its owner. She was desirous to sell, the captain to buy,--willing
also to give not only a fair, but a liberal, price; so it took but a
short time for them to come to an agreement.

He bought the land, house, furniture, every thing just as it stood; was
promised possession in two weeks, and accorded the privilege of at once
beginning any repairs or alterations he might deem desirable.

Before making the agreement, he had inspected the whole house. He found
it large, conveniently arranged, and in very tolerable repair.

The furniture had evidently been very handsome in its day, and would do
quite well, he thought, to begin with: much of it might, with
re-upholstering and varnishing, please Violet as well as any that could
be bought elsewhere. He was eager to bring her to look at it, the house
and the grounds.

These last delighted both himself and Grace, although lawn and gardens
were far from being as trim and neat as those of Ion and Fairview: there
was an air of neglect about the whole place, but that could soon be
remedied.

The bit of woodland was beautiful; and through it, and across lawn and
gardens, ran a little stream of clear, sparkling water,--a pretty
feature in the landscape, without being deep enough to be dangerous to
the little ones.

Grace went everywhere with her father, up-stairs and down, indoors and
out, quietly looking and listening, but seldom speaking, unless
addressed.

Once or twice she said, in a low aside, "Papa, I'd like to live here,
if you can 'ford to buy it.

"Papa, this is such a pretty room, and the view from that window is so
nice!"

He would reply only by a kind smile, or a word or two of assent. She did
not understand all the talk in the library after they had finished their
round, and when they left was still in some doubt as to her father's
intentions.

"Papa," she asked eagerly, as soon as they were fairly on their homeward
way, "have you bought it?"

"We have come to an agreement," he answered.

"Then, is it ours?"

"It will be, as soon as I have got the deed, and handed over the money."

"Oh, I'm so glad!" she cried, clapping her hands with delight. "And
we're to be 'lowed to go there to stay in two weeks, aren't we? I
thought that was what Miss Elliott said."

"Yes: can you get all your possessions packed up by that time?"

"Yes, indeed, papa: one day would be enough time for that."

"And if you should happen to forget one of the dollies, you could go
bac