The little girls were almost speechless with delight when told by their
father that these four apartments were to be appropriated solely to
their use.

Lulu caught his hand, and kissed it, tears of mingled joy and penitence
springing to her eyes.

He smiled down at her, and laid his other hand tenderly on her head for
an instant.

Then turning to Max, "Now, my boy," he said, "we must settle where you
are to lodge. Have you any choice?"

"Is it to be more than one room for me, papa?" he asked, with an arch
smile. "I believe boys don't usually fare quite so well as girls in
such things."

"My boy does," returned his father: "you shall have two or three rooms
if you want them, and quite as well furnished as those of your sisters."

"Then, if you please, papa, I'll take those over Lu's, and thank you
very much. But as you have already given me several things that my
sisters haven't got,--a gun, a watch, and that splendid pony,--I think
it would be quite fair that they should have better and prettier
furniture in their rooms than I in mine."

"That makes no difference, Max," his father answered with a pleased
laugh. "I should hardly want the girls to have guns, but watches and
ponies they shall have by the time they are as old as you are now."

At that the two little girls, standing near, exchanged glances of
delight. They had been unselfishly glad for Max, and now they rejoiced
each for herself and for the other.

Though, in common with all the rest, deeply interested in the new home,
Max was not sorry when his father and Violet decided that it was time to
return to Ion; for he was eager to show his pony to grandma Elsie, Zoe,
and Rosie, who had not yet seen it.

"Papa, do you require me to keep along-side of the carriage?" he asked,
as he remounted.

"No: if you wish, you may act as our _avant-courier_," was the smiling
reply. "I quite understand that you are in haste to display your new
treasure."

"Yes, sir: that was why I asked. Thank you, sir;" and away the lad flew,
urging his pony to a rapid gallop.

He reached Ion some minutes in advance of the carriage, found nearly all
of the family who had remained at home on the veranda, and greatly
enjoyed their exclamations of surprise and admiration at sight of his
steed.

As he drew rein at the foot of the steps, and lifted his hat to the
ladies, Zoe and Rosie came hurriedly forward to get a nearer view. The
first exclaimed,--

"What a beautiful pony! Wh