“Oh, how nice!” cried Lucilla; “and Harold really deserves it.”
“As does Grace also,” said their father, “for she has been sweetly submissive to her father’s will.”
“It would have been strange if I had been anything else toward such a dear, kind father as mine,” she said, regarding him with an expression of ardent affection, which he returned, smiling fondly upon her.
The door opened and Max stood upon the threshold.
“Am I intruding?” he asked, pausing there.
“No, my son; we wish to have no family secret from you. Come in and join us,” replied his father, and Max stepped in, closing the door behind him.
“You are all looking happy,” he said, glancing about upon them with a pleased smile, “and no wonder; it is such good news that our dear little Ned is convalescing.”
“Yes,” said Lucilla, “and I think Gracie here is somewhat rejoiced over Harold’s promised reward.”
“Ah, I suppose I know what that is,” said Max, glancing at the blushing, half smiling face of his younger sister. “You are to be ‘It’ this time, aren’t you, Gracie?”