"Thank you, Cousin Art," returned Chester with a smile. "That would be a most agreeable medicine if I could spare the time and take with me the present company, or even a part of it." "Meaning Lu, I presume, Ches," laughed Zoe. "Among the rest; she is one of the present company," he returned pleasantly. "What do you say, captain, to taking your family down there for a few weeks?" asked Dr. Conly, adding, "I don't think it would be a bad thing for Grace." "I should have no objection if any of my family need it, or if they all wish to go," said the captain, looking at his wife and older daughters as he spoke. "A visit to Florida would be something new and very pleasant, I think," said Violet. "As I do, papa," said Grace. "Thank you for recommending it for me, Cousin Arthur," she added, giving him a pleased smile. "Being very healthy I do not believe I need it, but I should greatly enjoy going with those who do," said Lucilla, adding in an aside to Chester, who sat next her, "I do hope you can go and get rid of that trying cough." "Perhaps after a while; not just yet," was his low-toned reply. "I hardly know what I should like better." "Well, don't let business hinder; your life and health are of far more importance than that, or anything else." His only answer to that was a smile which spoke appreciation of her solicitude for him. No more was said on the subject just then, but it was talked over later in the evening and quite a number of those present seemed taken with a desire to spend a part of the winter in Florida. Chester admitted that by the last of January he could probably go without sacrificing the interests of his clients, and the captain remarked that by that time Max would be at home and could go with them. Grandma Elsie, her father and his wife, also Cousin Ronald and his Annis, pledged themselves to be of the party, and so many of the younger people hoped they might be able to join that it bade fair to be a large one. "Are we going in our yacht, papa?" asked Ned Raymond. "Some of us, perhaps, but it is unfortunately not large enough to hold us all comfortably," was the amused reply. "Not by any means," said Dr. Conly, "but the journey can be taken more quickly by rail, and probably more safely at this time of the year." Their plans were not matured before separating for the night, but it seemed altogether probable that quite a large company from that connection would visit Florida before the winter was over; and at the Woodburn breakfast the next morning the captain, in reply to some questions in regard to the history of that State, suggested that they, the family, should take up that study as a preparation for their expected visit there. "I will procure the needed books," he said, "and distribute them among you older ones to be read at convenient times during the day and reported upon when we are all together in the evenings."