bout everywhere and look at everything?"
asked Lulu and Grace half breathlessly.

"Certainly, daughters," he replied, smiling affectionately into the
eager upturned faces, "though as dinner is so nearly ready, I think it
might be well to first take off your hats and make yourselves neat for
the table; then keep within doors until after the meal."

"Oh, yes, sir," cried Lulu, "and there is no place we want to see more
than our own rooms. So come, Gracie, let's hurry up there. Hark! there's
my Polly screaming 'Lu! Lu!' She seems to know I've got home. Who can
have told her? And where's your kitten?"

"Here," returned Gracie; "don't you see I've got her in my arms? and I
do believe she's glad to see me. Oh, you pretty pet! I often wanted to
see you while I was away."

They were hurrying up the stairs while they talked, and presently
reached their own little sitting room. "Oh!" they cried in a breath,
"how sweet and lovely it does look!" Then they made a hasty circuit of
Lulu's bedroom and the little tower room opening into it, exclaiming
again and again at the beauty of the furnishings, as though they had
never seen them before, and the extreme neatness which attested the good
housekeeping of Christine.

Last of all they entered Grace's bedroom, to find its appearance quite
as inviting as that of the others.

"How sweet it does look, Lu!" exclaimed Grace. "Oh, I do think we have
just the sweetest home, as well as the dearest, kindest father in the
whole world!"

"Of course we have," returned Lulu. "I'd a thousand times rather be his
child than any king's daughter."

"Would you, indeed, my dear child?" asked a familiar voice close behind
her, while a kind hand was laid upon each shoulder. "Well, my darlings,
contentment is better than wealth, and most assuredly your father would
not exchange you for any king's daughters, or the children of any other
man."

As he spoke he bent down to press a fatherly kiss upon Lulu's lips, then
putting an arm round Grace, caressed her in like manner.

"Now make yourselves neat for the dinner-table, daughters," he said,
"and after the meal, if you wish you may spend the whole afternoon in
going over the house and grounds."

"Oh, thank you, papa," they exclaimed, looking full of delight.

"Lu! Lu!" called Polly from the sitting room, "what you 'bout? Polly
wants a cracker."

"O Polly, I beg your pardon; but you have been so quiet ever since I
came in that I really forgot all