Come, Eddie, my son, you too, and Bruno." A brisk five minutes' walk brought them to the shore of the lake, a tiny one, scarce a quarter of a mile in circumference, not very deep and the water so clear that the pebbly bottom could be distinctly seen; gold and silver fish, too, gliding hither and thither; while a pretty, gayly painted row-boat lying at the water's edge, rocked gently in the morning breeze.
Eddie hailed the scene with a shout of delight; the little girls danced about gleefully, Vi clapping her hands and asking eagerly if they might get into the boat.
Papa looked at his watch, "Yes, there will be time for a row; one trip around the lake.

Step in, all of you, and I will take the oars." Vi was quite ready and Eddie gallantly handed her in, then turned and offered his hand to Elsie.

She demurred.

"But mamma! shouldn't we have mamma with us the first time ?" and she looked up inquiringly into her father's face.
"Yes, yes, of course!" cried the others making haste to step ashore again, "we want dear mamma with us the very first time." Papa smiled approval.

"Then we will go back," he said, "and after breakfast, if mamma is willing, we will all come and take a row together; the boat is large enough to carry us all at once." Mamma's consent was readily obtained, for to please her children was her great delight.