“I can’t help it.  It’s almost ten o’clock now, and at three we shall be going away from you all.”

“No, you won’t,” Charlotte whispered in her ear.  “It was to have been a surprise, but I think you’ll enjoy it more to know.  Only don’t tell Evelyn.  Doctor Forester has telegraphed your mother and received her answer.  You’re not to go till to-morrow night at six, and we’re to have twenty-eight hours together in Washington.”

“Oh! Oh!” Lucy almost screamed, so that the others looked around at her and smiled.  “Oh, I do think Doctor Forester and you are just the nicest people I ever knew!”

Doctor Forester’s secret was not very well kept, after all.  Lucy whispered the good news to Jeff, and he could not forbear telling it to Evelyn just as the train was drawing out of Baltimore.  His own spirits had been drooping as time went on, but the reprieve of a day sent them up with a bound.

“The question is what we shall do with our time,” said Doctor Forester, looking round at his party in the hotel parlour, where he had taken them.  “Speak up, everybody.  We can divide our forces if necessary.  Is there anybody here who hasn’t been here before?”

Lucy and Randolph seemed to be the only ones not more or less familiar with the capital.  On hearing this, Doctor Forester declared that he should himself take them to as many of the most interesting places as possible.

“Whatever we do to-night, I vote for the trip down the Potomac to Mount Vernon in the morning,” said Doctor Churchill, promptly.  “We’ll get back in plenty of time for Evelyn’s train, and there certainly isn’t a better way to put in the time than that.”

This was heartily agreed upon, and the remainder of the day was used in various ways, not more than two of which, it may be remarked, were alike.  Charlotte smiled meaningly at her husband as she watched Celia and Fred Forester, having proceeded half-way across Lafayette Park with Jeff and Evelyn, leave the two at a cross-path, and walk briskly off by themselves.

“That’s certainly a sure thing, isn’t it?” said he.

“No question of it, I think.”

“Are you satisfied?”

“Perfectly.  I haven’t seen very much of Fred since he—­and we—­grew up, but if he’s his father’s son——­”

“He is, I think,” said Doctor Churchill, confidently.  “And the doctor likes it, I’m sure.  There’s satisfaction in his face whenever he looks at them.  In fact, I can’t help thinking he planned both the house party and this trip with a view of bringing them together all he could.”

“Dear Celia—­if she’s just half as happy as she deserves to be——­”

“She will be.  She loves to travel, hasn’t had half enough of it, and he’ll take her round the world.  I haven’t had a chance to tell you that he’s going to India in the fall, in some important capacity.  He received the appointment just yesterday.”

“Really?” Charlotte looked thoughtful.  “Celia—­in India!  Andy——­”