Violet.

"Oh yes, I know that, and I'll do it, Mamma Vi," returned the boy, with
ill-concealed satisfaction.

"Now all three of you get to bed and to sleep as soon as you can, in
order to give the old fellow a chance to pay his visit," said the
captain; "for I have always understood that he never does so till all
the children in the house are asleep. I'll go in to kiss my little girls
good-night after they are snug in bed, but we will reserve our talk till
morning."

"Yes, papa, we will," they said and hastened away to do his bidding.

At Ion too, there was a beautiful Christmas tree, bearing fruit not very
dissimilar to that of the one at Woodburn. It had been the occasion of
much mirth and rejoicing on the part of the children, and pleasure to
the older people: the gifts had been apportioned, those of the servants
bestowed and carried away, but most of those belonging to the family,
and all the ornaments, were left upon it that the guests of to-morrow
might be treated to the spectacle of its beauty.




CHAPTER VI.


Capt. Raymond, going into Gracie's room to fulfil his promise to give
her a good night kiss, found Lulu there also; the two lying clasped in