racious permission;
then stepping back to note the effect, "Oh," she cried, "how lovely it
does look against your beautiful golden-brown hair, Grandma Elsie!
Doesn't it, Evelyn?"

"Yes, indeed!" exclaimed both Max and Evelyn; the latter adding, "I never
saw more beautiful or abundant hair, or lovelier complexion; it seems
really absurd to call a lady 'grandma' who looks so young."

"So it does," said Max; "but we all love her so that we want to be some
relation, and can't bear to say Mrs. Travilla, and what can be done about
it?"

As he spoke, Grace came running out and joined them, wearing a very
bright, happy face.

"Oh, Grandma Elsie, and everybody, I'm just as glad as I can be!" she
cried. "I don't have to go to school, because mamma is so kind; she says
she will teach me at home."

While the others were expressing their sympathy in her happiness, Mr.
Dinsmore joined them.

"Here are letters," he said. "For you, Elsie, from Edward and your
college boys; and one for each of the Raymonds, from the captain."

He distributed them as he spoke, giving Violet's to Max with a request
that he would carry it to her.

"Thank you, sir; I'll be delighted to do the errand; because nothing
pleases Mamma Vi so much as a letter from papa, unless it is a sight of
his face," said Max, hurrying away with it.

Grace, always eager to share every joy with "her dear mamma," ran after
him with her own letter in her hand.

What a treasure it was! a letter from papa, with her name on it in his
writing, so that there could be no doubt that it was entirely her very
own! How nice to have it so! But unless there was a secret in it, mamma
should have the pleasure of reading it; Max and Lulu too: for there was
very little selfishness in Grace's sweet nature.

Lulu's face was full of gladness as she took her letter from Mr.
Dinsmore's hand and, glancing at the address, recognized the well-known
and loved handwriting.

"Dear Lu, I'm so glad for you!" murmured Evelyn close to her ear, then
turned and walked swiftly away.

"Oh, poor, dear Evelyn! she can never get a letter from her father,"
thought Lulu with a deep feeling of compassion, as she sent one quick
glance after the retreating figure.

But her thoughts instantly returned to her treasure, and she hurried to
the privacy of her own room to enjoy its perusal unobserved.

Reading what her father had written directly to her, and her alone, was
like having a private interview wit