"Oh, I hope that is the true end of the story!" exclaimed Elsie. "It would be so dreadful to have her put to death for helping to save her dear country."
"So it would," said Grace; "but in those early times such dreadful, dreadful deeds used to be done. I often feel thankful that I did not live in those days."
"Yes," said Mrs. Travilla, "we may well be full of gratitude and love to God our Heavenly Father that our lot has been cast in these better times and in our dear land."
"And that we have our dear, kind grandma to love," said Neddie, nestling closer to her, "and our papa and mamma. Some little children haven't any."
"No, I had no mother when I was your age, Ned," sighed Grandma Elsie, "and I cannot tell you how much I used to long for her when Aunt Chloe would tell me how sweet and lovely she had been, and how sorry she was to leave her baby."
"Her baby? was that you, grandma?" he asked, with a wondering look up into her face.
"Yes," she replied, with a smile, and stroking his hair caressingly.
"But you had a papa? grandpa is your papa, isn't he? I hear you call him that sometimes."
"Yes, he is; my dear father and your mamma's grandfather, which makes him yours too."
"Mine, too," said little Elsie, in a tone of satisfaction.
"Oh, see! here comes the boat with Evelyn and Uncle Walter in it!"
"You are early to-night as well as ourselves," remarked Grace, as they stepped upon the deck and drew near the little group already gathered there.
"Yes," returned Evelyn, "I was tired, and Walter kindly brought me home. The yacht seems like a home to me nowadays," she added, with a light laugh.
"Yes," said Grace; "I am sure papa likes to have us all feel that it is a home to us at present."
"And a very good and comfortable one it is," remarked Walter, handing Evelyn to a seat, then taking one himself opposite her and near his mother's side.
"Where have you two been? and what have you seen that is worth telling about?" asked Grace.
"Visiting buildings," returned Walter; "Brazil, Turkey, Hayti, Sweden, and lastly Venezuela."
"In Venezuela's exhibit? Christopher Columbus and General Bolivar--that is, their effigies--specimens of birds, animals, minerals, preserves, spices, coffee, vegetables, fine needlework, some manufactured goods, and--most interesting of all, we thought--the flag carried by Pizarro in his conquest of Peru."