The room he had selected for the purpose was in a wing attached to the main building at the end farthest removed from Violet’s apartments; for he did not want her to be disturbed by any noise the children might make, or them to feel constrained to keep very quiet when not engaged in study or recitation.  There was a simultaneous burst of delight from the three, as he threw open the door, and ushered them in.  Every thing had been done to render that as attractive as any other part of the mansion:  the windows reached almost from floor to ceiling, some opening on to the veranda, one looking directly out upon lawn and flower-garden, with a glimpse of the wood and the brook beyond; a handsome rug covered the centre of the stained and polished floor.  In an open fireplace a bright wood fire was blazing, an easy-chair on each side of it; and a sofa on the farther side of the room seemed to invite to repose:  but the handsome writing-table, and three pretty rosewood desks, were suggestive of work to be done ere the occupants of the room might feel entitled to rest.  The walls were tinted a delicate gray, an excellent background for the pictures that adorned them here and there:  most of these were marine views,—­that over the fireplace, a very large and fine one, of a storm at sea.

On the mantel-shelf were heaped sea-mosses, shells, and coral; but the tiles below it represented Scripture scenes.  Blinds and curtains shaded the windows; and the broad, low sills were cushioned, making pleasant places to sit in.

“It will be just a pleasure to study in such a place as this,” cried Max, rubbing his hands with satisfaction, and smiling all over his face.

“Indeed it will! especially with such a teacher as we are to have,” chimed in Lulu.

“Oh, I’m just in ever such a hurry to begin!” said Grace.  “Papa, which is my desk?”

“They are exactly alike,” he said.  “I thought of having yours made a trifle lower than the others, but concluded to give you a foot-rest instead, as you will soon grow tall enough to want it the height it now is.  Max and Lulu, shall we give your little sister the first choice, as she is the youngest?”

“Yes, indeed, papa! yes, indeed!” they both answered with hearty good will, Max adding, “And Lu must have the next, if you please, papa.”

That matter being speedily settled, the next question was when school was to begin.  They were all three asking it.

“You may have your choice—­we will put it to vote—­whether we will begin to-morrow morning, or not till Monday,” replied their father; “to-morrow, you will remember, is Thursday:  we will begin school regularly at nine o’clock each morning; and it is to last four hours, not including five or ten minutes at the end of every hour for rest.”

“That’ll be ever so nice!” was Lulu’s comment.

“That’s so,” said Max.  “I see you are not going to be hard on a fellow, papa.”

“Wait till you are sure,” said his father:  “there’s to be no idling, no half attention to study, in those hours; you are to give your whole minds to your lessons, and I shall be very strict in exacting perfect recitations.”