
living on there alone; so came here to Isa, she being my nearest of
kin in this part of the world."
Harold thought he did not envy Isa on that account, but prudently
refrained from saying so.
Isa invited them to stay and spend the day there, but they declined,
stating that they were on their way to Torriswood by invitation.
"Yes," said Virginia; "they can invite rich relations but entirely
neglect poor me."
"Why, Virgie," exclaimed Isadore in surprise, "I am sure you have been
invited there more than once since you have been here."
"Well, I knew it was only a duty invitation and they didn't really
want me; so I didn't go. I have a little more sense than to impose my
company upon people who don't really want it."
"I shouldn't think anybody would while you show such an ugly temper,"
thought Lucilla, but refrained from saying it. She and her companions
made but a short call, presently bade good-by and continued on their
way to Torriswood.
They received a warm welcome there and were presently joined by the
rest of their party from Viamede. There was some lively and animated
chat in regard to letters sent and letters received, the making of the
wedding dress and various other preparations for the coming ceremony,
to all of which little Ned listened rather impatiently; then, as soon
as a pause in the conversation gave him an opportunity, he turned to
Dr. Percival, saying, "Cousin Dick, wouldn't it be right nice to have
a little fun?"
"Fun, Neddie? Why, certainly, my boy; fun is often quite beneficial to
the health. But how shall we manage it? have you a good joke for us?"
"No, sir," said Ned, "but you know we have two ventriloquists here
and--and I like the kind of fun they make. Don't you?"
"It is certainly very amusing sometimes, and I see no objection if our
friends are willing to favor us with some specimens of their skill,"
was the reply, accompanied by a glance first at Mr. Milburn, then at
Max.
"Oh!" exclaimed Maud, "that might be a good entertainment for our
wedding guests!"
"Probably," returned her husband, "but if it is to be used then it
would be well not to let our servants into the secret beforehand."
"Decidedly so, I should say," said Max. "It would be better to reserve
that entertainment for that time."
"But surely it would do no harm to give us a few examples of your
skill to-day, when the servants are out of the room," said Maud.
"No, certainly not, if anything worth while could be thought of," said
Max; "but it seems to me that it must be quite an old story with all
of us here."
"Not to me, brother Max," exclaimed Ned. "And the funny things you and
Cousin Ronald seem to make invisible folks say make other people laugh
as well as me."
"And laughter is helpful to digestion," said a strange voice,
apparently speaking from the doorway. "But should folks digest too
well these doctors might find very little to do. So it is not to be
wondered at if they object to letting much fun be made."
"But the doctors haven't objected," laughed Dr. Percival, "and I have
no fear that work for them will fail even if some of their patients
should laugh and grow fat."
"I presume that's what the little fellow that wants the fun has been
doing," said the voice; "for as regards fat he is in prime condition."
At that Ned colored and looked slightly vexed. "Papa, am I so very
fat?" he asked.
"None too fat to suit my taste, my son," replied the captain, smiling
kindly on the little fellow.
"And you wouldn't want to be a bag of bones, would you?" queried the
voice.
"No," returned Ned sturdily, "I'd a great deal rather be fat; bones
are ugly things any way."
"Good to cover up with fat, but very necessary underneath it," said
the voice. "You couldn't stand or walk if you had no bones."
"No; to be sure not; though I never thought about it before," returned
Ned. "Some ugly things are worth more, after all, than some pretty
ones."
"Very true," said the voice; "so we must not despise anything merely
because it lacks beauty."
"Is it you talking, Cousin Ronald, or is it brother Max?" asked Ned,
looking searchingly first at one and then at the other.
"No matter which, laddie," said the old gentleman; "and who shall say
it hasn't been both of us?"
"Oh, yes, maybe it was! I couldn't tell," exclaimed Ned.
But lunch was now ready and all repaired to the table. The blessing
had been asked and all were sitting quietly as Dr. Percival took up a
knife to carve a fowl. "Don't, oh, don't!" seemed to come from it in a
terrified scream. "I'm all right. No need of a surgeon's knife."
Everyone was startled for an instant, the doctor nearly dropping his
knife; then there was a general laugh and the carving proceeded
without further objection. The servants were all out of the room at
the moment.
"Ah, Cousin Ronald, that reminds me of very old times, when I was a
little child," said Violet, giving the old gentleman a mirthful look.
"Ah, yes!" he said, "I remember now that I was near depriving you of
your share of the fowl when breakfasting one morning at your father's
hospitable board. Have you not yet forgiven that act of indiscretion?"
"Indeed, yes; fully and freely long ago. But it was really nothing to
forgive--your intention having been to afford amusement to us all."
"Neddie, shall I help you? are you willing to eat of a fowl that can
scream out so much like a human creature?" asked Dr. Percival.
"Oh, yes, Cousin Doctor; 'cause I know just how he did it," laughed
the little boy.
Then the talk about the table turned upon various matters connected
with the subject of the approaching wedding--whether this or that
relative would be likely to come; when he or she might be expected to
arrive, and where be entertained; the adornment of the grounds for the
occasion; the fashion in which each of the brides's new dresses should
be made and what jewelry, if any, she should wear when dressed for the
ceremony. Also about a maid of honor and bridesmaids.
