Some of the connection had attended the dedication ceremonies of the
previous autumn, and nearly all talked of going to the formal opening,
appointed for the first of May; among them Grandma Elsie, her father and
his wife, Captain Raymond and his wife and family. The captain's plan was
to go by water--in his yacht--up along the coast to the Gulf of St.
Lawrence, through that up the river of the same name, through the Welland
Canal and round Michigan by the great lakes to Chicago, and he invited as
many as his vessel could well accommodate--including, of course, his
wife's mother and grandparents--to be his guests for the trip.

The younger gentlemen and their wives all preferred going by rail as the
speedier way, but Mr. Dinsmore, having no longer any business to attend
to, and both he and his wife being fond of the sea and desirous of keeping
with his eldest daughter, accepted the invitation promptly and with
pleasure.

Mr. Ronald Lilburn, too, having a like taste as to his mode of travel,
and no business engagements to hurry him, availed himself of the
opportunity to make the journey by water. The other passengers were Evelyn
Leland and Rosie and Walter Travilla.

Something, however, occurred to change their plans, and it was the latter
part of June when they left home for their trip to the North. They had a
pleasant voyage, making few pauses by the way, and reached their
destination on Monday, the second day of July.

It was early in the evening when the _Dolphin_ neared the White City; the
little ones were already in bed and sweetly sleeping, but all the others
had gathered on deck to catch the first glimpse of the fairy-like scene.
They had passed the mouth of the Chicago River and were steaming on down