asking permission to come in to see you; and
Gracie has pleaded quite hard for it, and to have you forgiven, and told
the good news."

"Gracie always is so dear and kind," she said tremulously; "and Maxie
isn't often cross with me. Yes, papa, I should like to see them both."

"Your friend Evelyn was here this afternoon, asking permission to come
in to see you, but is gone now. You may see her to-morrow, if you want
to. Ah! I hear your brother and sister in the hall."

He opened the door, and called to them. They came bounding in, so full
of delight over the pleasant prospect opening before them, as hardly to
remember that Lulu had been in such dreadful disgrace.

"O Lu! has papa told you the good news?" they cried.

"Yes."

"And aren't you glad?"

"Yes; glad as glad can be. But, oh, I wish the home was ready to go into
to-night!"

Her father laughed. "I think you were born in a hurry, Lulu," he said.
"You are never willing to wait a minute for any thing.

"Well, I suppose you children would prefer to be left to yourselves for
a while; so I will leave you. You may talk fifteen minutes together, but
no longer; as it is your bedtime now, Gracie's at least."

"O papa! don't go!" they all exclaimed in a breath. "Please stay with
us: we'd rather have you, a great deal rather!"

He could not resist their entreaties, so sat down, and drew his two
little girls into his arms, while Max stationed himself close at his
side.

"My dear children," he said, "you can hardly be happier in the prospect
before us than your father is."

"Is mamma Vi glad?" asked Lulu.

"Yes; quite as much rejoiced, I think, as any of the rest of us."

"But doesn't she want me sent away to school or somewhere?" with a
wistful, anxious gaze into his face. "Is she willing to have me in the
new home, papa?"

"Yes, daughter, more than willing: she wants you to be under your
father's constant care and watchfulness, hoping that so he may succeed
in teaching you to control your temper."

"She's very good and forgiving," was Lulu's comment in a low and not
unmoved tone.

"Papa, when will you begin to look for the new home?" asked Grace,
affectionately stroking his cheek and whiskers with her small white
hand.

"I have been looking at advertisements," he said; "and, now that baby
is out of danger, I shall begin the search in earnest."

"Can we afford a big house, and handsome furniture, papa?" queried Lulu.

"And to keep carriage and ridin