"If you feel quite able to spare it, father," she returned with a pleased smile; "but not if it will make you feel in the least cramped for what you want to spend yourself."
"I can easily spare you each a hundred dollars," he said in a cheery tone. "Will that be enough, do you think?"
"Oh, I shall feel rich!" she exclaimed. "How very good, kind, and liberal you are to us and all your children, papa."
"And fortunate in being able to be liberal to my dear ones. There is no greater pleasure than that of gratifying them in all right and reasonable desires. I think that as soon as the weather is suitable for a visit to the city we will take a trip there for a day's shopping. Have you and Grace decided upon any particular articles that you would like to give?"
"We have been doing some bits of fancy work, father, and making up some warm clothing for the old folks and children among our poor neighbors—both white and colored; also a few things for our house servants. And to let you into a secret," she added with a smile and a blush, "I am embroidering some handkerchiefs for Chester."
"Ah, that is right!" he said. "Chester will value a bit of your handiwork more than anything else that you could bestow upon him."
"Except perhaps the hand itself," she returned with a low, gleeful laugh.
"But that he knows he cannot have for some time," her father said, taking in his the one resting on the arm of his chair. "This belongs to me at present and it is my fixed purpose to hold it in possession for at least some months to come."
"Yes, sir; I know that and highly approve of your intention. Please never give up your claim to your eldest daughter so long as we both live."
"No, daughter, nothing is further from my thoughts," he said with a smile that was full of affection.