"Have you everything you want in your room, Max?" Violet asked in a kindly
tone, as the boy took up his bedroom candle.

"Yes, thank you, Mamma Vi," he answered cheerfully, but with a longing
look at her.

"What is it, Max?" she asked, with her sweet smile. "Don't be afraid to
tell me if there is anything you want."

"I--I'm afraid I oughtn't to ask it," he stammered, blushing vividly,
"I've no right, and--and it might be disagreeable, but--oh, I should like
to kiss you good-night!"

"You may, Max," she said, laughing, then put her arms round his neck and
gave the kiss very heartily.

"Thank you," he cried in blushing delight; then hurried away, calling
back, "Ah, good-night, Lu!"

"Good-night," she answered, looking wistfully at Violet.

"Shall I have a good-night kiss from you too, dear?" Violet asked,
offering her lips.

Lulu accepted the invitation in an eager, joyous way, then asked, "May I
see Gracie before I go to bed?"

"Yes, dear; we will go in very quietly lest we should wake her if she is
asleep."

They found Gracie awake, Aunt Chloe shaking up her pillow and smoothing
the cover over her.

"O mamma!" she cried in her little weak voice, "how beautiful you are!
And, Lulu, where did you get those pretty things?"

"Mamma Vi gave them to me," Lulu said. "O Gracie dear, are you better?"

"Yes, I don't feel sick now, only weak. She's very good to me, she and
everybody," with a grateful look at her sable nurse.

"Yes," Violet said, "mammy is always good and kind, especially to a sick
person. Now Lulu and I will kiss you good-night and leave you to go to
sleep again."

"You are nice and kind to come, both of you," Gracie said, receiving and
returning their caresses.

"Mammy," Violet said as she turned to leave the room, "I'm afraid you are
not able to take the care of her through the night."

"Yes, I is, honey darlin'," responded the old woman with warmth. "I'll hab
a quilt spread down dar on de flo', and I'll lie dar an' sleep, an' ef de
chile stirs I'll wake right up and gib her eberyting she wants."

"Mamma Vi, don't you want to see my room?" Lulu asked as they neared its
door. "I think it is ever so pretty."

"So it is," Violet said, stepping inside with her, "and I am very glad you
like it. If you think of anything else you want in it, don't hesitate to
ask for it; both your papa and I wish to do all in our power to make his
children happy."

"Thank you. Oh, it is so nice to have a n