"I hope such a little excursion will afford you pleasure, my dear ?" "Yes," she returned gayly, "I think even the children will hardly enjoy it more than I; and," she added laughingly, "I shall endeavor to earn my right to it by faithfully attending to housekeeping matters in the meantime." "I don't believe there is any schoolroom here!" exclaimed Grace, as if struck with a sudden thought.
"We will have to select one and get it ready before the others come," said Violet.
"And for the present my dressing-room will answer very well," added the captain.
So thither the children repaired at the usual hour for beginning their studies.
It was at first a little difficult to fix their attention upon them, but with an earnest desire to do right, and to please their dear father, they made very determined efforts, and had their lessons well prepared by the time he came to hear them.
It seemed to afford him pleasure to give the deserved meed of praise, and the young faces grew bright and gladsome under it.

An hour was then given to writing and ciphering, and they were dismissed for the day.
"May we go out into the grounds now, papa ?" asked Lulu, as she put up her books.
"Yes," he replied, "but keep near the house for the present, for it is near dinner-time now." "We will, papa," both little girls answered and hurried away.
They sported about the lawn till summoned to the house by the dinner-bell, whose call they obeyed with alacrity, air and exercise having given them good appetites.
"My dear," the captain said to his wife, near the conclusion of the meal, "you have had a busy morning, can you not afford to devote the afternoon to recreation ?" "Certainly, if you will share it," she replied.

"Are we not to have that row on the bayou ?" "It is what I had planned, should my wife still feel inclined to go," he said.
"Ah! that will be very enjoyable I think; and perhaps there may be time afterward for me to drive over to the parsonage.

I want a bit of chat with Isa about some household matters." "Yes, I think you may have time for both," he returned.

"An hour on the bayou will be sufficient for this first time; the carriage can be ordered to be in waiting when we return, and you, if the plan suits your views, can drive over to the parsonage at once, have your talk, and be at home again in season to pour out your husband's tea." "That will do nicely, thank you, sir," she returned gayly.