e shook her head at the thought of
what they must have cost.

The violets which arrived early on New Year's morning gave great
satisfaction, although they were, after all, the cause of her
disquietude. Half an hour later came an express package from Honolulu,
containing some trifles of native manufacture in sandalwood and ivory, a
number of photographs, and a long birthday letter.

"I almost wish," Mr. Morrison wrote, "that our new home was to be on
this enchanting island. The box is for Frances' jewels when she gets
them, the other things to be divided as you see fit. If it were not for
the thought of two small persons in the house of the Spectacle Man away
off in the United States, I should be strongly tempted to run over to
China, it seems so near. But never mind! when Frances is grown we'll
make a journey around the world."

"I think father is so nice," Frances remarked, as if she had but
recently made his acquaintance, locking and unlocking her box with as
much pleasure as if it had been full of jewels.

Mrs. Morrison laughed happily; she knew what her daughter meant but
could not express the charm of sympathetic companionship. "Oh, Frances!"
she exclaimed quite gravely the next moment, "it has been good for us
to do without him for a while. We are so happy together I am afraid it
makes us selfish."

Mark left for school the first of the next week. His parting words to
Mrs. Morrison were: "You have been awfully good to me, and I'll not
forget some of the things you have said. The house has been a different
place with you and the Princess here, and I hope I shall find you when I
come back."

"I don't know about that," was the reply. "Just at present we are
wanderers, but we must look out for a home before long; and wherever it
is we'll be glad to see you."

After this, things quieted down into the old routine, only now Frances
began to count the weeks that must pass before her father's return. By
the first of April, if not sooner, he had promised.

She came down from her drawing lesson in great glee one morning. "Miss
Sherwin's story has been taken, mother, and they are going to print it
in March; aren't you glad? And they like the illustrations, too, and say
they will be glad to hear from her again; I saw the letter."

"It shows their good taste; I must go up and congratulate her," said
Mrs. Morrison.

"She did not seem to care much about it, mother. I don't think she is
quite happy," Frances remarked