The visits of inspection were made: everybody agreed in praising all they saw, and congratulating Max and his sisters on the good fortune that had befallen them.
The rest of the evening passed off very pleasantly.

The feast was enjoyed, every dish being pronounced a success: the Woodburn children were satisfied with the share of it allowed them,--all the more, perhaps, that a like care was exercised by the parents and guardians of the other young folks in respect to their indulgence of appetite.
Grace bade good-night, and went to her nest at nine o'clock, a cheerful, happy child; but, as the party broke up at ten, Max and Lulu were allowed to remain up to see them off.
Lulu had taken an early opportunity to give the invitation for the next day to Evelyn, and it was joyfully accepted, "uncle Lester" giving ready permission.
"You'll come as soon as lessons are over at Ion, won't you ?" asked Lulu in parting.
"Yes, you may be sure I'll come the first minute I can," Eva answered gayly.

"I expect to have a lovely time with you in those beautiful rooms, and I've had a lovely time to-night.

Good-by," giving her friend a hearty embrace.
"Well, children," the captain said at breakfast the next morning, "remember, I expect every one of you to be in the schoolroom at five minutes before nine, and to begin studying exactly at the hour." "Every thing to be done with naval precision, I suppose," remarked Violet, giving him a bright half-saucy smile; "that being, I understand, about on a par with military." "Yes," he said, smiling in return, "that is to be the rule in this house for every one but my wife: she is to follow her own sweet will in all things." "Ah!" she responded gayly, "I fear you do not realize what a rash promise you are making; or, rather, how rash you are in according such a privilege." "It is hardly that," he answered: "acknowledging a right, would be my way of expressing it." They had left the table and the breakfast-room, and were alone at the moment, the children having scattered to their work or play.
"How good you are to me, my dear husband!" she said, looking up fondly into his face as they stood together before the parlor fire.
"Not a whit better than I ought to be, my darling," he responded, bending to kiss the sweet, upturned face.

"I have taken you from a tender mother and a most luxurious home, and it must be my care to see that you lose nothing by the transplantation--sweet and delicate flower that you are!" "In my place, Zoe would call you an old flatterer," she returned with a light laugh, but a tell-tale moisture gathering in her eyes.
"And what do you call me, my Violet ?" he asked, putting his arm about her, and drawing her close to his side.
"The kindest, best, dearest of husbands, the noblest of men!" "Ah, my dear! who is the flatterer now ?" he laughed.