fortune that had befallen them.

The rest of the evening passed off very pleasantly. The feast was
enjoyed, every dish being pronounced a success: the Woodburn children
were satisfied with the share of it allowed them,--all the more,
perhaps, that a like care was exercised by the parents and guardians of
the other young folks in respect to their indulgence of appetite.

Grace bade good-night, and went to her nest at nine o'clock, a cheerful,
happy child; but, as the party broke up at ten, Max and Lulu were
allowed to remain up to see them off.

Lulu had taken an early opportunity to give the invitation for the next
day to Evelyn, and it was joyfully accepted, "uncle Lester" giving ready
permission.

"You'll come as soon as lessons are over at Ion, won't you?" asked Lulu
in parting.

"Yes, you may be sure I'll come the first minute I can," Eva answered
gayly. "I expect to have a lovely time with you in those beautiful
rooms, and I've had a lovely time to-night. Good-by," giving her friend
a hearty embrace.

"Well, children," the captain said at breakfast the next morning,
"remember, I expect every one of you to be in the schoolroom at five
minutes before nine, and to begin studying exactly at the hour."

"Every thing to be done with naval precision, I suppose," remarked
Violet, giving him a bright half-saucy smile; "that being, I understand,
about on a par with military."

"Yes," he said, smiling in return, "that is to be the rule in this house
for every one but my wife: she is to follow her own sweet will in all
things."

"Ah!" she responded gayly, "I fear you do not realize what a rash
promise you are making; or, rather, how rash you are in according such a
privilege."

"It is hardly that," he answered: "acknowledging a right, would be my
way of expressing it."

They had left the table and the breakfast-room, and were alone at the
moment, the children having scattered to their work or play.

"How good you are to me, my dear husband!" she said, looking up fondly
into his face as they stood together before the parlor fire.

"Not a whit better than I ought to be, my darling," he responded,
bending to kiss the sweet, upturned face. "I have taken you from a
tender mother and a most luxurious home, and it must be my care to see
that you lose nothing by the transplantation--sweet and delicate flower
that you are!"

"In my place, Zoe would call you an old flatterer," she returned with a
light laugh, but a t