able to buy or build a house
somewhere in this region, as near Ion as a pleasant location can be
found."

"I hope you'll find a house ready built, papa," she said. "I shouldn't
know how to wait for one to be built."

"Not if, by waiting, we should, in the end, have a much nicer,
pleasanter one?"

She considered a moment. "Couldn't we rent a house to live in while we
get our own built?"

"I think that plan might answer quite well," he said with a smile. "I
had no idea you were such a business woman. Probably that is what we
will do, for I am as anxious to get to housekeeping as even you can be."

"But, papa," she exclaimed, with a look as if struck by a sudden and not
very pleasant thought, "may I--will you be vexed if I ask you
something?"

"Suppose you find out by asking?"

"I--I hope you won't think it's impertinence, papa, I don't mean it for
that," she said with hesitation, hanging her head, and blushing;
"but--but--I hope it isn't mamma Vi's money we're to live on?"

He put his hand under her chin, and lifted her face, so that he could
look down into her eyes; and she drew a long breath of relief as she
perceived that he was smiling at her.

"No," he said. "You come honestly by your pride of independence. I
would no more live on mamma Vi's money than you would."

"Oh, I'm so glad! But--then, how can you do without your pay, papa?"

"Because my heavenly Father has prospered me, and given me money enough
of my own (or, rather, lent it to me; for all we have belongs to him,
and is only lent to us for a time) to provide all that is necessary for
my family, and educate my children.

"Now we have had a long talk, which has, I trust, made my dear little
girl much happier; and it is time for you to go to your bed for the
night."

"I don't like to have you leave me," she said, clinging about his neck;
"but you were very kind to stay so long. Won't you come soon in the
morning?"

"You are not a prisoner any longer," he said, caressing her: "you are
free to leave this room, and go where you choose about the house and
grounds to-morrow."

"But I don't want to. O papa! I can't face them! Mayn't I stay in my
room till you are ready to take me to our own home?"

"You will have to face them sometime," he said; "but we will see what
can be done about it. Would you like to see Max and Gracie to-night?"

"Gracie, ever so much; but Max--I--I don't know how he feels toward me,
papa."

"Very kindly. He has been