Dear Gracie! they had never been separated for so long a time before, and Lulu was in such haste for the meeting now that she could almost be willing to resign the pleasure of a visit to Saratoga that they might be together the sooner. But no, oh, no, it would never do to miss a visit there! It would defer their meeting only a day or two, and she should have all the more to tell; not to Gracie only, but to Evelyn Leland and Rosie Travilla. Ah, how enjoyable that would be! Oh, how full of pleasure life was now that Papa was with them all the time, and they had such a sweet home of their very own!
With that thought she turned toward him, giving him a look of ardent affection.
He was still reading, but glanced from his paper to her just in time to catch her loving look.
"My darling!" he said, bending down to speak close to her ear, and accompanying the words with a smile full of fatherly affection. "I fear you must be growing very weary with this long journey," he added, putting an arm about her and drawing her closer to him.
"Oh, no, not so very, Papa!" she answered brightly; "but I'll be ever so glad when we get to Saratoga. Don't you think it will be quite a rest to be out of the cars for a day or two?"
"Yes; and I trust you will find them less wearisome after your three days at Saratoga."
"What time shall we reach there, Papa?" asked Max.
"Not long before your bed-time, I understand," replied the Captain.
"Then we cannot see anything before Monday?"
"You will see something of the town in walking to church day after to-morrow."
"And we can start out bright and early on Monday to visit places of interest," added Lulu; "can't we, Papa?"
"Yes, if you will be careful to be ready in good season. We want to see all we can in the two days of our stay."
"And I don't believe we'll find Lu a hindrance, as some girls would be," said Max. "She's always prompt when anything is to be done."
"I think that is quite true, Max," their father remarked, looking from one to the other with a smile that was full of paternal love and pride; "and of you as well as of your sister."
"If we are, Papa, it is because you have trained us to punctuality and promptness," returned the lad, regarding his father with eyes full of admiring filial affection.