"And none of us would object to that, I think," remarked Rose.
"I, for one, am decidedly of the opinion that it would pay," said Lucilla. "Don't you think so, father?"
"Yes; I have always found their society enjoyable," Captain Raymond replied to that. "And I hope they have found ours agreeable enough to need but little urging to accept our invitation."
"Perhaps we may come upon them in Montreal," remarked Grace. "Papa, is it not the largest city of Lower Canada?"
"On the left bank of this--the St. Lawrence River, 200 miles below Lake Ontario; 160 above Quebec, which will be our next stopping place."
"Will we get there to-day, papa?" asked Elsie.
"No," he replied. "To-day is nearly gone, daughter. See, the sun is setting, and you and Neddie will be going presently to your beds, to have a good night's sleep, I hope, and be ready to enjoy to-morrow's visit to Montreal."
The drip, drip of rain was the first sound that greeted Lucilla's ears on awaking the next morning. She started up in her berth and listened. The _Dolphin_ was not moving.
"Oh, we must be anchored at Montreal, and it's raining," she said to herself. "There will not be much sight-seeing for us to-day, I'm afraid. Dear, dear! I hope we won't have to hurry away without seeing anything. Though in that case, perhaps papa will bring us here again next year."
She did not linger long over her toilet, and was soon with her father on the deck.
"Oh, papa!" she exclaimed, after the usual morning greetings had been exchanged, "aren't you sorry it has turned out a rainy day?"
"A bright one would seem pleasanter to us, as we had planned to do some sight-seeing," he replied, "but let us remember who sends the changes of the weather, that He knows what is best for us, and that we may safely trust in His knowledge, power, and love for us?"
"Yes, papa, that is how I ought to feel about it, and I will try to," she said, a sweet smile replacing the slight frown that had marred the beauty of her face for the moment.
"I think," he went on presently, "that it is not going to be a lasting rain. Probably showery for some hours, which we can spend with advantage in a short review of the history of Montreal, and considering what parts of it are most worthy of our attention; for we cannot take time to visit every locality."