"Are you quite sure of all that, daughter?" he asked, with a smile, smoothing her hair caressingly as he spoke.
"I thought I was, but perhaps my father knows better," she answered, with a pleased little laugh.
"Well, I think a man of my age ought to know more than a little girl of yours. Don't you?"
"Oh, yes, indeed! and I know my father knows many, many times more than I do. Is there any way for us to get gifts for all these dear folks on the yacht with us, or for any of them, papa?"
"Yes, I remembered Christmas when we were getting ready to leave home, and provided such gifts as seemed desirable for each one of my family to give to others. I will give you each your share to-night before you go to your berths, and you can decide how you will distribute them—to whom you will give each one."
"But, papa, I——" Elsie paused, blushing and confused.
"Well, dear child, what is it?" asked her father, in gentle, affectionate tones.
"I was thinking, papa, that they could hardly be our gifts when you bought them and with your own money, not ours."
"But I give them to you, daughter, and you may keep or give them away, just as you like. That makes them your gift quite as truly as if they had been bought with your own pocket money. Does it not?"