by Silvia in the night,
There is no music in the nightingale;
Unless I look on Silvia in the day,
There is no day for me to look upon."
--_Shakspeare_.

It was already past the middle of November when Captain Raymond received
his injuries, so that the six weeks or more of enforced inaction would
carry him into the month of January.

He had hoped to spend Christmas with his children, but that was now
clearly impossible, as he sadly owned to himself, for he was a loving
father and felt the disappointment keenly on both his own account and
theirs.

There would be no festivities at Ion this year, bereavement was still too
recent with themselves, too imminent with those very near by the ties of
kindred. But there was to be an exchange of gifts; there had been that
even last year when but a few months had elapsed since the departure to
the better land of the beloved husband and father.

Captain Raymond, sitting quietly in his invalid chair, generally to all
appearance buried in a book, overheard many a consultation in regard to
what would be most acceptable to this or that one who happened to be
absent from the room at the moment, for it was intended that most of the
gifts, at least, should be a surprise to the recipients.

One day when the talk was of those to be provided for Rosie and Walter,
Mrs. Dinsmore noticed that their guest was listening with a very
interested look.

"Captain Raymond," she said, turning to him with an engaging smile, "we
purpose to go into the city to-morrow to shop for these things; can we do
anything in that line for you?"

"Thank you," he said heartily, his face brightening very much; "if it
would not be overtaxing you, I should be very glad indeed to do some
shopping by proxy; glad to have the benefit of your and Mrs. Travilla's
taste and judgment in the selection of some Christmas presents for my
children. It will be all I can do for them this year. I had thought of
sending money for the purpose, to the persons in charge of them, but it
would be far more satisfactory to me to have some share in the choice of
the articles."

Both ladies assured him that it would give them pleasure to do whatever
they could to assist him in making the desired purchases, and Mr.
Dinsmore suggested that a variety of goods might be sent out from the city
stores for him to select from.

He said that was a good idea, but he would leave it to the ladies to have
that do