"There are Grandma Elsie and mamma in the house," cried Grace, catching
sight of them through a window.

"Yes," said her father, "we will go in there and wait our turn with
them," leading the way as he spoke. "Do you want to go up into the
tower, Gracie?"

"Oh no, no, papa!" she cried, "what would be the use? and I am afraid I
might fall."

"What, with your big strong father to hold you fast?" he asked
laughingly, sitting down and drawing her to a seat upon his knee; for
they had entered the parlor.

"It might tire you to hold me so hard; I'm getting so big now," she
answered naïvely, looking up into his face with a loving smile and
stealing an arm about his neck.

"Ah, no danger of that," he laughed. "Why, I believe I could hold even
your mamma or Lulu, and that against their will, without being greatly
exhausted by the exertion.

"My dear," turning to Violet, "shall I have the pleasure of helping you
up to the top of the tower?"

"Thank you, I think I shall not try it to-day," she answered; "they tell
me the steps are very steep and hard to climb."

"Ah, so I suppose, and I think you are wise not to attempt it."