“Thank you; I should enjoy doing so, but duty calls in another direction, a sick patient needing prompt attention.  Good-evening to you all”; and, turning with the last words, he drove away.

“So, Rosie, you are likely soon to be able to make the acquaintance of your future mother-in-law,” said Violet.  “But you don’t seem alarmed at the prospect.”

“No; because I am not.  From all Will has told me I think she must be a lovely and lovable woman; as he thinks his future mother-in-law is.”

“And as all to whom she bears that relation can testify,” remarked the captain with an affectionate, appreciative glance at the sweet face of Grandma Elsie.

“I, for one,” said Mr. Leland heartily; “and I feel entirely sure of Zoe, the only other one to whom she bears that relationship.”

“You are all very kind, very ready to pass my imperfections by,” responded Mrs. Travilla’s sweet voice.  “And if I am a good mother, I can assure you that it is at least partly as a a consequence of having good sons and daughters.”

“May you always be able to say that, mother,” responded the captain heartily.  “It would be a sorry sort of man or woman who could be any other than a good son or daughter to you.”

“Oh, Lu!” said Evelyn presently, “didn’t you tell me you were going into the city to-morrow to do some shopping?”

“Yes; but we did it to-day, in order that I might have to-morrow free for the picnic.  We all went to the city and had a very pleasant and successful time.”

“Shopping is apt to be very fatiguing work,” said Grandma Elsie.  “I see Grace looks weary.  Dear child, if you feel like retiring, do not let our presence hinder you for a moment.”

“Thank you, Grandma Elsie; but I don’t like to miss a minute of your call,” returned Grace, exerting herself to speak in a lively tone.

“I’d like to tell about what we bought,” said Ned, “but I suppose I must not.”

“Better wait till you have the articles here to show, my son,” said his father.

“Yes; we had to leave them to be marked; but Aunt Rosie will see them some of these days,” said the little fellow.

“And she is very willing to wait till the right time comes,” Rosie said, putting an arm about him and giving him a kiss; for he had gone to her side.

“I’m afraid it will be a good while to wait,” he returned.  “Papa was so kind, he gave us—­Elsie and me—­each ten dollars to do what we pleased with.  Lu and Gracie had a good deal more, ’cause they are older, you know, and——­”

“There, that will do, Ned,” laughed his mother.  “It is your bed time.  Say good-night to grandma and the rest, and Elsie and you and I will run away for the present.”

The callers did not stay very long after Violet’s return to the veranda, and soon after their departure the captain held his evening service and then advised Lucilla and Grace to retire at once, that the coming day might find them fully rested and refreshed.