will take care of our children. I do not know how, but
I am certain we shall not be forsaken. Do not grieve for us. I am not
afraid.'

'Not of poverty, even for the children?'

'No!' said Violet. 'I know it will not come, unless it is the best thing
for them.'

He did not entirely comprehend her, but he liked to watch her face,
it looked so beautiful in its perfect trust. He could not share that
peaceful confidence for the future, the harvest of his past recklessness
was present poignant dread and anxiety for the innocent ones on whom the
penalty must fall. He relapsed into silence, and perhaps his meditations
were as much perplexed by the nine Arabic figures as those of Violet's
convalescence had once been, only where hers were units, his were
hundreds.

She interrupted him with more of John's letters, and the amusing detail
of the West Indian life stood her in good stead till the sounds of
return brightened his face; and Johnnie sprang into the room loaded with
treasures from a Christmas tree. Never had she seen the little fellow's
face so merry, or heard his tongue go so fast, as he threw everything
into her lap, and then sprang about from her to his papa, showing his
prizes and presenting them. Here were some lemon-drops for papa, and
here a beautiful box for mamma, and a gutta-percha frog for Helen, and
a flag for Annie, and bon-bons for both, and for Sarah too, and a
delightful story about a little Arthur, that nobody could have but the
baby--Johnnie would keep it for him till he could read it.

'And what have you got for yourself, Johnnie!' said his father.

'I have the giving it!' said Johnnie.

'You are your mother's own boy, Johnnie,' said Arthur, with a sort of
fond deep sadness, as the child mounted his footstool to put one of the
lemon-drops into his mouth, watching to be told that it was good.

He went off to the nursery to feed Sarah on sugar-plums, and dispose
the frog and banner on his sisters' beds to delight them in the morning;
while Percy, coming in, declared that this had been the little boy's
happiest time. He had been far too shy for enjoyment, perfectly well
behaved, but not stirring a step from his protector, only holding his
hand, and looking piteously at him if invited away; and Percy declared,
he was as much courted as a young lady in her teens. Sitting down with
him at a table surrounded by small elves, Percy had of course kept
them in a roar of laughter, throughout which Johnnie