“Very possibly,” he replied.  “I will look them over at once.”

“Thank you, sir.  I’ll do as you bid me and be back again as soon as ever I can; for I don’t like to lose a minute of my father’s morning call,” she said, giving him a bright, loving look, then hurrying back to her sister.

“We’ll have to make haste, Gracie,” she said, “if we don’t want to miss altogether our morning chat with papa.  We are to wear our new gray dresses, he says.”

“That suits me nicely, for I think them becoming, pretty, and suitable.  Don’t you?”

“Yes; I think nobody has better taste or judgment about dress than our father.”

“Just my opinion; and we may well think so, considering how many lovely dresses and ornaments he has bought for us, selecting them without the help or advice of anyone.  There, sister dear, your dress is on all right and I shall make haste to change mine while you put the finishing touches to your attire.”

They joined their father in a few moments, talked over the advertisements he had been examining and the question of the desirability of this and that article as a wedding gift to Rosie, but had reached no decision when the breakfast bell rang.

“Well, daughters,” the captain said, “we will go down now to our breakfast and, while we are eating, talk the matter over with your mamma.  She probably knows better than we what would be likely to please Rosie.”

“But we do not need to decide until we see the things, do we, papa?” asked Lucilla.

“No, certainly not, and we may find something very handsome and suitable that we have not thought of.  I hope it will be a pleasure to both of you to look over the pretty things and make a selection.”

“You dear father,” Grace said, smiling up into his eyes, “you are always thinking of something to give your children pleasure.”

“Yes,” he said, returning her smile, “perhaps because it reacts upon myself, giving me a great deal of pleasure.”

They found Violet and the little ones already in the breakfast room; morning greetings were exchanged, then they seated themselves at the table, the captain asked a blessing, and the meal began.

They chatted pleasantly while eating, the principal subject of discourse being their errand to the city.  Violet had not heard Rosie express a desire for any particular thing, but thought they would probably see something in the stores that would strike them as handsome and suitable.

“Is Elsie going with you to-day, papa? and am I?” asked Neddie.

“Yes, my son, if you want to go,” the captain replied.  “And would you like to buy some gifts for Aunt Rosie, too?”

“Oh, yes, yes indeed, papa!” cried, both children, Elsie adding:  “But I have only a little money.  I’m afraid it won’t be enough to buy anything handsome enough for a wedding present.”

“Well,” their father said reflectively, “you have been good children, and I feel inclined to give you each a present of ten dollars, which you may dispose of as you like.”