me, go at once to your room: don't stop in the grounds or on the
veranda."

"I won't, papa," she said: "I'll go straight to my room, and, oh, thank
you for letting me go!"

CHAPTER XVII.

"Home, sweet home!"

"How large is the estate, doctor?" asked Capt. Raymond, as they were on
their way to Woodburn.

"I cannot say exactly," replied Arthur. "There is a bit of woodland
comprising several acres; and lawn, gardens, and shrubbery cover several
more. I believe that is all."

"About as much as I care for," returned the captain.

"The estate was formerly very large," Arthur went on,--"some thousands
of acres,--and the family was a very wealthy one; but, like many others,
they lost heavily by the war, and were compelled to part with one
portion of the estate after another, till little more than the homestead
was left; and now it seems that it, too, must go."

"Are they so reduced?" the captain asked in a tone of deep sympathy.

"I think Miss Elliott does not feel compelled to part with it, and would
still live on there, if it were not for the loneliness of the situation,
and a natural desire to be with her sister, the only remaining member of
their once large family, besides herself."

"Yes, yes: I see. I understand, and shall feel much more comfortable in
buying it, than if I knew that poverty compelled her to part with it
against her will."

"That shows your kindness of heart," Arthur said, turning toward his
friend with an appreciative smile.

The next moment they had entered the Woodburn grounds, and Capt. Raymond
and Grace were glancing from side to side in a very interested manner.

"The place is a good deal run down," remarked Arthur. "They have not had
the means to keep it up, I suppose; but if it comes into your hands,
captain, you can soon set matters right in regard to that; and I, for
one, shall greatly enjoy seeing the improvement."

"And I making it," was the cheery rejoinder; "more, I think, than taking
possession of a place that was too perfect to be improved."

"Papa, I'd just love to have this for our home!" cried Gracie, flushing
with pleasure as she glanced here and there, and then up into his face
with an eager, questioning look, "Won't you buy it, papa?" coaxingly.

"It is still too soon for that question, my child," he said, smiling
down at her. "But I hope to be able to answer it before very long."

They had reached the house, and were presently ushered into the presence
of