“Not at all,” he returned, “but on the contrary it will, I think, be a very enjoyable little trip to me and my wife and children.”

“Oh, I should like it very much!” exclaimed Lucilla; “there would be such a nice large party of us all the way to Pleasant Plains—­supposing your river is navigable so far for a vessel of this size—­and then the trip up the lake, a little visit to Mackinaw, and the sail back again, would be a restful and enjoyable break in the visit here to the Fair.”

“What do you say to the plan, Grandpa and Grandma Dinsmore, and mother?” asked the captain, turning toward them.  “And you, Cousin Ronald?”

All expressed themselves as well pleased with the idea, and it was decided to carry it out.

“We will be happy to have you accompany us also, Chester and Frank, should you care to do so,” said the captain cordially, “though I fear it will rob you of some of the time you had planned to spend at the Fair.”

“Thank you, captain,” said Frank, “I, for one, accept your very kind invitation with great pleasure.  It will give me a glimpse of a part of our big country that I have never seen—­in the pleasantest of company, too; and as to our visit to the Fair, we can prolong it by another week, if we choose.”

“So we can,” said his brother, “and I, too, accept your kind invitation, captain, with cordial thanks.”

“Then let me advise you of Pleasant Plains to be on board here, bag and baggage, by eight, or at the latest nine, o’clock to-morrow morning,” said Captain Raymond.  “We will be happy to have you take breakfast here with us, and we may as well be on our way across the lake while eating.  Then I hope to have you at your destination by seven or eight in the evening, and, leaving you there, steam on down the river and up the lake, the rest of my passengers resting in their berths as usual.”

“Then it will take about all of the next day to get to Mackinaw, won’t it, papa?” asked Grace.

“Probably.”

“And how long will we stay there?”

“I suppose that will depend upon how we enjoy ourselves.  I think it likely you will all be satisfied with a day or two, as there is so much that will interest you here which you have not yet seen.”

“Cousin Annis,” said Violet, “would you not be willing to make one of our party?  I am sure that with a little crowding we could accommodate you very easily.”

“Thank you very much, cousin,” replied Annis, “but I fear my company would not repay you for the necessary crowding.”

At that several voices exclaimed that it certainly would; the young girls adding that they could crowd a little closer together without feeling it any inconvenience, and the captain saying laughingly that impromptu beds would have to be provided in the saloon for Chester and Frank, and he would join them there, so leaving a vacant place for her with his wife; and with a little more persuasion Annis accepted the invitation, knowing that she could be well spared for a time from the large circle of brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces:  the dear old father and mother having been taken, some years before, to their heavenly home.