"I am agreed and ready for suggestions," replied his wife.

"And I," said his daughter.

"Vi is, of course, since the proposition comes from her husband," Edward
remarked, with a sportive look at her; then glancing at his own little
wife: "and as I approve, Zoe will be equally ready with her consent."

"Have you any suggestion to offer, captain?" asked Mr. Dinsmore.

"I have, sir; and it is that we make the island of Nantucket our summer
resort for this year, dividing the time, if you like, between Nantucket
Town and the quaint little fishing village Siasconset, or 'Sconset, as
they call it for short. There is an odd little box of a cottage there
belonging to a friend of mine, a Captain Coffin, which I have partially
engaged until the first of September. It wouldn't hold nearly all of us,
but we may be able to rent another for the season, or we can pitch a
tent or two, and those who prefer it can take rooms, with or without
board, at the hotels or boarding-houses. What do you all say?" glancing
from his mother-in-law to his wife.

"It sounds very pleasant, captain," Elsie said; "but please tell us more
about it; I'm afraid I must acknowledge shameful ignorance of that
portion of my native land."

"A very small corner of the same, yet a decidedly interesting one,"
returned the captain; then went on to give a slight sketch of its
geography and history.