“Why, I was just coming in to consult with Gracie about the gift you are to get from the Peri; and now I can’t, because it has to be a secret from you, you know.”
“Papa,” said Grace, “please name over lots of things you would like to have, so we can choose one, and you needn’t know which.”
“Lots of things that I should like to have!” he repeated, “I really can not think of one. I have been deluged with beautiful and useful presents; the lovely bracket Lulu sawed out for me, the pincushion Gracie made with her own small fingers for my toilet table, Mamma Vi’s beautiful painting that hangs over the mantel in my dressing-room, the watch case from Max, beside the too-numerous-to-mention gifts from others not quite so near and dear as wife and children.”
“But you’ve got to have something, you see, papa,” laughed Lulu, “whether you want it or not. Never mind, though, Gracie, we’ll think up something. Perhaps Aunt Zoe can help us.”
“Ah, that reminds me,” the captain said, “that we are to think of a gift for her. What shall it be, Lulu?”
“Suppose we say a ring, papa? When we were in that large jewelry store I saw her looking at one with an emerald in it, and she admired it very much. Would it cost too much!”
“Perhaps not,” he said; “I shall see about it.”
“Did you like the things we gave you for Christmas, papa?” asked Grace, affectionately stroking his face with her little white hand.
“Yes, indeed! particularly because they were all the work of your own hands. I could hardly have believed such tiny fingers as my Gracie’s could do work so fine as that on the cushion she made for her papa. And Lulu’s carving surprised and pleased me quite as much.”
“Isn’t it just lovely, papa?” cried Grace with enthusiasm. “I can’t do that kind of work at all.”