k for her," remarked the doctor.

"Or replace it with a new one," said the captain.

"But I love all my dollies, papa," she returned, with a wistful look up
into his face: "they're my children, you know. Would you be satisfied
with another new little girl 'stead of me?"

"No, indeed!" he replied, bending down to kiss her cheek. "If I had
another new little girl given me, I should want to hold fast to my
little Gracie too; and you shall keep all your dollies as long as you
please."

Lulu and Max started on their walk to Fairview about the same time that
Dr. Conly drove away with their father and Grace.

Their talk was principally of the new home in prospect. Lulu had only
driven past Woodburn several times; but Max had been taken there once by
Dr. Conly, with whom he was almost as great a favorite as his sister
Grace, and had seen not only the grounds, but one or two rooms of the
mansion.

Lulu was eager to hear all he had to tell about the place, and he not at
all averse to describing what he had seen.

So interested were they in the topic, that they reached the entrance to
the Fairview grounds almost ere they were aware of it.

"Oh, we're here!" exclaimed Lulu, in some surprise. "Max, I'll stay
outside, while you go up to the house, for--I--I can't bear to see aunt
Elsie and the others."

Her eyes were downcast, her cheeks burning with blushes as she spoke.

"But you may as well get it over," said Max: "you'll have to see them
all sometime."

"You don't care a bit, _do_ you?" she said, in a hurt tone.

"Yes, I do; I'm right sorry for you; but I can't help your having to
meet them sooner or later."

"But I'm afraid I won't be welcome to aunt Elsie. What if she should
tell me to go out of the house, she didn't want such a bad girl there?"

"She isn't that kind of person," said Max. "But here comes Eva," as the
little girl came tripping down the avenue to meet them.

She shook hands with Max, then threw her arms round Lulu, and kissed
her.

"O Eva! I'm 'most ashamed to look at you," murmured Lulu, half averting
her blushing face. "I shouldn't think you'd want me for your friend any
more."

"I do, though: I love you dearly, and should have gone to your room
yesterday if your papa had not refused to allow it," responded Evelyn,
repeating her caress. "Come in and rest, both of you: aunt Elsie told me
to ask you."

"I'm not sure that papa meant to give me permission to go into the
house," said Lulu, ha