The afternoon was waning when the Raymonds again entered their family carriage and the captain gave the order, “Home to Woodburn.”

And now the children began to think of the home celebration of Christmas eve, and to renew their wonderings as to what arrangements might have been made for their own enjoyment of its return.  Still they asked no question on the subject, but they sobered down and were very quiet during the short drive.

“Tired, children?” queried their father, putting an arm round Grace as she leaned confidingly up against him, and smiling affectionately upon them all.

“Oh, no, sir, not at all!” replied Max, quickly, straightening himself with the air of one who had no thought of fatigue.

“Not at all, papa,” echoed Lulu.

“Only just a little bit, papa,” Grace said with cheerful look and tone.  “We have had such a nice day.”

“Giving pleasure to others,” he remarked, patting the rosy cheek resting against his shoulder; “there is nothing more enjoyable.  The little girls were very glad to get your dollies.”

“Yes, sir; I’m so glad I gave them.”

The carriage stopped.  They were at their own door.  In another minute they had all alighted and the children were following their father and Violet into the house.

A Newfoundland dog, a magnificent specimen of his race, met them almost at the threshold.

“Oh!” cried the children, in excited chorus, “where, did he come from?  Whose dog is he?”

“Max’s; a Christmas gift from papa,” answered the captain.

“Oh!” exclaimed Max, his face sparkling all over with delight, “what a splendid fellow!  Papa, thank you ever so much!  You couldn’t have given me a more acceptable present.”

“Ah?  I’m glad you like him.  But come into the library, all of you, for a moment.  It is not quite tea time yet.”

The captain led the way as he spoke, everybody else following.

“Howdy do?  Where you been?” called out a rather harsh voice, and sending a surprised, inquiring glance about in search of the speaker, the children presently spied a cage with a parrot in it; an African parrot; grey, with a scarlet tail.

“Polly wants a cracker!” screamed the bird.  “Time for breakfast, Lu!  Where you been?”

“How will Polly suit you for a Christmas gift, Lulu?” asked the captain, smiling down into the flushed, delighted face of his eldest daughter.

“O papa, is it for me?” she cried half breathlessly.

“Yes, if you want it, though I fear she may prove a rather troublesome pet.  Here is Gracie’s gift from papa,” he added, pointing to a beautiful Maltese kitten curled upon the rug before the fire.  “We mustn’t let Max’s big gift swallow your little one.  I trust that in time we can teach them to be friends.”

Grace loved kittens and was no less delighted with her present than her brother and sister with theirs.