“My dear,” said the captain, with a humorous look, “isn’t the little mischief-doer as much mine as yours? and am I not, therefore, under quite as great obligation to make good the loss she has occasioned?”
“Perhaps so,” Violet returned, “but as man and wife are one, your easiest plan will be to let me do it, seeing you have no such supplies on hand.”
With that she pulled open a deep drawer in a bureau filled with such things as she had mentioned, and bade Lulu and Gracie help themselves to all they wanted.
“O Mamma Vi,” they cried, in wide-eyed astonishment and delight, “how very good in you! but do you really mean it?”
“Yes, every word of it,” laughed Violet. “Take all you want; I shall not feel impoverished if I find the drawer quite empty when you are done with it.”
“No, you would still have your husband,” remarked the captain with mock gravity.
“And baby,” added Violet, taking the child from him.
The little girls were exclaiming over their treasures.
“What have you there?” asked Zoe coming forward and peeping over their heads. “Oh what quantities of lovely things! some of them just suited for dressing fairies; and several more are needed.”
“Oh may I dress one?” asked Lulu eagerly.