Between that and Christmas-time everything moved along smoothly; studies were well attended to, sports and pastimes greatly enjoyed.

The celebration of the holidays—­Christmas and New Year’s—­also proved a great success.  There were many and beautiful gifts; a handsome brooch from the captain delighted each little girl, and there were other lovely gifts too numerous to mention.

The distribution was on Christmas Eve.  The next day there was a grand dinner at Viamede, all the relatives present, and everybody in gayest spirits.

The day was bright and beautiful, seeming but little like Christmas to those accustomed to frost and snow at that season.

New Year’s day was not less lovely, nor were its festivities less enjoyable, though the gifts were fewer.

The holidays past, the young folks went back with zest to their studies, Rosie saying she was now convinced that Captain Raymond was an excellent teacher, and not at all inclined to tyrannize over a well-behaved pupil; for which complimentary expression of opinion he gravely thanked her.

“You are very welcome, sir,” she said, “and may depend upon a recommendation from me whenever it is wanted.”

“O Rosie, how ridiculous you are!” exclaimed Walter.

But Rosie was already out of the room, the other girls following.  They went out on the lawn, ran about for a while, then settled themselves under a tree and began cracking and eating nuts.

Lulu, who was very fond of them, presently put one between her teeth and cracked it there.

“O Lu!” exclaimed Grace, “you forget that papa forbade you to crack nuts with your teeth, for fear you might break them.”

“Well, I wanted to break the nut,” returned Lulu, laughing, and blushing because her conscience reproached her.

“I meant break your teeth,” said Grace.  “I’m sure you wouldn’t have done it—­cracked the nut with them, I mean—­if you hadn’t forgotten that papa forbade you to do it.”

“No, Gracie, I’m not so good as you think; I did not forget; I just did it because I wanted to,” Lulu said with an evident effort, and blushing again.

Then she sprang up and ran toward her father, who was seen at some little distance, coming from the orange orchard toward the house.

“I do believe she’s going to tell on herself!” exclaimed Rosie, in astonishment.

“Oh, dear, I wonder what papa will do to her!” exclaimed Grace, just ready to burst into tears.

“It is very noble in her to go and confess at once, when he needn’t have ever known anything about it,” cried Eva admiringly.

They were all three watching Lulu and her father with intense interest, though too far away to hear anything that either one might say.

Lulu drew near him, hanging her head shamefacedly.  “Papa,” she said, in a low, remorseful tone, “I have just been disobeying you.”

“Ah!  I am sorry, very sorry, to hear it, daughter,” he returned a little sadly; then, taking her hand, led her away further from the house and seated her and himself on a bench beneath a group of trees that entirely hid them from view.