"Well, daughter, I shall never ask you to do so," he answered, with a
kindly smile down into the bright, rosy little face.

They were entering the village as he spoke. Some little time was spent
there very agreeably, after which they returned to the _Dolphin_ for the
night.




CHAPTER XII.


There was a gathering of friends and relatives on the _Dolphin_ that
evening: all from Pleasant Plains were there; Chester and Frank Dinsmore
also and the Ion family. The brother and sister of Grandma Elsie, and her
eldest daughter with her husband and children, had paid their visit to the
Fair at an earlier date and returned home.

Expecting to do a good deal of entertaining Captain Raymond had taken care
to have his boat well provisioned, and all were cordially invited to stay
and take dinner on board.

No one declined, and they were a pleasant, lively party, each having
something interesting to tell of the experiences of the day, and all
agreeing that the Fair was well worth the trouble and expense of the
journey to reach it, and the hundred and one demands upon the purse while
there. Grace alone was very quiet, seeming to have little or nothing to
say, and looking at times both sad and distressed. Her father noticed it
and seizing the first opportunity to speak with her in private, asked in