Then stepping close to Mr. Lilburn’s side, he asked in an undertone, “Cousin Ronald, please won’t you make some of the same kind of fun for us that you did at Cousin Betty’s wedding?”
At that Mr. Lilburn laughed, saying: “Well, well, laddie, you and your niece here (you’re Lulu’s uncle, aren’t you?) seem to be of one mind in regard to that matter. We’ll see what can be done.”
“Walter’s niece!” laughed Lulu. “He’s younger than I am and would be a little uncle for me.”
“So I would,” laughed Walter in turn, “but if your father is my brother I suppose you must be my niece, and you’d better mind what I say to you.”
“I will—when it suits me,” she replied in merry retort.
They were now nearing that part of the lawn where they had left the older members of the party and the little ones.
“Ah, I am glad to see you,” said Zoe, coming forward to meet them, “for it is nearly time for the summons to tea.”
“Yes; we hope we have not kept you waiting?” returned several voices.
“Oh, no,” she replied cheerily, “you are just in good season. I heard your father inquiring where you were only a moment since, Lulu.”
“Oh, did you, Aunt Zoe? Well, I’ll tell him,” replied Lulu, hurrying away in his direction, for she could see him seated under a tree at some little distance, with Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, Grandma Elsie, Mamma Vi, and several others. Lulu stole up behind him, put her arms round his neck, and laid her cheek to his.
“Ah!” he said, taking hold of the small white hands, drawing her around in front of him, and seating her on his knee, “where has this eldest daughter of mine been for the last hour or so?”
“Down by the lake with the older ones, papa,” she replied, softly stroking his beard with one hand and smiling archly into the eyes gazing so fondly upon her. “I thought you were always willing that I should go about the grounds here without asking special permission.”
“Yes, so I am, provided you do not go on the water without my knowledge and consent.”
“I wanted to, but I didn’t,” was her reply. “You didn’t think I would, papa, when you had forbidden me?”
“Certainly not, daughter. It would be a sad thing indeed if I could not trust you out of my sight.”
Their conversation had been carried on in an undertone and the others were not listening, but chatting among themselves.