to meet again with those
one cares particularly about; so I don't feel that I need to mourn while I
have you, my dear father, and Mamma Vi and the little brother and sisters
left; and I'm content and more than content, except that I miss dear Max
and can't help wishing he were here to see and enjoy all that we do."

"Yes; dear boy! I wish he could be," sighed the captain. Then, with
another caress, "Go now to your bed, daughter; it is high time you were
there," he said.

"Just one minute more, please, papa, dear," she entreated, with her arm
about his neck. "Oh, I can't understand how Rosie can think of leaving her
mother for Mr. Croly or any other man. I could never, never want to leave
you for anybody else in the wide world."

"I am glad and thankful to hear it, dear child," he said, with another
tender caress and good-night.

CHAPTER XX.

Circumstances seemed to favor the scheme of the captain, Violet, and
Lucilla, for the family and their guests had scarcely left the breakfast
table when there was a new arrival, a boat hailing the yacht and
discharging several passengers, who proved to be Annis' sisters, Mildred
and Zillah, and her brother, the Rev. Cyril Keith.

It was an unexpected arrival, but they were most cordially welcomed and
urgently invited to spend as much of their time on the yacht as could be
spared from sight-seeing on shore. They were of course soon introduced to
Mr. Lilburn--already known to them by reputation--and presently informed
of the state of affairs between him and their sister. They were decidedly
pleased with the old gentleman, yet grieved at the thought of so wide a
separation between their dear youngest sister and themselves.

Violet afterward, seizing a momentary opportunity when neither Mr. Lilburn
nor Annis was near, told of her plans in regard to the wedding, adding
that the subject had not yet been mentioned to Annis, but that she
herself hoped no objection would be raised; and it seemed to her that
Cyril's arrival, thus providing a minister to perform the ceremony, the
very one Annis would have chosen of course, seemed providential.

At first both brother and sisters were decidedly opposed to it--they
wanted Annis to be married at home where all the family could be gathered
to witness the ceremony; it was bad enough to lose her without being
deprived of that privilege; besides time and thought must be given to the
preparation of a suitable trousseau. But in the cour