"Oh, don't, Lu!" said Gracie, "Aunt Beulah would scold you like anything."
"Let her scold! who cares!" returned Lulu with a scornful toss of the head, while Max, who had gone to the side of Gracie's sofa, stooped over her, and softly patting the thin pale cheek, asked how she felt to-day.
"'Bout the same as usual, Maxie," she said, with a languid smile.
"O Max, hurry and tell us what papa says in the letter!" cried Lulu impatiently. "Is it good news?"
"First-rate, girls! couldn't be better! He's coming here next week and going to take us all away with him!"
"Oh! oh! oh! how delightful!" cried Lulu, clapping her hands and dancing about the room, while Grace clasped her hands in ecstasy, saying, "Oh, I am so glad!"
"Come, Lu, sit down here beside us and be quiet," said Max, seating himself beside Grace on the sofa, and motioning toward a low rocking-chair near at hand. "I'm going to read the letter aloud, and then I have something to show you."
Lulu took possession of the rocking-chair, folded her hands in her lap, and Max began.
The letter was written from Saratoga, where the captain and his bride had paused for a few days on their wedding tour, and was addressed to all three of his children.
He told them of his marriage, described Violet, her mother, and the life at Ion in glowing terms, spoke very highly of Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore and the younger members of the family, then told of their kind offer to share their happy home with his children if they should prove themselves good and obedient.