which he gave her with an approving smile as he seated himself upon a settee near the chair she had given Marian.

The next minute she was with them again, nestling close to his side, her arm around his neck, his about her waist, her eyes gazing up with ardent affection into his while her pretty little white hand stroked his face lovingly and toyed with his beard.

He was talking to Marian and hardly showed consciousness of Lulu's caresses except that he stroked her hair, patted her cheek, and pressed his lips absently once or twice to it or her forehead.

Marian's eyes filled at the sight, and she had much ado to keep her voice steady while answering his queries in regard to the growth and prosperity of Minersville, its schools, churches, and public works.

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Ah, what bliss to have such a father-so dear and kind!" was the thought in her heart. She expressed that thought to Lulu when they bade good-night after going upstairs.

"Indeed it is!" was Lulu's earnest rejoinder, "and I wish yours and all fathers were like mine. He isn't foolishly indulgent; all his children know they must yield ready and cheerful obedience whenever he gives an order, but it is always so evidently for our good, and so

pleasantly spoken, unless we are showing ourselves wilful and stubborn, that it is not at all hard for any but a very bad, contrary child— such I have sometimes been, I'm ashamed to own-to obey."

"How blessed you are, Lulu!" sighed Marian. "But," she added with a look of surprise, “you did not bid him good-night, and I could not help wondering at the omission."

"Ah, that was because he will come presently to my room for just a few minutes' chat and a good-night kiss," Lulu said with a joyous smile. "Mamma, my own mother, used to do it, but she is gone now, and to our great joy papa takes her place in that. I would not miss it for anything; so good-night and pleasant dreams, for I must go."

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'Good-night, you dear, sweet girl,” Marian said, folding her arms about Lulu for an instant, and kissing her with warmth of affection. "I love you, and my now sainted mother loved you. too. But oh, what would I not give for such a father as yours!"

CHAPTER IV.

"WELL, how many of you would like to go to the city to-day?" the captain asked in pleasant tones the next morning at the breakfast-table. "You, my dear?" looking at Violet.

"No, thank you, sir, I think not, as I have a number of matters to attend to at home and will not be needed to assist in the shopping, as mamma and Sister Elsie are both going; probably Evelyn also, as some dresses are to be bought for her."

"You will go, Marian?" he said inquiringly, turning to her as he spoke. "You will want to exercise your own taste and judgment in the selection of articles of dress; at least so I presume, as such is the case with my eldest daughter," he concluded with a smiling glance at Lulu. "And she, I dare say, wants to be of the party."

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"If you are going, papa," Lulu replied; otherwise I'd rather stay at home, if I may." "You may do exactly as you please, go or stay; so may Gracie."

"But you don't say whether you are going or

"I shall stay at home, as there are some matters for me to attend to, perhaps nearly as important as those which will keep my wife at home," he said in a playful tone, turning toward her again as he spoke.

"I am not sorry to hear it, my dear," Violet responded.

"I

And I don't want to go," said Grace. never do like to go to the city without my father to take care of me," with an affectionate look up into his face. "Besides, I've promised to help Elsie arrange her doll-house and make some new clothes for her dollies."

"Ah? and of course promises must be kept; but as you do not want to go without papa you will not feel it a hardship, I hope, to keep yours little sisters."

to your

"But I wouldn't want Gracie to stay at home if she wanted to go," said little Elsie; " no indeed I wouldn't, papa."

"No, my dear baby girl is not so selfish as that, I am sure," he returned with a loving look into the rosy, dimpled face. "But I feel quite sure Gracie does not want to go."

"And somehow papa always knows what we want, Elsie," Grace said with a contented little laugh.

"And as you will have Grandma Elsie, Aunt Elsie, Rosie and Evelyn along to help you select your dresses and other things, you won't miss me if I stay at home, Marian," said Lulu. "I want to get out our school-books-Gracie's and mine-and arrange our desks ready for school; for papa says we are to begin lessons again to

morrow."

"I shall miss you, I know," Marian answered with a smile; "but of course it is by no means necessary that you should go, and I should be sorry to be a hindrance to you."

Half an hour later the carriages from Ion and Fairview were seen coming up the drive. The Raymonds and their guest were all on the veranda, watching for them, Marian ready dressed for the little jaunt.

"Well, here we are!" called out a cheery voice as the foremost vehicle drew up in front of the veranda. "How many of you are going with us?"

"Only one-our young guest," the captain replied, handing Marian in as he spoke. Cousin Ronald, Grandma Elsie, and her daughter Rosie were its occupants, and each gave Marian an affectionate morning greeting. Then Violet stepped forward for a moment's chat with her mother, in which Rosie and the captain joined; thus leaving Marian and Mr. Lilburn the op