ought she'd be lying on the rug before the fire here, like she was
the other night; but she isn't."

"Oh, and my Polly!" cried Lulu. "Is she in there?"

"I will carry Elsie to the nursery, my love," said the captain. "Lulu
and Gracie, you may perhaps find your pets in your own little sitting
room."

"Oh yes!" they cried in chorus, and started up the stairs after their
father and Violet.

Outside the night was cold, but within the house the atmosphere was that
of summer; doors stood open, and in the halls, and the rooms used by the
family, lights were burning; also the air was sweet and fragrant with a
faint odor of roses, heliotrope and mignonette, coming from the
conservatory and from vases of cut flowers placed here and there; all
the result of Capt. Raymond's kind forethought for the comfort and
pleasure of wife and children, and the careful carrying out of his
orders by the faithful housekeeper Christine.

No wonder home looked so attractive to its returning occupants, even
coming from a former one quite as beautiful and luxurious.

"Oh how sweet it does look here!" exclaimed both the little girls as
they entered their little sitting-room.

"Oh! and there is my pussy lying on the rug all curled up like a soft
round ball!" added Grace. "You are having a nice nap, pretty kitty, and
I don't mean to wake you, but I must pet you just a little bit,"
dropping down beside her, and gently stroking the soft fur.

"And there's my Polly in her cage and fast asleep too, I do believe,"
said Lulu, "I want ever so much to hear her talk, but I'll be as good to
her as you are to your pet, Gracie; I won't wake her.

"Now we must take off our things, Gracie, for you know papa always says
we mustn't keep them on in the house, and that we must put them away in
their places."

"Yes; but I'm so tired! Papa would let me wait a minute."

"Of course, you poor little weak thing! I'll take them off for you and
put them away too; and you need hardly more," Lulu said, hastily
throwing off her own coat and hat.

Then kneeling on the rug beside her sister, she began undoing the
fastenings of her coat.

"Dear Lu, you're just as good to me as can be!" sighed Grace in tender,
grateful accents. "I really don't know what I'd ever do without my nice
big sister."

"Somebody else would take care of you," said Lulu, flushing with
pleasure nevertheless. "There now, I'll go and put both our things in
their right places."

When she came bac