hold the fort there."

"Yes; I have hardly a doubt of it," returned Violet; "and it may be many
a long day before she is deluded into thinking there is any other man
who begins to compare to him; something that I have known for years was
not the case," she concluded with a happy laugh.

The sun was hardly above the horizon when Lucilla awoke; but she sprang
up hastily, with the thought that her father would soon be out in the
grounds, and she wanted to be with him. There would be a great deal to
attend to in preparation for their expected guests, and perhaps she
could be of some assistance; at all events she would like to see all
that was going on, and give her opinion on any doubtful subject.

So she lost no time about attending to the duties of the hour and place,
spending a little time upon her knees, asking for the watchful care of
her Heavenly Father through all the day, that she might be kept from
folly and sin, and have strength and wisdom to do every duty and meet
every trial, and beseeching his blessing upon all her dear ones, not
forgetting the dear brother so far away from home and kindred. Then she
made a rapid but careful toilet, and hastened, with light, swift
footsteps, down the broad stairway and out upon the veranda, where she
found her father in consultation with Christine, the housekeeper.

Blithe good-mornings were exchanged, Christine went back into the house,
and father and daughter walked out together into the grounds.

Preparations were going on for the entertainment of the expected guests,
old and young, and Lucilla was not only permitted, but invited to give
her opinion in regard to them all, and any suggestions that might occur
to her; which she did frankly and fully, and with the result that more
than one of them was adopted; for her father wished to please her and
had great confidence in her opinion of such matters. There were croquet
and tennis grounds, swings in the shade of the trees in the grove;
inviting-looking seats there, and in other suitable places; there were
shaded walks and winding paths through the woods; indeed, every sort of
arrangement for recreation and pleasure that could be thought of and
prepared for in the allotted space.

Captain Raymond and his daughter walked about inspecting everything,
until they had gone over the whole place, giving all needed directions
to the workmen who were busied here and there with some alterations the
captain had decided upon the prev