for our trip down the river?”

“I think I can make ready in an hour or two at any time,” Violet answered with a smile.

“Oh, father, don’t think of leaving us!” exclaimed Max. “I am absolutely hungry for a good visit with you; and you have had sea air for months past. Besides, there is plenty of room here, and of everything else that is wanted. I hope you will all stay until Eva and I are ready to go.”

“Thank you, my son,” the captain said, giving Max a look of fatherly pride and pleasure; “a few weeks of your society will be far from disagreeable to your old father. So, Violet,” turning to her, “shall we accept his invitation?”

“Yes, with the understanding that if at any time we prove troublesome company we are to be informed that such is the case and to leave at very short notice.”

“You may be sure of getting such notice if your conduct calls for it,” laughed Mrs. Leland. “So don’t set your hearts too strongly upon staying here as long as Max and Eva do.”

“There is not the slightest danger of Sister Violet earning such notice and hardly of her children doing so,” remarked Mr. Leland, “but I am not so sure of our own boys and girls. Remember, my children,” glancing around upon them, “that you are to play very quietly when you are in or near the house while Cousin Eva is sick.”

In answer there was a chorus of assurances that they would be very careful to do nothing to injure “dear Cousin Eva,” but everything they could to help her to get well.

An hour later they were all—including Elsie and Ned—invited to go quietly into Cousin Eva’s dressing-room and see her new treasure, which they found sleeping on Grandma Elsie’s lap. They all regarded it with great interest and pronounced it a dear, pretty little thing.

“What is its name, grandma?” they asked.

“I don’t think she has any yet, except that she is a little Miss Raymond,” Grandma Elsie answered, with a smile and a loving look down into the wee face.

“Oh, yes, because Brother Max is her father and his name is Raymond,” said little Elsie, “and Sisters Lu and Grace and I are her aunts. Oh, I think it’s nice to have such a dear little niece!”

“Or cousin,” said Eric Leland. “I can’t be her uncle, but she’s my cousin, because her mother is.”

“Yes,” said Grandma Elsie, “so she is, and I hope you will be so kind to her that she cannot help loving you. Now you may all go out into the grounds and enjoy yourselves there; far enough from the house not to disturb your sick cousin if you want to make any noise.”

“I think we will all try to be quiet, grandma,” said Elsie, “and go far enough away not to disturb Sister Eva with our talk.” And with that they all passed out very quietly.

Elsie led the way to the summer house on the edge of the cliff, which had always been one of Evelyn’s favorite resorts. There they seated themselves, enjoying the beautiful prospect of the river and its farther shore.

“That baby is a dear, pretty little cousin for us all, isn’t she?” remarked Alie Leland.

“To you and your sister and brothers,” Elsie answered, with merry look and tone; “but niece to Ned and me, you must remember, because her father is our brother.”

“Well, I don’t care,” laughed Alie. “I believe it’s about as good to be cousin as aunt.”

CHAPTER V

Evelyn awoke from a long, quiet sleep to find her husband sitting by her side and gazing upon her as if he thought her the greatest of earthly treasures.

“Dear Max,” she said, smiling up in his eyes, “it is so sweet to have you so close—keeping guard over me as if I were the dearest of earthly possessions.”

“That is just what you are, love,” he returned, leaning over her and kissing lip and cheek and brow. “And this little darling comes next,” he added, looking down at the sleeping babe by her side.

“Ah, she is a treasure, oh, such a treasure to me—but I am sorry for your sake that she is only a girl.”

“Only a girl!” he exclaimed. “I am glad she is that. I would not have her anything else; and I hope she will prove a second edition of her mother.”

“Thank you, my dear,” Eva said with a smile. “But she must have a name, and what shall it be?”

“Whatever pleases her mother,” replied Max, returning the smile.

“No, I think the decision should rest with her father,” Eva said, with her low, sweet laugh.

“Shall we call her Elsie for your good, kind aunt?” returned Max.

“I should like to give that token of affection to both her and her mother,” said Evelyn, “were it not that there are already so many Elsies in the connection. How would Mary do? Perhaps shortening it to Maie.”

“Quite well, I think,” said Max. “So let us call her our little Maie.”

“Little treasure!” murmured Evelyn, gazing upon the baby face. “Oh, Max, I feel it very sweet to be a mother—to have a little darling of my very own.”

“And I find it far from unpleasant to be a father,” he returned gaily, “the only drawback upon my felicity being the hard fact that I must leave my two dearest ones so often for my life upon the sea.”

“Ah,” she sighed, “I must try not to think of that now. It is a hard thought, though I am proud of my husband’s readiness to serve his country.”

“A country well worth serving, I think,” smiled Max; “the grandest one in the world.”

Doctor and nurse both came in at that moment.

“In which opinion I heartily agree with you,” said Harold, having overheard Max’s last sentence. “But remember, my good naval officer, that you must not talk in too exciting a way to my patient.”

“Oh, I am not at all excited, but if you abuse my husband I shall be,” said Evelyn, with mirthful look and tone.

“Oh, I am not abusing him or intending to,” said Harold, “but my patient’s welfare must always receive my first consideration.”

“Pleasant doctrine for me while I am the patient,” laughed Evelyn.

Harold was looking at the sleeping babe. “She’s a pretty bit lassie for one of her age,” he said, “and I hope one of these days to claim her as my niece.”

“So you may; I think you will suit very well for an uncle,” laughed Max; “an uncle for my child since you have ceased to be one for myself.”

“Yes, I prefer to be your brother,” was Harold’s response to that.

“Grace is much pleased with her little niece,” said Evelyn, “and with the thought of being an aunt; as Lucilla is, also.”

“Yes, and the little cousins, too,” said Grandma Elsie, coming in at that moment. “Ah, she is waking now; see, her eyes are open. Suppose you let me carry her into the dressing-room again and let them refresh their eyes with another sight of the dear little face.”

“Agreed, Grandma Elsie, if you will let me go along to witness the scene,” said Max. “I’ll carry her very carefully on a pillow.”

He did so, and laid her on Grandma Elsie’s lap, she having seated herself in a low, easy-chair. Then the children were notified and gathered about her in an eager, excited group, while the young father stood near looking on.

“I wish I might hold her in my arms for a little,” said Alie Leland.