"Yes, papa, I am 'most too tired to keep my eyes open," she replied, with a faint smile up into his face.
"Then come, my pet," he said, bending down and taking her in his arms; "I will carry you to your room and bid the others good-night for you when I come down again; you are too tired to wait to do that yourself," and he carried her away.
Lulu sprang up and ran after them. "Shall I go too, papa?" she asked.
"If you, too, feel too tired to stay up for prayers," he answered pleasantly; "otherwise I would not have you absent from that service."
"Yes, sir, I'm not too tired. Good-night, Gracie," she said, and ran back to her mates.
Their tongues were running on the old theme of the wedding so soon to take place, gifts to the bride, and dresses to be worn by her and her attendants. But all of them were pretty well worn out with the shopping and traveling gone through in the last few days, seeing which their elders thought best to hold the evening service a little earlier than usual, then retired to rest.
"Papa, please may I ask a few questions now, before you leave me?" Lulu entreated when he came in to bid her good-night.
"Yes," he replied with an amused look; "that is number one, and how many are to follow?" seating himself and drawing her to his knee.
"Oh, I don't know exactly, sir; it will depend somewhat upon the answers, I think," she returned laughingly, putting an arm round his neck and kissing him with ardent affection.
"Then let me go through the ordeal as soon as possible," he responded, patting her cheek and pressing his lips to hers.