en I may tell I!" cried Rosie; and hardly waiting for her sister's nod
of acquiescence, went on. "She is preparing such a nice surprise for dear
mamma, Captain Raymond, a miniature of papa which she has been painting on
ivory. I think it looks more like him than any photograph or painted
portrait that we have. And I am sure mamma could not have a more
acceptable present. Besides that, Vi has painted two flower-pieces; one
for grandpa and one for grandma."

"You have certainly been very industrious, Miss Violet," he remarked. "I
have heard your studio spoken of. May I hope for the pleasure of visiting
it when I recover the free use of my limbs?"

"That will not be for some weeks, sir; and in the mean while I will take
your request into consideration," she answered demurely.

The morning passed very rapidly to the captain; the children amused him
with their prattle, and when after an hour or two, Rosie grew tired of the
bit of fancy-work she was doing under her sister's supervision, and
yielded to Walter's entreaties to "come to the nursery and build
block-houses," thus leaving Violet his sole companion, the moments sped
faster than before; for he found her a very interesting and entertaining
conversationist.

On their return the shopping-party brought with them the articles he had
mentioned. He pronounced them all entirely satisfactory, and they were
packed and sent northward with the addition of some pretty things for the
dolls, contributed by Violet and Rosie.

Some unusual impulse of fatherly solicitude and affection led the captain
to put his own address upon several envelopes in each writing-desk,
stamping them also and adding a note to each of the three children.

To Max and Lulu he said that he wanted letters from them which should not
pass through the hands of a third person, "letters that should be like a
bit of private chat with papa."

Seeing how tenderly and carefully the little Travillas were nurtured and
what love was lavished upon them, had turned his thoughts frequently upon
his own motherless ones, and set him to thinking and asking himself rather
anxiously how they were faring in those respects. He had come to realize
more thoroughly than ever before his responsibility as a parent.

The Christmas work which had kept Violet busy in her studio was now
finished, and henceforth she spent much more of her time with the rest of
the family; greatly to Captain Raymond's satisfaction, for much as he
admi