es at play together in the grounds.

"Papa!" cried Ned at this moment, running toward them, "didn't you hear
the telephone bell? I thought I did."

"No, my son," returned the captain; "and if it is ringing, one of your
sisters will answer it, no doubt. They are both upstairs."

"It did ring, papa, and I answered it," said Lucilla, stepping from the
open doorway and coming swiftly toward him. "Rosie was calling to me
that there is to be a rehearsal of to-morrow's wedding ceremony, this
evening, and asking if we can come over and take our parts. May we? Will
you take us?"

"I say yes to both queries," was the pleasant-toned reply. "I will order
out the carriage and we will all drive over directly after tea. I have
been told that our gentlemen guests are all to spend the evening there
or at Beechwood or Roselands."

"Oh, I like that!" exclaimed Lucilla. "And now, our wedding dresses
being entirely finished, Grace and I are going to try them on. Will our
father, Mamma Vi, Elsie, and Ned come up presently and see what they
think of our appearance in them?"

"Of course we will," answered Violet. "I can speak for myself and the
children, and have not a doubt of Captain Raymond's desire to see how
well the dainty gowns become his young-lady daughters."

"He hardly considers them young ladies yet, Mamma Vi," laughed Lulu.
"And I am sure I don't want him to, for I dearly love to have him call
me his own little girl," she concluded, with a look of ardent filial
love and respect into her father's eyes. "I hope he will let me always
be that to him."

"Always, while you wish it, daughter mine," he responded in low, tender
tones, affectionately pressing the hand she had laid in his. "Now go,
array yourself in your finery, and we will follow in a few moments," he
added in a little louder key, and she hastened to obey.

"Oh, mamma!" cried Elsie, who had drawn near enough to overhear nearly
all that had been said, "mayn't I try my wedding dress on, too? You know
it is almost finished--all but sewing on a few buttons, Alma said a
while ago."

"I have no objection," said Violet, rising. "Come, and I will help you
put it on."

"Your wedding dress, Elsie? you are not old enough to get married,"
laughed Ned. "Is she, papa?"

"No, indeed! very far from it," the captain said. "Even her older
sisters are much too young for that; but they seem to so have named
their new gowns because of having had them made expressly to be worn at