with a very
grown-up air, while her father filled her plate and his own with the
tempting viands.

"What a lovely, delightful home we have, papa!" she remarked, as she
handed him his cup. "I do really think that with such a father and such
a home I ought to be the best girl in the world; and I do mean to try to
be."

"I have no doubt you do, daughter, and I have seldom had occasion to
find serious fault with you in the last year or more, so that I am by no
means in despair of seeing you gain control of that troublesome temper
which has caused so much unhappiness to both you and me."

"Oh, thank you for saying it, papa!" she returned, with a bright and
joyous smile. "I'm determined to try my very best to be as good as
possible, both to please you and to earn that visit to Annapolis that
you spoke of last night. I think it will be very delightful; and how
pleased Max will be to see us; especially you."

"I think he will. Ah, here comes the mail-bag!" as a servant entered
with it.

"Oh, I hope there's a letter from Max," Lulu said, as her father opened
the bag and took out the contents--papers, magazines, and letters.

"Yes, here is one from our dear boy," he said, singling out a letter and
hastily tearing it open.

He read it first to himself, then aloud to her--a bright, cheery,
boyish, affectionate epistle such as they were accustomed to receive
from Max's pen.

They talked it over together while they finished their breakfast, then
returned to the library where, as usual, Christine, Alma, and the
servants being called in, the captain led the family devotions, reading
a portion of the Scripture and engaging in prayer.

"Are you going immediately to Ion, papa?" asked Lulu, when again they
were alone together.

"No," he replied; "I have some matters to attend to here while you are
preparing your lessons. After hearing them, if your recitations and
conduct have been satisfactory, I intend taking you with me to the
village, where I have to make some business arrangements; then we will
drive to Ion, spend a little time there, then come home, probably
bringing your little sisters and brother with us as we did the other
day, returning them as before to your Mamma Vi, just in time for supper
and bed, and coming home alone together."

"Oh, I like that, papa!" she exclaimed, "and is it what you intend doing
every day?"

"Every day while your Grandma Elsie is so ill that the noise might
disturb her; unless the wea