.

"And how long will you be gone?"

"Probably three months," he answered. "But I shall write to you often;
twice a week, perhaps, and you will find enough to do to answer my letters
and attend to your studies, besides practicing your music lessons. By the
way, Fanny, I wish you to pay particular attention to music, for you know
I am very fond of it."

Fanny promised that she would, and they separated for the night. While
Fanny was going to her room, she determined she would tell Julia all her
future prospects; but she found her sister either asleep or pretending to
be (the latter was the fact); so she said nothing, but lay down without
disturbing her. She could not sleep, however, and toward morning Julia
called out, in no very gentle tones, "Do lie still, Fan, or else get up
and go down in the parlor and have another tete-a-tete with Dr. Lacey."

Fanny saw that her sister was awake, and she resolved to improve the
opportunity, even if Julia were not in a very gentle mood. So she said,
"Sister, I want to tell you something; wake up, won't you?"

"Wake up!" answered Julia. "I should like to know who's been asleep, or
who can sleep where you are? What is the great secret you wish to tell
me?"

With many blushes and some stammering Fanny got through with her story.
After she had finished Julia was silent a few moments and then said,
"Well, what of it? What if Dr. Lacey has promised to marry you? Is that
any reason why you should keep me awake all night?"

Fanny did not answer, and as her mind was relieved from the weighty matter
of telling her sister, she soon fell asleep, and when she awoke the sun
was high in the heavens, and Mrs. Miller was bending over her, wishing her
a "Merry Christmas!" That day there was sent to Mrs. Crane's a large box,
which Dr. Lacey was very particular to have handled carefully. When it was
opened it was found to contain an elegant rosewood piano, and a note in
which was written, "A Christmas Gift for Fanny." The delighted girl did
not ask who was the giver, for she well knew; and resolved to apply
herself closely to music, so as to do justice to the beautiful present.

The two weeks of Dr. Lacey's stay passed rapidly away, and at their close
he bade Fanny an affectionate good-by, promising to write regularly twice
a week, and to return, if possible, at the end of three months. After he
was gone, it seemed to Fanny that one-half of her life had left her, and
she felt very unhappy. Ther