d many handsome and valuable
presents, but none seemed to gratify her more than these from her
Woodburn relatives and friends.

"I like those gray dresses of yours, girls; they are both pretty and
becoming, and very suitable for such a trip as we have taken to-day,"
remarked Violet as they rode homeward. "You will wear yours to the
picnic to-morrow, I suppose, Lu?"

"If papa approves," answered Lucilla with a laughing look at him.

"Entirely," he said; "though I shall not insist if you prefer something
else."

"That reminds me of some of my Nantucket experiences of years ago," she
remarked. "Do you remember, papa, how I missed going to the 'squantum'
with the rest of you because I took off the suitable dress Mamma Vi had
directed me to wear, and donned some very unsuitable finery?"

"Yes," he replied, "that was an unhappy time for both the rebellious
little girl and her father."

"Yes, papa; oh, I'm afraid I gave you many a heartache in those days. I
remember I wanted very much to dress in white for the clambake, some
weeks after that, but you wouldn't allow it. I was a very foolish little
girl, and now I am very glad I had a wise, kind father to keep me in
order."

"You were not rebellious about that second disappointment," he said with
a smile, "and in the years that have passed since then you have learned
to be very submissive to your father's wishes and directions."

"Yes, sir, because I have found out from experience that he is far wiser
than I, and always seeks my best interests."

"That is certainly what he wishes to do, daughter; for the welfare of
all his dear children lies very near his heart."

"Yes, papa; you love us all, I know," little Elsie said with a bright,
glad look up into his face.

"Of course papa does," said Neddie; "if he didn't he wouldn't give us
money to spend, and ever so many other nice things; or take us to the
city for such a good time as we have had to-day."

"Yes, our dear papa is very good to us all," said Grace. "We have had a
delightful drive, a fine time in the city, and now here we are at our
own lovely home again," she added as the carriage turned in at the great
gates.

"It is nearing tea time, daughters, and you had better go at once to
your rooms and make yourselves neat for the evening," the captain said
as he helped Lucilla and Grace to alight.

"Yes, sir," they answered and hastened up the broad stairway, following
Violet and the two little ones.

"Dere's