nnot furnish
comfortable lodgings for the night for so many, but I can take you to the
city, and so shorten your journey by land to your hotel. I have ordered
steam gotten up and we can start in another half hour."

His offer was received with hearty thanks and the plan carried out to the
great contentment of all concerned. The _Dolphin_ then returned to her old
anchorage.

Violet had gone down into the cabin to put her little ones in bed and Lulu
promptly seized the opportunity to take possession of the vacated seat by
her father's side. He smiled and stroked her hair with caressing hand. "I
fear my little girl must be very tired with all the standing, walking, and
sight-seeing of the day," he said.

"Pretty tired, papa, yet I should like to go back to that lovely Peristyle
for an hour or two if you would let me."

"Not to-night, daughter; as soon as we have had prayers you must go
immediately to bed."

"Your father is wise, Lulu; I think we are all weary enough to obey such
an order as that," remarked Mrs. Dinsmore.

"And I found out years ago that papa always knows what is best for me,"
returned Lulu cheerfully. "Besides he's so dear and kind that it is just
a pleasure to be controlled by him," she added, laying her head against
his shoulder and lifting to his, eyes full of ardent affection.

"I agree with you, Lu," said Evelyn, "for in all the years that he has
been my teacher I have always found that he knew what was best for me."

"Take care, girls, that you don't make my biggest and oldest brother
conceited," laughed Rosie.

"There's not the least bit of danger. Nothing could make papa that!"
exclaimed Lulu rather indignantly.

"Hush, hush!" her father said, laying a finger on her lips. "Rosie does
but jest, and your father is by no means sure to be proof against the evil
effects of flattery."

"I think he is," said Rosie, "and I was only jesting, Lu; so don't take my
nonsense to heart."

"No, I will not, Rosie; I ought to have known you were but jesting, and I
beg your pardon," Lulu said, and her father smiled approvingly upon her.

"Cousin Ronald," said Walter, "can't you make some fun for us to-morrow
with your ventriloquism?"

"Oh, do, Cousin Ronald, do!" cried the girls in eager chorus.

"Well, well, bairns," returned the old gentleman good-humoredly, "I'll be
on the lookout for an opportunity for so doing without harming or
frightening anyone--unless there might be some rascal deserving of