"Surely, I should think. I'll ask mamma or papa about it."
"Have you any money?"
"Yes; I have two dollars I've been saving up to buy Christmas gifts. How much have you?"
"Fifty cents. It isn't much, but it will buy some little things, I guess."
"Yes, of course it will. But, oh, Ned, Christmas comes Monday. To-morrow is Sunday; so we couldn't do any shopping, even if we were on the land; and we may as well give it up."
"Yes, but we are having a very good time here on the 'Dolphin,' aren't we, Elsie?"
"Yes, indeed! and it would be really shameful for us to fret and worry over missing the usual Christmas gifts and pleasures."
The two had been so absorbed in the subject they were discussing that they had not noticed an approaching step, but now a hand was laid on a shoulder of each, and their father's loved voice asked, in tender tones: "What is troubling my little son and daughter? Tell papa, and perhaps he may find a way out of the woods."
"Yes, papa; they are not very thick woods," laughed Elsie. "It is only that we are sorry we can't have any Christmas times this winter, or remember anybody with gifts, because we can't go to any stores to buy anything."