“I should think so indeed,” said Violet.  “Now the next question is where shall we go?”

“That is a question for my wife to settle,” returned the captain gallantly.  “I shall be most happy to accompany her wherever she decides that she wishes to be taken.”

“Thank you, sir.  I want to see mamma, of course.”

“Then we will call at Ion, and perhaps may be able to persuade mother to join us in a longer ride.”

“Oh couldn’t we hire an omnibus sleigh and ask them all to join us?  It would just about hold the two families.”

“It is a trifle odd that the same idea had just occurred to me,” he remarked pleasantly.  “I will telephone at once to the town, and if I can engage a suitable sleigh, will call to Ion and give our invitation.”

The reply from the village was satisfactory; also that from Ion, given by Grandpa Dinsmore, who said he would venture to accept the invitation for all the family without waiting to consult them.

The captain reported to Violet, then passed on into the apartments of his little daughters.  He found them up and dressed, standing at the window of their sitting-room gazing out into the grounds.

“Good morning, my darlings,” he said.

“Oh good morning, papa,” they cried, turning and running into his outstretched arms to give and receive tenderest caresses.

“What were you looking at?” he asked presently.

“Oh! oh! the loveliest sight!” cried Lulu.  “Do, papa, come and look,” taking his hand and drawing him toward the window.  “There, isn’t it?”

“Yes; I have seldom seen a finer,” he assented.

“And the sun is shining so brightly; can’t I take a walk with you to-day?” she asked, looking coaxingly up into his face.

“Why, my child, the walks and roads are sheeted with ice; you could not stand, much less walk on them.”

“I think I could, papa, if—­if you’d only let me try.  But oh don’t look troubled, for indeed, indeed, I’m not going to be naughty about it, though I have been shut up in the house for so long, except just riding in the close carriage to church yesterday.”

“Yes; and I know it has been hard for you,” he said, smoothing her hair with caressing hand.

Then sitting down he drew her to one knee, Gracie to the other.

“How would my little girls like to be excused from lessons to-day and given, instead, a sleigh-ride with papa, mamma, Max and little Elsie?”

“Oh ever so much, papa!” they cried, clapping their hands in delight.  “How good in you to think of it!”

“’Specially for me, considering how very, very naughty I was only last week,” added Lulu, in a remorseful tone.  “Papa, I really think I oughtn’t to be let go.”

“And I really think I should not be deprived of the pleasure of having my dear eldest daughter with me on this first sleigh-ride of the season,” returned her father, drawing her into a closer embrace.