her pleased comment.

"Yes, there seems a warm friendship existing between them, though the
captain must be the older by several years. Married too, for he mentioned
his children incidentally."

On coming down to the parlor the next morning the guests found Mr.
Dinsmore there fondling his little grandchildren--Rosie on one knee,
Walter on the other.

Cousin Donald's entrance was hailed with delight, Walter presently
transferred to his knee.

Then the captain coaxed Rosie to his, saying, "Your dark eyes and hair
remind me of my little Lulu's."

"Have you a little girl of your own, sir?" Rosie asked with a look of
interest.

"Yes, my dear, two of them. Lulu is a year or two younger than I take you
to be, and Gracie is only seven."

"Have you any boys?" inquired Walter.

"Yes, my little man; I have one. We call him Max. He is two years older
than Lulu."

"About as old as I am?" said Rosie half inquiringly.

"Yes; if you are eleven, as I suppose."

"Yes, sir, I'm eleven and Walter's five."

"If they're good children we'd like 'em to come here and play with us,"
remarked Walter.

"I am afraid they are not always good," the captain said with a smile and
a half sigh. "I am not with them enough to give them the teaching and
training that doubtless you enjoy."

"But why doesn't their mamma do it? Our mamma teaches us;" and the child's
eyes turned lovingly upon her as at that moment she entered the room.

The usual morning greetings were exchanged, and Walter's question remained
unanswered.

The gentlemen were out nearly all day, riding or driving; the ladies with
them a part of the time. The evening was enlivened with music and
conversation, and all retired to rest at a seasonable hour; the two guests
expecting to take leave of their hospitable entertainers the next morning.

Darkness and silence reigned for some hours, then the shining of a bright
light into Donald's eyes awoke him.

He sprang from his bed, rushed to the window, saw that a cottage not far
away, which he had noticed in riding by, was in flames. The next moment he
had snatched up a few articles of clothing and was at the captain's side
shaking him vigorously.

"Up, Raymond! up, man! There's a fire and we'll be needed to help put it
out."

"What is it? breakers ahead, do you say?'" muttered the captain, only half
awake.

"Fire! fire!" repeated Keith.

"Fire? where?" and the captain sprang up, now wide awake, and began
hurrying on his