The others sat for an hour or more upon the deck enjoying a friendly chat and a view of some of the beauties of both the lake and the Fair; then were about to bid good-night and return with their little folks and nurses to their hotel.

“Wait a little,” said the captain.  “I am sorry I cannot furnish comfortable lodgings for the night for so many, but I can take you to the city, and so shorten your journey by land to your hotel.  I have ordered steam gotten up and we can start in another half hour.”

His offer was received with hearty thanks and the plan carried out to the great contentment of all concerned.  The Dolphin then returned to her old anchorage.

Violet had gone down into the cabin to put her little ones in bed and Lulu promptly seized the opportunity to take possession of the vacated seat by her father’s side.  He smiled and stroked her hair with caressing hand.  “I fear my little girl must be very tired with all the standing, walking, and sight-seeing of the day,” he said.

“Pretty tired, papa, yet I should like to go back to that lovely Peristyle for an hour or two if you would let me.”

“Not to-night, daughter; as soon as we have had prayers you must go immediately to bed.”

“Your father is wise, Lulu; I think we are all weary enough to obey such an order as that,” remarked Mrs. Dinsmore.

“And I found out years ago that papa always knows what is best for me,” returned Lulu cheerfully.  “Besides he’s so dear and kind that it is just a pleasure to be controlled by him,” she added, laying her head against his shoulder and lifting to his, eyes full of ardent affection.

“I agree with you, Lu,” said Evelyn, “for in all the years that he has been my teacher I have always found that he knew what was best for me.”

“Take care, girls, that you don’t make my biggest and oldest brother conceited,” laughed Rosie.

“There’s not the least bit of danger.  Nothing could make papa that!” exclaimed Lulu rather indignantly.

“Hush, hush!” her father said, laying a finger on her lips.  “Rosie does but jest, and your father is by no means sure to be proof against the evil effects of flattery.”

“I think he is,” said Rosie, “and I was only jesting, Lu; so don’t take my nonsense to heart.”

“No, I will not, Rosie; I ought to have known you were but jesting, and I beg your pardon,” Lulu said, and her father smiled approvingly upon her.

“Cousin Ronald,” said Walter, “can’t you make some fun for us to-morrow with your ventriloquism?”

“Oh, do, Cousin Ronald, do!” cried the girls in eager chorus.

“Well, well, bairns,” returned the old gentleman good-humoredly, “I’ll be on the lookout for an opportunity for so doing without harming or frightening anyone—­unless there might be some rascal deserving of a fright,” he added with a low chuckle, as if enjoying the thought of discomfiting such an one.