"Now I hope they'll say they'll all go too." He had his wish; the carriage contained Mr.and Mrs.Dinsmore, their son and daughter, and it soon appeared that they had come to propose the very thing Herbert desired, viz., that adjacent cottages at the seashore should be engaged for the two families, and all spend the summer there together.
It was finally arranged that the Dinsmores should precede the others by two or three weeks, then Mr.Dinsmore return for his daughter and her family, and Mr.Travilla follow a little later in the season.
Also that the second party should make their journey by water; it would be easier for Molly, and newer to all than the land route which they had taken much oftener in going North.
"Dear me, how I wish we were rich!" exclaimed Virginia Conly when she heard of it the next morning at breakfast, from Cal, who had spent the evening at Ion.

"I'd like nothing better than to go North for the summer; not to a dull, prosy life in a cottage though, but to some of the grand hotels where people dress splendidly and have hops and all sorts of gay times.

If I had the means I'd go to the seashore for a few weeks, and then off to Saratoga for the rest of the season, Mamma, couldn't we manage it somehow?
You ought to give Isa and me every advantage possible, if you want us to make good matches." "I shouldn't need persuasion to gratify you, if I had the money, Virginia," she answered dryly, and with a significant glance at her father and sons.
There was no response from them; for none of them felt able to supply the coveted funds.
"I think it very likely Cousin Elsie will invite you to visit them," remarked Arthur at length, breaking the silence which had followed his mother's remark.
"I shall certainly accept if she does," said Isa; "for I should dearly like to spend the summer with her there." "Making garments for the poor, reading good books and singing psalms and hymns," remarked Virginia with a contemptuous sniff.
"Very good employments, all of them," returned Arthur quietly, "though I feel safe in predicting that a good deal more time will be spent by the Travillas in bathing, riding, driving, boating and fishing.

They are no ascetics, but the most cheerful, happy family I have ever come across." "Yes, it's quite astonishing how easily they've taken the death of that child," said Mrs.Conly, ill-naturedly.
"Mother, how can you!" exclaimed Arthur, indignant at the insinuation.
"O mamma, no one could think for a moment it was from want of affection!" cried Isadore.
"I have not said so; but you didn't tell me, I suppose, how Molly assured you her cousin had no need of consolation ?" "Yes, mother, but it was that her grief was swallowed up in the realizing sense of the bliss of her dear departed child.

Oh they all talk of her to this day with glad tears in their eyes,--sorrowing for themselves but rejoicing for her." Elsie did give a cordial invitation to her aunt and the two girls to spend the summer with her and it was accepted at first, but declined afterward when a letter came from Mrs.Delaford, inviting them to join her in some weeks' sojourn, at her expense, first at Cape May and afterward at Saratoga.
It would be the gay life of dressing, dancing and flirting at great hotels, for which Virginia hungered, and was snatched at with great avidity by herself and her mother.
Isadore would have preferred to be with the Travillas, but Mrs.Conly would not hear of it.
"Aunt Delaford would be mortally offended.