Both Harold and Herbert stepped promptly forward, each offering an arm to the old gentleman.

“Thanks, laddies,” he said, “but I’m no’ so infirm that I canna cross the room wi’out the help o’ your strong young arms, and being particularly comfortable in the chair I now occupy, I shall bide here, by your leave.”

“Then, if you feel so strong would it tire you to tell us a story, Cousin Ronald?” asked Walter, insinuatingly.  “We’d like one ever so much while we’re waiting for the refreshments.”

“The refreshments are ready and waiting in the dining room, and you are all invited to walk out there and partake of them,” said Grandma Elsie, as the servants drew back the sliding doors, showing a table glittering with china, cut-glass and silver, loaded with fruits, nuts, cakes, confectionery and ices, and adorned with a profusion of flowers from the conservatories and hothouses.

“Don’t you wish you were grown up enough to call for whatever you might fancy from that table?” whispered Rosie to Lulu as they followed their elders to its vicinity.

“Yes—­no; I’m very willing to take whatever papa chooses to give me,” returned Lulu.  “You see,” she added laughing at Rosie’s look of mingled surprise and incredulity, “there have been several times he has let me have my own way and I didn’t find it at all nice; so now I’ve really grown willing to be directed and controlled by him.”

“That’s a very good thing.”

“Yes; especially as I’d have to do it anyhow.  Papa, may I have something?” she asked as at that moment he drew near.

“Are you hungry?” he queried in turn.

“Yes, sir.”

“Then you may have some ice-cream, a little fruit, and a small piece of sponge cake.”

“Not any nuts or candies?”

“Not to-night, daughter; sometime to-morrow you may.”

“Thank you, sir; that will do nicely,” she responded in a cheerful, pleasant tone and with a loving look and smile up into his face.

She felt amply rewarded by the approving, affectionate look he gave her in return.

“I shall help you presently when I have waited upon Evelyn and Rosie,” he said.  “What will you have, my dears?”

When the refreshments had been disposed of, it was time for the usual short evening service, then for the younger ones to go to their beds.

Capt.  Raymond stepped out upon the veranda and paced it to and fro.  Presently Max joined him.  “I came to say good night, papa,” he said.

“Ah good night, my son,” returned the captain, pausing in his walk, taking the hand Max held out to him and clasping it affectionately in his.  “You had a fine, exciting game this morning out there on the lawn.  I was glad to hear my boy avow his attachment to the glorious old flag his father has sailed under for so many years.  I trust he will always be ready to do so when such an avowal is called for, as long as he lives.”