A bedroom opening from their own was selected for Grace, the adjoining room beyond for Lulu; and another, into which both these latter opened, they were told should be their own little sitting-room.

Besides these, a tiny apartment in a tower, communicating with Lulu’s bedroom, was given to her.  The sitting-room opened into the hall also, so that it was not necessary to pass through one bedroom to reach the other.

They were all bright, cheerful rooms, with a pleasant outlook from every window:  in the sitting-room there were French windows opening upon a balcony.

The little girls were almost speechless with delight when told by their father that these four apartments were to be appropriated solely to their use.

Lulu caught his hand, and kissed it, tears of mingled joy and penitence springing to her eyes.

He smiled down at her, and laid his other hand tenderly on her head for an instant.

Then turning to Max, “Now, my boy,” he said, “we must settle where you are to lodge.  Have you any choice?”

“Is it to be more than one room for me, papa?” he asked, with an arch smile.  “I believe boys don’t usually fare quite so well as girls in such things.”

“My boy does,” returned his father:  “you shall have two or three rooms if you want them, and quite as well furnished as those of your sisters.”

“Then, if you please, papa, I’ll take those over Lu’s, and thank you very much.  But as you have already given me several things that my sisters haven’t got,—­a gun, a watch, and that splendid pony,—­I think it would be quite fair that they should have better and prettier furniture in their rooms than I in mine.”

“That makes no difference, Max,” his father answered with a pleased laugh.  “I should hardly want the girls to have guns, but watches and ponies they shall have by the time they are as old as you are now.”

At that the two little girls, standing near, exchanged glances of delight.  They had been unselfishly glad for Max, and now they rejoiced each for herself and for the other.

Though, in common with all the rest, deeply interested in the new home, Max was not sorry when his father and Violet decided that it was time to return to Ion; for he was eager to show his pony to grandma Elsie, Zoe, and Rosie, who had not yet seen it.

“Papa, do you require me to keep along-side of the carriage?” he asked, as he remounted.

“No:  if you wish, you may act as our avant-courier,” was the smiling reply.  “I quite understand that you are in haste to display your new treasure.”

“Yes, sir:  that was why I asked.  Thank you, sir;” and away the lad flew, urging his pony to a rapid gallop.

He reached Ion some minutes in advance of the carriage, found nearly all of the family who had remained at home on the veranda, and greatly enjoyed their exclamations of surprise and admiration at sight of his steed.