she insisted she was not at all
tired, even when the end of their walk was reached.

The other division of the party had arrived some minutes before, and
several were already making the ascent to the top of the lighthouse
tower; the rest were scattered, waiting their turn in the neat parlor of
the keeper's snug little home, or wandering over the grassy expanse
between it and the sea.

"There are Grandma Elsie and mamma in the house," cried Grace, catching
sight of them through a window.

"Yes," said her father, "we will go in there and wait our turn with
them," leading the way as he spoke. "Do you want to go up into the
tower, Gracie?"

"Oh no, no, papa!" she cried, "what would be the use? and I am afraid I
might fall."

"What, with your big strong father to hold you fast?" he asked
laughingly, sitting down and drawing her to a seat upon his knee; for
they had entered the parlor.

"It might tire you to hold me so hard; I'm getting so big now," she
answered naively, looking up into his face with a loving smile and
stealing an arm about his neck.

"Ah, no danger of that," he laughed. "Why, I believe I could hold even
your mamma or Lulu, and that against their will, without being greatly
exhausted by the exertion.

"My dear," turning to Violet, "shall I have the pleasure of helping you
up to the top of the tower?"

"Thank you, I think I shall not try it to-day," she answered; "they tell
me the steps are very steep and hard to climb."

"Ah, so I suppose, and I think you are wise not to attempt it."

"But I may, mayn't I, papa?" Lulu said. "You know I always like to go
everywhere."

"I fear it will be a hard climb for a girl of your size," he answered
doubtfully.

"Oh, but I want to go, and I don't care if it is a hard climb," she
said coaxingly, coming close to his side and laying her hand on his
shoulder. "Please, papa, do say I may."

"Yes, since you are so desirous," he said, in an indulgent tone.

Max came hurrying in. "We can go up now, papa," he said; "the others
have come down."

Edward and Zoe were just behind the boy. "Oh, you ought all to go up,"
cried the latter; "the view's just splendid."

"Mother," said Edward, "the view is very fine, but there are sixty
steps, each a foot high; a pretty hard climb for a lady, I should think.
Will you go up? may I have the pleasure of helping you?"

"Yes," she answered; "I am quite strong and well, and think the view
will probably pay for the exertion