Max was taken into their confidence, and allowed to assist; and a proud and happy boy was he, going about with an air of mystery, as one to whom secret and important business is intrusted.

The little girls, shut up in their own apartments,—­Grace reclining on a couch, Lulu with her as constant companion, and making every exertion for her entertainment, while papa, mamma, and Maxie came running in now and then to ask how she was,—­knew nothing of messages sent back and forth through the telephone, of packages of various shapes and sizes brought into the house, of mysterious goings and comings, and much time spent by papa, mamma, Maxie, Christine, and others in a certain large room, hitherto but little used.

Grace frequently fell asleep:  then Lulu would darken the room, go into the adjoining one, leaving the door ajar, so that she could hear the slightest movement her little sick sister might make on waking, and amuse herself with a book or her own thoughts.

Their meals were brought to them, and set out in their sitting-room upon a little round table, covered with a snowy damask cloth, whereon were arranged a set of dainty china dishes of a size just suited to the occasion, and toothsome viands such as “papa” deemed they might eat and enjoy without danger to health.

It was very nice, they thought; almost nicer, just for a change, than going to the larger table down-stairs with the rest of the family.

Soon after they had had their supper, their father came in, bringing the doctor with him, for his second visit that day.

“Ah! she is a good deal better,” Dr. Conly said, when he had examined his little patient.  “Hardly well enough yet to go to Ion,” he added with a humorous look and smile; “but I think, if well wrapped up, she may venture a trip down-stairs in papa’s arms, and even stay a little while, if she finds the change to the parlor a pleasant one.”

“Should you like it, papa’s dear pet?” the captain asked, leaning over her.

“Yes, sir, if you and my doctor think it will be good for me,” was the reply, in a submissive and rather languid tone, “and if my Lulu is to come too,” she added, with a loving look at her sister.

“Oh, yes, indeed! we would not think of going without Lulu!” their father said, smiling affectionately upon her also.

So a large shawl was brought, and carefully wrapped about Gracie’s little slender figure; and she made the short journey in her father’s strong arms, the doctor and Lulu going on before, hand in hand, chatting and laughing merrily.

Max heard them, and threw open the parlor-door just as they reached it.

Then what a surprise for the little girls!  A large, handsome Christmas-tree, loaded with beautiful things, burst upon their astonished sight, and was greeted by them with exclamations of wonder and delight.

“Oh! oh! oh! it’s the very prettiest Christmas-tree we ever saw!  And we didn’t know we were to have any at all!  And how many, many lovely things are on it!  Papa, papa, how good and kind you are to us!”