The young men—­Harold and Herbert Travilla, Chester and Frank Dinsmore, and Will Croly—­joined the party from the Dolphin, as usual, in the Peristyle; good-mornings were exchanged, then they broke up into smaller parties and scattered in different directions; Captain Raymond with his wife and children going first into the great Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building, where they spent some hours in looking at such of the beautiful and interesting exhibits as they had not examined in former visits; making a good many purchases of gifts for each other for friends and relatives and the servants and caretakers left at home.

Chester was disappointed and chagrined that he was not invited to accompany them, particularly as it was his and Frank’s last day at the Fair—­but he joined Walter and Herbert, while Harold took charge of their mother, and the other young folks went off in couples.

“Where shall we betake ourselves, Miss Annis?” asked Mr. Lilburn.

“I think I should like to look at some of the paintings in the Fine Arts Building, if you care to do so,” replied Annis.

“I should like nothing better,” he returned; “so we will go there first.”

They spent all the morning there—­there were so many pictures worthy of long study that it was difficult to tear themselves away from any one of them.

“‘The return of the Mayflower,’” read Mr. Lilburn as they paused before a picture of a young girl standing upon the seashore, looking out eagerly over the water toward a sail which she sees in the distance; such an impatience and tender longing in her face that one knew it seemed almost impossible for her to wait the coming of some dear one she believes to be on board; one whose love and care are to shelter her from cold and storm and savage foes who might at any moment come upon and assail her.  “Ah, the dear lass is evidently hoping, expecting, waiting for the coming of her lover,” he said.  “Happy man!  What a joyous meeting it will be when the good ship comes to anchor and he steps ashore to meet her loving welcome.”

“Yes, I can imagine it,” Annis said.  “They have doubtless been separated for months or years, and a glad reunion awaits them if he is really on the vessel.”

For a moment they gazed in silence, then with a sigh he said, “She’s a bonny lass and doubtless he a brave, well-favored young fellow; both on the sunny side of life, while I—­ah, Miss Annis, if I were but twenty years younger——­”

“What then, Mr. Lilburn?” she asked sportively.  “You would be looking about for such a sweet young creature and trying to win her heart?”

“Not if I might hope to win that of the dear lady by my side,” he returned in low, loverlike tones.  “She is full young enough and fair enough for me.  Miss Annis, do you think I—­I could ever make myself a place in your heart?  I am no longer young, but there’s an auld saying that ’it is better to be ‘an auld man’s darling than a young man’s slave.’”