“Well, Lu,” the captain presently overheard Rosie saying, “I suppose you are invited to to-morrow’s picnic; I heard you were to be—­you and Gracie both.  Are you going?”

“I believe I am,” replied Lucilla.  “I have had an invitation, and papa has given me permission to accept it; but he thinks Gracie is not strong enough to go on such an excursion without him along to take care of her.”

“Yes, I suppose that is so,” said Rosie.  “I am sorry, for I am going and I should like to have Gracie’s company.  Rather than do without it I would even take Brother Levis’ too,” she added with a laugh and in a little louder tone, turning a playful look upon him as she spoke.

His quick ear had caught the words.

“Can that be so, Sister Rosie,” he said with assumed gravity.  “Well, unfortunately, I cannot go, as I have had no invitation.  Also as I have already declined the invitation for Grace, she cannot go.  But I trust she is not greatly afflicted by this state of affairs.”

“No, indeed, papa,” responded Grace with a contented little laugh.  “It is very far from being a trial to have to stay in this sweet home with you and mamma, Elsie and Ned.”

“I hardly supposed you would have time and inclination to go, Rosie,” said Lucilla.

“Oh, yes, indeed!” laughed Rosie.  “I think it advisable to seize all the pleasures of single blessedness while I can.”

“But married folks can go to picnics.”

“Yes, so they can—­to some of them; but this is only for the unmarried, who have gotten it up.”

“Did you have a hand in that?” asked Lucilla.

“No; it was the work of our young gentlemen friends—­my brothers, cousins, and some others.”

“Of course you have not yet heard from your friends, the Crolys?” Lulu said inquiringly.

“No; there has not been time; unless they had telegraphed; as, perhaps, they may, to Cousin Arthur.  Speak of angels! here he comes!” she exclaimed, as, at that moment, a gig turned in at the great gates and came on rapidly toward the house.

Dr. Arthur Conly was in it, and, presently, having reached the veranda steps, drew rein, bade good-evening, and announced to his cousins Elsie and Rosie that he had received a telegram from the Crolys thanking him for his invitation and saying that it was accepted and they might be expected in a few days.

“Ah! that is good news, if it suits you all at Roselands,” said Grandma Elsie.

“As I think it does, cousin,” returned the doctor.  “At all events they all seemed pleased; which I think is particularly kind in Sister Mary and Cal.”

“Yes,” said Rosie, “and I hope and believe the Crolys will prove so agreeable as guests, or boarders, that they will never regret it.”

“So do I,” Arthur said; “also I think that the Crolys will find us all so agreeable that they will never regret it.”

“Won’t you alight and take a seat among us, doctor?” asked the captain hospitably.