"Can we afford a big house, and handsome furniture, papa?" queried Lulu.
"And to keep carriage and riding horses?" asked Max.
"I hope my children have not been so thoroughly spoiled by living in the midst of wealth and luxury, that they could not content themselves with a moderately large house, and plain furniture?" he said gravely.
"I'd rather live that way with you, than have all the fine things, and you not with us, dear papa," Lulu said, putting her arm round his neck, and laying her cheek to his.
"I too."
"And I," said Max and Grace.
"And I," he responded, smiling affectionately upon them, "would prefer such a home with my children about me, to earth's grandest palace without them. Millions of money could not buy one of my treasures!"
"Not me, papa?" whispered Lulu tremulously, with her lips close to his ear.
"No, dear child, not even you," he answered, pressing her closer to his side. "You are no less dear than the others."
"I deserve to be," she said with tears in her voice. "It would be just and right, papa, if you did not love me half so well as any of your other children."