ed lightly after him
up the broad stairway, the children following.

He led them first to her apartments, and on through them into those of
the little girls, greatly enjoying the exclamations of wonder and
delight from her and the children.

They had all supposed the work of renovation and improvement was not to
be begun till after the departure of Miss Elliott; but they found it not
only begun, but finished; the new papers they had chosen were already on
the walls, the carpets down, the curtains up, mirrors and pictures hung,
and furniture in place.

Max's rooms, visited last, were found to be in like condition,--not at
all inferior to those of his sisters in any respect.

Violet was greatly pleased; the children were wild with delight; every
thing was so dainty and fresh, there was such an air of elegance and
refinement about the appointments of each room, that all were charmed
with the effect.

They were hardly yet satisfied with gazing and commenting, when the
summons to dinner came.

They trooped down to the dining-room, the captain and Violet leading the
way, and seated themselves at the table.

Here, too, all was new and handsome; the napery, china, glass and silver
ware, such as would not have suffered by comparison with what they had
been accustomed to at Ion and Viamede.

Lulu was beginning to express that opinion, when her father silenced her
by a gesture.

All quieted down at once, while he reverently gave thanks for their
food, and asked God's blessing upon it.

"May I talk now, papa?" she asked, a moment after he had finished.

"Yes, if you have any thing to say worth our hearing."

"I'm not sure about that," she said; "but I wanted to tell you how
beautiful I think the china and glass and silver are."

"Ah!" he said, smiling, "I am glad they meet your approval."

"O papa! such a nice, _nice_ home as you have made for us!" exclaimed
Grace in her turn. "Isn't it, Maxie?" turning to her brother.

"Yes, indeed! and we'll have to be nice, nice children to fit the home,
won't we, Gracie?"

"Yes, and to fit papa and mamma," she responded, sending a merry glance
from one to the other.

Both smiled upon her in return.

"We are going to have a house-warming this evening, Gracie," said her
father: "do you know what that is?"

"No, papa; but I think it's very nice and warm now in all the rooms.
Don't you?"

"It is quite comfortable, I think; but the house-warming will be an
assembling of ou