He shook his head in response to her's.
"What do you mean?
wouldn't you like it ?" she asked in an undertone.
"Yes, indeed! but I'm pretty sure papa couldn't afford such a place as that: it must be worth a good many thousands." Lulu's look lost much of its brightness; still, she did not quite give up hope, as the conversation went on among their elders, Woodburn and the Elliotts continuing to be the theme.
"Will it be near enough to Ion ?" Capt.

Raymond asked, addressing Violet more particularly.

"What is the distance ?" "Something over a mile, they call it," said Mr.Dinsmore.
"That is as near as we can expect to be, I suppose," said Violet.
"And with carriages and horses, bicycles, tricycles, and telephones, we may feel ourselves very near neighbors indeed," remarked Edward.

"When the weather is too inclement for mamma or Vi to venture out, they can talk together by the hour through the telephone, if they wish." "And it won't often be too inclement to go back and forth," said Zoe; "almost always good enough for a close carriage, if for nothing else." "We are talking as if the place were already secured," remarked Violet, with a smiling glance at her husband.
"I think you may feel pretty sure of it if you want it, love; unless Miss Elliott should change her mind about selling," he responded, in a tone too low to reach any ear but hers.
She gave him a bright, glad look, that quite settled the matter so far as he was concerned; he would, if necessary, give even an exorbitant price for the place, to please her.
"Have you never seen Woodburn, captain ?" asked Mrs.Dinsmore.
"I have some recollection of driving past it," he replied meditatively; "but--is not the house nearly concealed from view from the road, by a thick growth of trees and shrubbery ?" "Yes: you will thin them out a little, I hope, for the mansion is well worth looking at; it is a very aristocratic-looking dwelling,--large, substantial, and handsome architecturally." "Papa, are you going to buy it ?" asked Grace.
"It is too soon to answer that question, daughter," he said pleasantly; and Max and Lulu again exchanged glances, which said this time, "Maybe he will, after all." Both ardently wished their father would propose taking them along; he did not: but when Dr.Conly said, with a kindly glance at Grace, "There will be room in my carriage for a little friend of mine, if papa is willing to let her go with us," he at once said,-- "Certainly, Gracie may go, if she will be ready in season, and not keep the doctor waiting." "Indeed I will, papa," she cried delightedly, and ran away to don hat and coat; for the meal was concluded, and everybody leaving the table.
Lulu followed her father, till, in the hall, she found an opportunity to speak to him without being overheard.
"Papa," she asked, "what am I to do with myself to-day ?" "Stay in your room, and learn your lessons, beginning just where you left off the other day.

You will recite to me after I come back; then we will consider what you shall do for the rest of the day." "Yes, sir: may I see Evelyn when she comes ?" "If she chooses to go to you in your room." "Must I stay in my room all the time ?" she asked dejectedly.
"While I am away.