When the _Dolphin's_ passengers awoke the next morning they found she
had reached Quebec and was lying quietly at the wharf there. Anxious
to view all places of historic interest in and about the city and
to be again on their eastward way, they set out as promptly as they
conveniently could after leaving the breakfast table.
There were so many points of interest, and at some they tarried so
long, that the sun had set and shadows were already creeping over land
and water as they regained the _Dolphin's_ deck.
Ned was fast asleep in his father's arms, little Elsie hardly able to
keep her eyes open, and they were taken at once to their stateroom by
their parents, the others hurrying to theirs to make due preparation
for a suitable appearance at the supper table.
The saloon through which they passed was but dimly lighted as yet,
and no one noticed a lady and gentleman sitting side by side in a far
corner where the shadows were deepest. As the last stateroom door
closed upon its occupants, the gentleman leaned down over the lady,
saying in a tone scarcely above a whisper, "Ah ha, ah ha, um h'm! they
are all safe in their rooms for the present, and now let us go upon
deck while we may unperceived. Raymond will be sure to be up there
presently, if none o' the rest."
The lady returned a silent assent, both rose, crossed the room
noiselessly, ascended the cabin stairway, and in another minute were
seated side by side in the shadow of the pilot house, the man at the
wheel greeting them with a quiet smile of amusement.
"They didn't see you, sir?" he asked in an undertone.
"No. And you kept our counsel?"
"An easy thing to do under the circumstances, as the captain asked
no question, but passed quickly on down into the cabin. But I think,
sir, you'd best let him know you're here pretty soon, or the yacht may
be starting with you and the lady on it, and you haven't any baggage
aboard."
"That's true; but the captain shall know of our presence and give us
time to land before he weighs anchor."
"And here he comes now, sir," as at that moment Captain Raymond's step
and voice were heard near the companion-way. "There, do you hear, sir?
he's giving the order to weigh anchor and proceed down the river."
"Hallo, there, cap'in! jest you wait a bit, sir. There's a couple o'
stowaways aboard and I'd advise ye to get rid o' them afore ye start,"
called a voice that seemed to come from some part of the vessel in the
captain's rear.
He turned quickly, asking, "And you are one of them?"
"Well, sir, that's neither here nor there," returned the voice; "but if
I was in your place, I'd put 'em off afore starting."
"But perhaps the poor fellows need some help," returned the captain.
"Tell them to show themselves and I'll not be hard upon them."
"Well, now," exclaimed the invisible speaker, "I must say you're a
good, kind-hearted sort o' man, spite o' owning this grand yacht and a
lot o' money, so I'll call 'em. Halloo, here, mates, don't be afeard to
show yerselves and I reckon ye'll git some grub if nuthin' else."
"Wait a little till this matter is settled," Captain Raymond said,
reversing his order about the anchor, then asked, "Have any strangers
been allowed to board the yacht during my absence?" addressing his
query to the man at the helm.
"Well, no, sir; not to say strangers," answered the man, hesitatingly
and with a slight laugh.
"Ah! some old friends, though; just as I suspected," and with the words
Captain Raymond glanced searchingly about, then with a quick step drew
near the hiding place of the stowaways.
"Ah, cousins, I see my guess was not wide of the mark," he said, with
his good-humored laugh and giving a hand to each. "You are as welcome
as sunlight in the morning and shall have all the 'grub' you can stow
away. But why not send for your baggage and go on home with us? You
have seen all the sights of Quebec, have you not?"
"About all, captain," replied Mr. Lilburn, "and we thank you heartily
for your very kind invitation. But though travel on the _Dolphin_,
especially in such good company, is most delightful, we would crowd you
too much, I fear."
"Yes," said Annis, "and it would be very selfish to give ourselves
so much pleasure at the cost of such inconvenience to our kind
friends--our dear relatives. But seeing the _Dolphin_ lying here, we
felt that we could not deny ourselves the great pleasure of a peep at
you all."
"The voyage is not likely to be a long one, or the crowding worth
mentioning," returned Captain Raymond in his most cordial tone; "and
the slight inconvenience will be paid for over and over again by the
pleasure of your company."
