it, and cooing and smiling, her pretty blue eyes shining with delight.

When all, children and servants,--for the latter had been called in to
enjoy the sight also,--had looked to their full, the gifts were
distributed.

They were very numerous,--nearly everybody having given to nearly
everybody else,--and many of those received by the parents and children
were very handsome. But their father's gift--a tiny watch to each, to
help them to be punctual with all their duties, he said--was what gave
the greatest amount of pleasure to Lulu and Grace.

Both they and their brother went to bed that night, and woke the next
morning, very happy children.

The weather being still too severe for the little ones to be taken out,
the captain and Violet went to Ion only for a call, and returned early
in the day, bringing a portion of the party that usually gathered there,
to dine with them at Woodburn.

Among these, to Lulu's extreme satisfaction, was Evelyn. She staid till
after tea; and all the afternoon, there was much passing to and fro of
the different members of the large family connection.

Evelyn was to be at the Oaks for the next few days, with the other young
people, and regretted greatly that Lulu was not to go too.

But Lulu's rebellious feeling about it was a thing of the past. She told
Evelyn frankly her father's reason for refusing his consent, adding that
she felt that he was right, and that he was so dear, so kind and