urried toward them to see what it was about, then came running
back to her father, who stood a little farther up the slope, with Grace
clinging to his hand.

"Oh!" she said with a face of disgust, "I don't mean to drink any of
that coffee; why, would you believe it, they stirred it with a poker?"

"Did they?" laughed the captain; "they might have done worse. I presume
that was used for lack of a long enough spoon. We must not be too
particular on such occasions as this."

"But you won't drink any of it, will you, papa?"

"I think it altogether likely I shall."

"Why, papa! coffee that was stirred with a dirty poker?"

"We will suppose the poker was not very dirty," he said, with a
good-humored smile; "probably there was nothing worse on it than a
little ashes, which, diffused through so large a quantity of liquid,
could harm no one."

"Must I drink it if they offer me a cup?"

"No; there need be no compulsion about it; indeed, I think it better for
a child of your age not to take coffee at all."

"But you never said I shouldn't, papa."

"No; because you had formed the habit in my absence, and, as I am not
sure that it is a positive injury to you, I have felt loath to deprive
you of the pleasure."

"You are so kind, papa," she said, slipping her hand into his and
looking up affectionately into his face. "But I will give up coffee if
you want me to. I like it, but I can do without it."

"I think milk is far more wholesome for you," he said, with a smile of
pleased approval. "I should like you to make that your ordinary beverage
at meals, but I do not forbid an occasional cup of coffee."

"Thank you, papa," she returned. "Grandma Elsie once told me that when
she was a little girl her father wouldn't allow her to drink coffee at
all, or to eat any kind of hot cakes or rich sweet cake; and oh I don't
know how many things that she liked he wouldn't let her have. I don't
think he was half as nice a father as ours; do you, Gracie?"

"'Course I don't, Lu; I just think we've got the very best in the whole
world," responded Grace, laying her cheek affectionately against the
hand that held hers in its strong, loving clasp.

"That is only because he is your own, my darlings," the captain said,
smiling down tenderly upon them.

A lady had drawn near, and now said, "Supper is ready, Captain Raymond;
will you bring your little girls and come to the table?"

"Thank you; we will do so with pleasure," he said, followin