"It is most kind in you to say so, captain," said Annis, with a pleased
look, "but are you quite sure the others would be equally willing to
endure the inconvenience?"
"I haven't a doubt of it," he replied emphatically, "and I know of
nothing that could happen just now that would afford our dear mother
more pleasure; for I have often heard her speak of you as her very dear
friend and cousin, and I know she has missed you sadly since you left
us for your bridal trip. If you have seen all you care to of the city,
do let me send at once for your baggage and give her and the rest the
pleasant surprise of finding you presently at the supper table."
"Thank you very much," she said, smiling up into his pleasant face;
"you don't know how tempting your kind offer is. We have seen all we
care to of this interesting old city and were intending to leave it
to-night; but----"
"Ah, my dear cousin, just omit the objections," interrupted Captain
Raymond laughingly, "give me the address and let me send at once for
your trunks. Excuse my rudeness in not waiting to hear all you could
say against my plan, but it is growing late and I can hear it all
afterward if you care to have me do so. Ah, here comes mother and my
wife now," he added, as the two stepped upon the deck at that moment.
Then moving quickly toward them, "I have something to show you, mother
and Vi," he said; "a couple of uncommonly interesting stowaways, about
the disposal of whom I should like to have your advice."
"Stowaways?" repeated Violet, in accents of surprise. "Do they think we
are about to cross the ocean?"
"Suppose you come and have a little talk with them," said her husband,
leading the way toward the intruders, the ladies following close in his
rear.
"Oh, Cousins Annis and Ronald! How delightful!" both exclaimed at sight
of the intruders, Vi adding in gleeful tones, "We'll stow you away
safely and keep you as long as possible."
Then, as Annis began repeating her objection on the score of the
inevitable crowding, "Oh, that will only be fun," she said. "I am
not urging you out of politeness, but because I really want your and
Cousin Ronald's pleasant company, and know that all the rest will be
delighted to have it."
"Certainly they will," added Grandma Elsie. "And you surely cannot be
so unkind, Annis dear, as to refuse us that pleasure."
"Ah, Annis, my bonny bride, with such assurances we need not hesitate,"
laughed Mr. Lilburn. "Let us accept the kind invitation and do our best
to add to the pleasure of our generous-hearted entertainers."
"You can hardly refuse to follow such good advice coming from such a
source, Annis," said Violet, while Captain Raymond again inquired of
Mr. Lilburn where he should send for the trunks.
The requested information was given, a messenger at once despatched
for the luggage, and, as the summons to the supper table came at the
same moment, all the company upon the deck at once descended the
companion-way and met the remainder of the family party at the table.
The bride and groom had no reason to complain of their reception, for
everyone seemed delighted to see them.
Fatigue was forgotten in the enjoyment of each other's society, the
toothsome viands and the interest of comparing notes as to their
experiences--all they had seen, heard, and done--since the parting of a
few days before, when the bride and groom left the _Dolphin_ for the
railroad train at Michigan City.
The luggage had arrived and the vessel was in motion down the river
some time before they left the table.
"You will hardly make another stop in this part of Her Majesty's
dominions, captain, but go directly home, I presume?" remarked Mr.
Lilburn inquiringly, at a pause in the conversation.
"Yes and no," returned Captain Raymond in playful tones, "I hardly
expect to stop again until we reach Narragansett Bay; but there we
expect to visit Newport, and Paradise Valley, a few miles out of it,
on the same island. We have some cousins summering there now, who are
most urgent with us to come and take temporary possession of a vacant
cottage very near the one occupied by them; and we have decided to do
so, should nothing interfere. And now, I hope you and Cousin Annis will
decide to go there with us, and afterward return home with us in the
_Dolphin_."
As soon as the captain had ceased speaking, Mrs. Travilla and Violet,
the young people also, joined their urgent solicitations to his, and as
Annis seemed much pleased with the idea, and Mr. Lilburn himself had
really no objection, it was presently decided that they would accept
the invitation.
They now left the table and gathered upon the deck for a time; but
as there was no moon that night little could be seen of the country
through which they were passing, and all being somewhat weary with
the exertions of the day, they presently held their regular evening
service of prayer, praise, and reading of the Scriptures, then bade an
affectionate good-night and retired to rest.