The bit of woodland was beautiful; and through it, and across lawn and gardens, ran a little stream of clear, sparkling water,—­a pretty feature in the landscape, without being deep enough to be dangerous to the little ones.

Grace went everywhere with her father, up-stairs and down, indoors and out, quietly looking and listening, but seldom speaking, unless addressed.

Once or twice she said, in a low aside, “Papa, I’d like to live here, if you can ’ford to buy it.

“Papa, this is such a pretty room, and the view from that window is so nice!”

He would reply only by a kind smile, or a word or two of assent.  She did not understand all the talk in the library after they had finished their round, and when they left was still in some doubt as to her father’s intentions.

“Papa,” she asked eagerly, as soon as they were fairly on their homeward way, “have you bought it?”

“We have come to an agreement,” he answered.

“Then, is it ours?”

“It will be, as soon as I have got the deed, and handed over the money.”

“Oh, I’m so glad!” she cried, clapping her hands with delight.  “And we’re to be ’lowed to go there to stay in two weeks, aren’t we?  I thought that was what Miss Elliott said.”

“Yes:  can you get all your possessions packed up by that time?”

“Yes, indeed, papa:  one day would be enough time for that.”

“And if you should happen to forget one of the dollies, you could go back for her,” remarked the doctor.

“Or replace it with a new one,” said the captain.

“But I love all my dollies, papa,” she returned, with a wistful look up into his face:  “they’re my children, you know.  Would you be satisfied with another new little girl ’stead of me?”

“No, indeed!” he replied, bending down to kiss her cheek.  “If I had another new little girl given me, I should want to hold fast to my little Gracie too; and you shall keep all your dollies as long as you please.”

Lulu and Max started on their walk to Fairview about the same time that Dr. Conly drove away with their father and Grace.

Their talk was principally of the new home in prospect.  Lulu had only driven past Woodburn several times; but Max had been taken there once by Dr. Conly, with whom he was almost as great a favorite as his sister Grace, and had seen not only the grounds, but one or two rooms of the mansion.

Lulu was eager to hear all he had to tell about the place, and he not at all averse to describing what he had seen.

So interested were they in the topic, that they reached the entrance to the Fairview grounds almost ere they were aware of it.

“Oh, we’re here!” exclaimed Lulu, in some surprise.  “Max, I’ll stay outside, while you go up to the house, for—­I—­I can’t bear to see aunt Elsie and the others.”

Her eyes were downcast, her cheeks burning with blushes as she spoke.