Max's joy in meeting them all--especially his father and the others of his own immediate family--was evidently very great, for it was the first sight he had had of any of them for two years or more. He passed his examination successfully, received his diploma, and was appointed to the engineer corps of the navy. He received many warm congratulations and valuable gifts from friends and relatives; but the pleasure in his father's eyes, accompanied by the warm, affectionate clasp of his hand, and his look of parental pride in his firstborn, was a sweeter reward to the young man than all else put together. "You are satisfied with me, father?" he asked in a low aside. "Entirely so, my dear boy," was the prompt and smiling rejoinder; "you have done well and made me a proud and happy father. And now, if you are quite ready for the homeward-bound trip, we will go aboard the yacht at once." "I am entirely ready, sir," responded Max in joyful tones; "trunk packed and good-byes said." But they were detained for a little, some of Captain Raymond's old friends coming up to congratulate him and his son on the latter's successful entrance into the most desirable corps of the navy. Then, on walking down to the wharf, they found the _Dolphin's_ dory waiting for them and saw that the rest of their party was already on board, on deck and evidently looking with eager interest for their coming. Max remarked it with a smile, adding, "How the girls have grown, father! and how lovely they all are! girls that any fellow might be proud to claim as his sisters--and friend. Evelyn, I suppose, would hardly let me claim her as a sister." "I don't know," laughed his father; "she once very willingly agreed to a proposition from me to adopt her as my daughter." "Yes? I think she might well be glad enough to do that; but to take me for a brother would not perhaps be quite so agreeable." "Well, your Mamma Vi objecting to having so old a daughter, we agreed to consider ourselves brother and sister; so I suppose you can consider her your aunt, if you wish." "There now, father, what a ridiculous idea!" laughed Max. "Not so very," returned his father, "since aunts are sometimes younger than their nephews." But they had reached the yacht and the conversation went no farther. In another moment they were on deck, and the dear relatives and friends there crowding about Max to tell of their joy in having him in their midst again and in knowing that he had so successfully finished his course of tuition and fully entered upon the profession chosen as his life work. Max, blushing with pleasure, returned hearty thanks and expressed his joy in being with them again. "The two years of absence have seemed a long time to be without a sight of your dear faces," he said, "and I feel it a very great pleasure to be with you all again." "And it will be a delight to get home once more, won't it?" asked Grace, hanging lovingly on his arm.