“Now, I have something to tell you, two, that will please you, I think. We are all invited to spend to-morrow afternoon at the Oaks to see some tableaux they are getting up there, and I hope even my little Grace will be able to go.”
“Oh, how nice!” cried Lulu, while Grace asked, “Will you go and take us, papa?”
“I hope to,” he answered, smiling fondly down upon her. “Ah, there is the tea-bell! Will you travel down to the table in papa’s arms?”
“Yes, sir; if you like to carry me, and it won’t make you tired.”
“It won’t tire me at all, my pet. I only wish you were heavy enough to be something of a burden,” he said, as he rose with her in his arms and moved on toward the door, Lulu following.
“Oh, Lu, don’t you wish you were in my place?” Grace asked with a gleeful laugh, looking down at her sister over their father’s shoulder.
“No; I’m so big and heavy that it must tire papa to carry me.”
“Hardly,” he said; “you remember it is not many weeks since I did carry you quite a distance?”
“But didn’t it tire you, papa?”
“Very little; I was scarcely sensible of fatigue.”