"Papa, who is to tell us what to wear,--you, or mamma Vi?" asked Lulu,
as they pursued their way back to the house.

"You may wear your cream-colored cashmere with the cherry trimmings;
Gracie, hers with the blue," he replied.

"That's just what I wanted you to say, papa! I like those dresses,"
remarked Lulu with satisfaction.

"That is well: and Gracie, of course, is pleased; for she never objects
to any thing papa or mamma wishes her to do," he said, with a loving
glance down into the little girl's face.

"'Course not, papa; 'cause I know you and mamma always know best," she
said, her blue eyes smiling up into his.

"And I mean to try to be like her in that, papa," Lulu said with
unwonted humility.

"I hope so: I have no fault to find with your behavior of late," he
returned kindly.

They passed into the house, and in the hall met Christine and Alma.

"Ah! you have come, my good girls?" the captain said to them with a
pleased look. "Jane," to the girl who had admitted them, "show them to
their rooms."

Christine had come to assume her duties as housekeeper at Woodburn; Alma