e," exclaimed the two Leland boys in
a breath.

"Yes," said Ned; "for then we could go every day, and all day, if we
wanted to. I mean, if papa and the rest of the grown folks thought
best."

But now they had reached the house, and morning greetings were the
order of the moment. Everyone was well, in good spirits, and ready to
answer with alacrity the summons of the breakfast bell which presently
sounded out.

Naturally, their talk turned principally upon the plans for the best
manner of spending the next few weeks, in order to gain all possible
pleasure and information from their brief sojourn in that part of the
country.

"Papa," said Grace, "I should like to see every place along this
river that can boast of any Revolutionary incident occurring there. I
wish we had our yacht here to travel up and down in. Won't you please
send for it?"

"No, daughter," he said gravely; "I have a particular reason for not
doing so; though I should like to gratify you."

"Yes, I know you would, father, and so I am quite satisfied with your
decision," she returned pleasantly, though with a little sigh of
regret.

Violet gave her husband a look of surprise, but made no remark, and
the talk went on.

"I think we would all enjoy visiting any and every place occupied by,
or visited by, our Washington," remarked Mrs. Leland.

"Yes," said her husband; "Newburgh, for one, and it is not so very far
away."

"No," said the captain, "that is quite true."

"And there are boats passing up and down every day, I suppose?"
remarked Sydney Dinsmore inquiringly.

"Oh, yes, indeed," said Evelyn; "so we won't have any difficulty in
getting there; though we can't have the _Dolphin_ to go in."

"Papa, why can't we have our yacht come here so that we can go up and
down in it?" asked Neddie.

"Have I said we couldn't?" was his father's smiling rejoinder.

"No, sir; at least, I didn't hear you say it--but she isn't here."

"It is really quite wonderful how much some little boys know," laughed
Lucilla. "However, I don't believe it would require a great deal of
coaxing to induce papa to send for her."

"But he just refused," said Grace.

"You could telegraph, couldn't you, papa?" asked Lucilla. "But perhaps
the repairs you said she needed are not finished yet?"

"I think they must be," returned the captain pleasantly. "Perhaps we
may get some news in regard to her to-day."

"And if the repairs are finished, will you send for her?" aske