CHAPTER XVIII.
"Fortune is merry, And in this mood will give us any thing." There was a sound of small, hurrying feet in the hall without, a tap at the door; and Max's voice asked, "May we come in ?" "Yes," said his father; and instantly the door was thrown wide.

Evelyn came in with a quiet, lady-like step, and Max and Grace more boisterously.
The captain rose, shook hands with Eva, set her a chair, and sat down again, drawing Gracie to his arms, while Max stood at his side.
"Oh! what are those for ?" he asked, catching sight of the blank-books.
"This is for you, this for Grace," the captain answered, bestowing them as he spoke, then went on to repeat substantially what he had just been saying to Lulu, and to replenish their purses as he had hers.
They were both delighted, both grateful.
Evelyn looked on, well pleased.

"Now your allowance is just the same as mine, and I am so glad," she said to Lulu.

"I have never kept an account; but I think it must be a good plan, and I mean to after this." "There is another thing, children," said the captain: "any money that we have, is only lent to us by our heavenly Father; and it is our duty to set aside a certain portion for giving to his cause." "How much, papa ?" asked Max.
"People have different ideas about that," was the reply.

"In Old-Testament times, the rule was one-tenth of all; and I think most people should not give less now: many are able to give a great deal more.