"It is only your schoolroom this time," her father said, closing his
fingers lovingly over the little hand, and smiling down into the sweet
blue eyes upraised so gratefully to his.

"Oh, yes, I want to see that! I'd 'most forgotten 'bout it," she said,
skipping along by his side as he led the way, Max and Lulu following.

The room he had selected for the purpose was in a wing attached to the
main building at the end farthest removed from Violet's apartments; for
he did not want her to be disturbed by any noise the children might
make, or them to feel constrained to keep very quiet when not engaged in
study or recitation. There was a simultaneous burst of delight from the
three, as he threw open the door, and ushered them in. Every thing had
been done to render that as attractive as any other part of the mansion:
the windows reached almost from floor to ceiling, some opening on to the
veranda, one looking directly out upon lawn and flower-garden, with a
glimpse of the wood and the brook beyond; a handsome rug covered the
centre of the stained and polished floor. In an open fireplace a bright
wood fire was blazing, an easy-chair on each side of it; and a sofa on
the farther side of the room seemed to invite to repose: but the
handsome writing-table, and three pretty rosewood desks, were suggestive
of work to be done ere the occupants of the room might feel entitled to
rest. The walls were tinted a delicate gray, an excellent background for
the pictures that adorned them here and there: most of these were marine
views,--that over the fireplace, a very large and fine one, of a storm
at sea.

On the mantel-shelf were heaped sea-mosses, shells, and coral; but the
tiles below it represented Scripture scenes. Blinds and curtains shaded