in silence.

"It is a bagpipe, playing a Scotch air," said Percy, who was standing
near their little group.

"What queer music!" said one of the little girls when it had ceased;
"but I like it. Please, Uncle Ronald, make some more."

Several tunes followed, and then the children were told they had
monopolized their Uncle Ronald long enough and must leave him to the
older people for a while.

"But you'll do some more for us some other time, won't you, Uncle
Ronald?" asked one of the little girls as they reluctantly withdrew
from his immediate neighborhood.

"Yes, little dear, I will," he answered kindly.

And he did entertain them in the same way a number of times during his
short stay in their town.

CHAPTER XIII.

"Well, papa, where shall we go, or what shall we do, to-day?" asked
Grace one bright September morning as they sat about the breakfast
table on board the _Dolphin_.

"Let me hear the wishes of all three of you in regard to that matter,"
he said in his accustomed pleasant tones. "Evelyn, what have you to
say? Have you any plans you would like carried out?"

"No, sir, thank you," she replied. "I shall be perfectly contented to
stay on the _Dolphin_ or go anywhere you and the girls wish."

"I think we have seen all the points of interest about here," he said.
"However, if you would like to pay a second visit to any one of them
you have only to say so."

Just as the captain spoke a sailor came in with the mail-bag.

"Ah," said Grace, "I hope there is a letter from Mamma Vi saving that
she and the rest will be here to-day or to-morrow."

"Yes, so do I," said Lucilla. "We have had a lovely time while they
have been away, but I shall be delighted to have them back again."

"Yes," said her father, "here is a letter from her to me." Then
opening and glancing over it: "They are coming back to-day, and may be
expected by the train that gets into Cleveland near tea-time. I must
go for them; and you, Lucilla--you and Grace--may see that everything
about the cabin and staterooms is in good order for their comfort and
enjoyment."

"Yes, papa, we will," they answered promptly, Lucilla adding with a
merry look, "We will do the work ourselves if that is your wish."

"Oh, no," he said; "I only meant that you should oversee it, and make
sure that nothing is left undone which would add to their comfort."

"I wish we had some flowers to ornament the rooms with," said Grace.