The dresses were pronounced by all beautiful, perfect in regard to fit, trimming, and suitability to the occasion on which they were to be worn; very becoming, also, the captain remarked in an aside to his wife; a remark to which she gave a hearty and unqualified assent.

“We’ll wear these dresses to Ion to-night, won’t we, mamma?” asked Elsie.

“Oh, no, child!” replied Violet; “the rehearsal will be gone through with in ordinary attire, and these grand dresses kept perfectly fresh for the wedding.  Come, now, we must make haste with the change, for the tea bell will ring presently.  It is well you took a good nap this afternoon, for I fear you are likely to be kept up late.”

“Probably a little later than usual,” said their father, “though, as to-morrow is to be so exciting a day, I intend to bring you all home in pretty good season; that you may be able to take such a night’s rest as will give you the needed strength to go through the trying ordeal.”

“There, papa,” laughed Grace, “you talk as if we were all going to be married.”

“Dear me, but I am glad we are not!” exclaimed Lucilla, “and that I am not the one that is.”

“Quite a lucid remark, my child,” laughed her father.  “But now I will leave you to make the necessary changes in your dress that you may be ready for a drive on leaving the tea table.”

They hastened to obey, helping each other and laughing and chatting merrily as they worked.  They were ready when the summons to the tea table came, and, directly after leaving it, all entered the family carriage and drove to Ion, greatly enjoying the balmy air, the easy motion over the smooth roads, and all the sweet sights and sounds of lovely summer time in the country.  They never wearied of those familiar things, daily blessings though they were.

The sun was near its setting when they reached Ion, where they found a gathering of friends and relatives unusual in its size, though not nearly so large as it would be on the coming day, when the great event was to take place.

Walter was one of the first to greet them, having reached home that morning and been ever since much excited over the situation of affairs—­the prospect of losing Rosie, his youngest and only single sister out of the home nest, as a permanent resident there.

“Glad to see you, Vi!” he exclaimed, seizing his sister, Mrs. Raymond, in a warm embrace.  “Glad to see you all—­Brother Levis, Lu, Gracie, and you little folks.  Of course you haven’t forgotten Uncle Walter in the long months since we parted in Paradise Valley?”

“No, indeed!” answered several voices.

“And we are all very glad to see you at home among us again—­I must not say little brother, according to former custom, I suppose?” added Violet in merry accents; “for you have grown into a fine young gentleman.”

“Thank you,” he returned with a slightly embarrassed laugh.  “Well, I mean to try to be, as well as to seem.”