n the typewriter?"

"If you prefer it, I see no objection."

"I do prefer it; it is so much easier and quicker than working with a
pen," she said.

"Perhaps you would better wait until to-morrow morning, however," he
suggested; "for, on thinking the matter over, you may find that you
prefer to accept the invitation after all."

He was examining the rest of his mail, and she considered his
proposition for a moment before replying to it.

"Yes, papa," she said at length, "I will wait a little--perhaps till
to-morrow morning--before writing my answer. And now I will get ready to
write replies to those letters at your dictation."

"Yes, daughter; fortunately there are but few that call for a reply, and
it need not be long in any case." He laid down the letters and took the
cover from the machine as he spoke, then supplied her with paper and
envelopes, put a sheet into the machine, and began dictating. They made
quick work of it, and had finished in about half an hour.

Violet joined them just as Lulu took the last sheet from the machine.

"Oh," she said, "I see you are busy; but I will not interrupt."

"We are just done, my dear, and very glad to have you with us," said her
husband.

"Yes, Mamma Vi, this is the last letter papa wants written for him, and
you are just in time to help me decide on a reply to one of my own."

"Willingly, if you wish it; but I should say your father's advice would
be worth far more than mine," returned Violet in a sprightly tone.
"Levis, my dear, do you refuse to tell her what to do or say?"

"I only advise her to follow her own inclination--if she can find out
what that is," he answered, regarding Lucilla with a smile that seemed a
mixture of fatherly affection and amusement.

"Yes, papa is so dear and kind he won't give me any order at all, and I
am so used to being directed and controlled by him that it really seems
hard work to decide for myself," laughed Lucilla.

"But what about? My curiosity is keenly aroused," said Violet, glancing
from one to the other.

"An invitation for me to go boating and picnicking day after to-morrow,"
returned Lucilla. "You may read it," handing Chester's note to Violet.
"I have no very strong inclination to accept,--especially as we are
expecting to take that day for our shopping expedition to the city,--but
papa seems to think I should hardly decline on that account. Still he
leaves me free to decline or accept as I please, and though I have