It is time for you to be dressed for the evening." "Papa, who is to tell us what to wear,--you, or mamma Vi ?" asked Lulu, as they pursued their way back to the house.
"You may wear your cream-colored cashmere with the cherry trimmings; Gracie, hers with the blue," he replied.
"That's just what I wanted you to say, papa! I like those dresses," remarked Lulu with satisfaction.
"That is well: and Gracie, of course, is pleased; for she never objects to any thing papa or mamma wishes her to do," he said, with a loving glance down into the little girl's face.
"'Course not, papa; 'cause I know you and mamma always know best," she said, her blue eyes smiling up into his.
"And I mean to try to be like her in that, papa," Lulu said with unwonted humility.
"I hope so: I have no fault to find with your behavior of late," he returned kindly.
They passed into the house, and in the hall met Christine and Alma.
"Ah! you have come, my good girls ?" the captain said to them with a pleased look.

"Jane," to the girl who had admitted them, "show them to their rooms." Christine had come to assume her duties as housekeeper at Woodburn; Alma was to make her home there while still continuing to sew for the families at Ion and Fairview--an arrangement which suited the sisters admirably.
"Thanks, sir: it ees one grand place you haf here," said Christine.

"We shall be very pleased to haf so nice a home." "I hope it will prove a happy one to you both," he returned kindly.
Then, as they followed Jane to the rear of the mansion,-- "Now, children," he said, "make haste with your dressing." "Yes, sir," they replied, hurrying up the broad stairway with willing feet.
At its head they met Agnes, their mamma's maid.
"I'se to help yo' dress, Miss Lu and Miss Gracie," she said.

"Miss Wi'let tole me so, and I'se laid out yo' things on yo' beds." "What things?
What dress for me ?" asked Lulu sharply.
"De cream-colored cashmere, what Miss Wi'let corrected me to." Lulu laughed.

"Directed, you mean, Agnes.