"but two lovely
sopranos were quite new to me. Do you know the owners?" turning
smilingly to Edward.

"My mother and sister," he answered, with proud satisfaction.

"Naturally fine, and very highly cultivated," she said. "You must be
proud of them."

"I am," Edward admitted, with a happy laugh.

The sun was down and twilight had fairly begun. Grace, seated on her
father's knee, was gazing out over the harbor.

"See, papa, how many little lights close down to the water!" she said.

"Yes; they are lamps on the small boats that are sailing or rowing
about; they show them for safety from running into each other."

"And they look so pretty."

"Yes, so they do; and it is a sight one may have every evening from the
wharf. Shall I take you down there some evening and let you sit and
watch them as they come and go?"

"Oh, yes, do, papa; I think it would be so nice! And you would take Max
and Lulu too, wouldn't you?"

"If they should happen to want to go; there are benches on the wharf
where we can sit and have a good view. I think we will try it to-morrow
evening if nothing happens to prevent."

"Oh, I'm so glad! You are such a good, kind papa," she said,
delightedly, giving him a hug.

"The very best you have ever had, I suppose," he responded, with a
pleased laugh.

"Yes, indeed," she answered, naively, quite missing the point of his
jest.

On reaching home Edward and Zoe reported their conversation with the
lady in the dory, and asked, "Shall we not go?"

"I think so, by all means, since it is for benevolent objects," said
Elsie.

"Or anyhow, since we feel in duty bound to see all that is to be seen on
this island," said Captain Raymond.

No dissenting voice was raised, and when the next morning word came that
Mrs. Mack would exhibit that afternoon if a party were made up to
attend, they all agreed to go.

The distance was too great for ladies and children to walk, so carriages
were ordered. Captain Raymond and his family filled one.

"This is the street that oldest house is on," remarked Lulu, as they
turned a corner; "I mean that one we went to see; that has the big
horse-shoe on its chimney."

"What do they have that for, papa?" asked Grace.

"In old times when many people were ignorant and superstitious, it was
thought to be a protection from witches."

"Witches, papa? what are they?"

"I don't think there are any, really," he said, with a kindly smile into
the eagerly inquiring little face