"I want to have two or three little flower girls," said Sidney; "and I
have thought of Elsie Dinsmore, Elsie Embury, and Elsie Raymond as the
ones I should prefer; they are near enough of an age, all related to
me and all quite pretty; at least they will look so when handsomely
dressed," she added with a laughing look at the one present, who
blushed and seemed slightly embarrassed for a moment, but said not a
word.
"I highly approve if we can get the other two here in season," said
Maud.
"Then for my maid of honor I must have one of you older girls,"
continued Sidney. "Perhaps I'll want all three. I don't know yet how
many groomsmen Robert is going to have."
"Cousin Harold and my friend Max, if they will serve," said Robert,
glancing inquiringly at them in turn.
"Thank you, Bob," said Harold; "seeing you are a brother
physician--cousin as well--I cannot think of refusing. In fact I
consider myself quite honored."
Max also accepted the invitation with suitable words and the talk went
on.
"Are you expecting to take a trip?" asked Harold.
"Yes; we talk of going to the Bahamas," said Robert. "It is said to be
a delightful winter resort and neither of us has ever been there."
"Then I think you will be likely to enjoy your visit there greatly,"
responded Harold.
"So we think," said Robert. "But now about groomsmen; I'd like to add
your brother Herbert and Sidney's brother Frank if we can get them
here, and they are willing to serve. Chester won't, because Lu must
not be a bridesmaid, having served twice or thrice already in that
capacity--and you know the old saying, 'Three times a bridesmaid never
a bride.'"
"I have little doubt of the willingness of the lads if they are here
in season," returned Harold; "but I think Herbert's movements will
depend largely upon those of Cousin Arthur Conly. It would hardly do
for all three of us to absent ourselves from professional duties at
the same time."
"But Frank can be spared from his, I suppose?" Robert said
inquiringly, turning to Chester as he spoke.
"Yes; for a short time, I think," was Chester's reply.
"Come, let us all go out on the lawn and consult in regard to the best
place for having the arch made under which our bridal party are to
stand," Maud said, addressing the company in general as they left the
table. The invitation was accepted and they spent some time in
strolling about under the trees, chatting familiarly; the principal
topic being the one proposed by Mrs. Percival, but considering also
the question where it would be best to set the tables for the wedding
guests.
"It is likely to be a large company," said Maud, "but I think we can
accommodate them all comfortably."
"Yes; I should think so," said Grandma Elsie. "Your lawn is large and
lovely. I am very glad, Dick, that you secured so beautiful a place."
"Thank you, cousin," he returned, "I think I was fortunate in getting
it; as Maud does too. She likes it well."
"And you prefer it to Viamede?"
"Only because it is my own," he answered with a smile. "One could not
find a lovelier place than Viamede."
"But you lost the housekeeping of your cousin Virginia by making the
change," Harold observed with a humorous look.
"Hardly!" laughed Dick; "she was that but in name. And the change to
Isa's housekeeping and companionship must be rather agreeable to her,
I should think."
"She seems to me much the more agreeable of the two," said Harold.
"Yes; Isa is a lovely woman. And Virginia has her good qualities,
too."
As Torriswood was but little farther from the bayou than Viamede, it
was presently decided by the young people that they would return by
boat, and upon starting they found it so pleasant that they took a
much longer sail, reaching their destination barely in time for
dinner.
"Does Sidney's evident happiness in the near approach of her marriage
make my little girl unhappy and discontented with her father's
decision in regard to hers?" asked Captain Raymond, when Lucilla came
to him for the usual bit of good-night chat.
"Oh, no, papa; no indeed!" she exclaimed with a low, happy laugh.
"Have you forgotten, or don't you know yet, how dearly that same
little girl loves to be with you?"
"Really, I believe she does," he said, caressing her with tenderness,
"and though it is undeniably partly for his own--her father's--sake,
that he insists upon delay, it is still more for yours--believing as
he does that you are yet much too young for the cares and duties of
married life. I want you to have a good play-day before going into
them," he added, with another caress.
"You dear, kind father!" she said in response. "I could wish to be
always a child if so I might be always with you."
"Well, daughter, we may hope for many years together in this world and
a blessed eternity together in heaven."
"Yes, papa, there is great happiness in that thought. Oh, I am glad
and thankful that God gave me a Christian father."
"And I that I have every reason to believe that my dear eldest
daughter has learned to know and love him. To belong to Christ is
better than to have the wealth of the world. Riches take to themselves
wings and fly away; but he has said, 'I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee.'"
"Such a sweet, precious promise, father!"
"Yes; it may well relieve us from care and anxiety about the future;
especially as taken in connection with that other precious promise,
'As thy days, so shall thy strength be.'"
"Don't you think, papa, that if we always remembered and fully
believed the promises of God's word we might--we should be happy under
all circumstances?"
"I do indeed," he said emphatically. "We all need to pray as the
disciples did, 'Lord increase our faith,' for 'without faith it is
impossible to please him.'"