"You shall have," replied her father. "I have sent for some by the man
who has gone to the city to do the marketing."

"Oh, that's good!" exclaimed Lucilla. "Papa, I believe one may always
trust you to think of everything."

"I am not so sure of that," he said with a smile. "But it is very well
for my daughters to think so."

"I do, papa," said Grace. "Lu can't have any more confidence in you
than I have."

"Nor than I," said Evelyn. "And I am very proud of the privilege
accorded me some time ago of considering you my brother, captain."

"Ah? I think I am the one to feel honored by the relationship," he
returned laughingly.

"We will start for home pretty soon, father, won't we?" asked Grace.

"I presume so; we will consult the others on that subject when they
come. Are you growing homesick?"

"Almost," she answered, but in a cheery tone. "I have enjoyed our
outings on the Hudson and here ever so much, but ours is such a sweet
home that I begin to long to see it again."

"Well, dear child, I hope to be able to gratify that wish before
long," he replied in kindly, affectionate tones. "I am very glad you
love your home."

"It is certainly worthy of her love," said Evelyn. "I don't know a
more delightful place; yet it would not be half so charming without
the dear people who live in it."

"It certainly would not be to me without the wife and children who
share it with me," said the captain.

They had not left the table long when flowers were brought aboard in
variety and abundance, and they had a very enjoyable time arranging
them in vases, and placing those where they could be seen to the best
advantage.

"There," said Lucilla when their labors were completed; "they will do
very well while the _Dolphin_ stands still, but if she takes to
rolling, as I have known her to do at times in the past, we'll have to
empty the water out of the vases or it will empty itself where it is
not wanted at all."

"Yes," said her father, "but I think you may confidently expect her to
remain stationary at least until to-morrow morning. No one is likely
to care to start on the homeward journey before that time."

"I wish they were here now," said Grace; "but we have hours to wait
before we can hope to see them."

"Have patience, daughter," her father said in cheerful tones. "The
time will soon pass; and, to make it go faster, shall we not row over
to one of the islands and have a stroll on the beach?"

The girls all