"We seem to be quite agreed in our estimate of her," said Captain Raymond; "and I shall take your advice."
"You are quite sure of her speed?" queried Keith.
"Yes; I have seen accounts of her in the papers, showing that she is a fine sailer, as I should feel confident she would be, judging merely from her appearance. She is a beautifully modelled, well-built little craft."
"Looks rather small to you after the naval vessels you were wont to command?" queried Donald Keith, with a good-humoured laugh.
"Yes; but quite captivating to a lover of the sea, nevertheless, and as I see she is such to Max, and have no doubt that she will be to the rest of my family, I am about decided to make the purchase."
Max drew a long breath, while his eyes sparkled with pleasure.
They at once sought the agent whose business it was to attend to the sale of the vessel. It did not take long for him and the Captain to come to an agreement; and the "Dolphin" quickly changed owners.
Max was enraptured, his cheeks glowing, his eyes fairly dancing with delight. He managed, with some difficulty, to keep quiet till they were in the carriage again on the way home, then burst out, "Papa, I think it's just splendid that you're the owner of such a beautiful vessel! And I hope to learn a great deal about the proper management of one while we're sailing round in her."
"I shall try to teach you all I can, my boy," was his father's smiling reply; "and your pleasure in the purchase doubles my own."
"Thank you, sir," said Max. "I intend to pay good heed to your instructions, and learn as much as possible, so that I may pass a good examination at Annapolis, and do my father credit."
"But, Max, you might do him as much credit in the army as in the navy; and how you could resist the fascinations of West Point, I don't see," remarked Donald Keith, with a twinkle of fun in his eye.
"Well, sir, I suppose it's because I am the son of a seaman; love for the sea runs in the blood,--isn't that so, Papa?"
"Altogether likely," laughed the Captain. "I have been supposed to inherit it from my father, and he from his."
Violet, and the other members of the family, with some of the relatives from the adjacent cottages, were all on the porch as the carriage drew up in front of the house, and its occupants alighted.