“O the pretty pet!” she exclaimed, dropping down on the rug beside it and gently stroking its soft fur.  “I’d like to take you on my lap, pretty pussy, but you’re fast asleep, and I won’t wake you.”

“That is right, my darling; I am glad to see my little girl thoughtful of the comfort of even a cat,” her father said, bending down to stroke Gracie’s hair with tenderly caressing hand.

“I s’pose they have feelings as well as other folks, papa,” she said, smiling up affectionately into his face.  “I mean to be very kind to this pretty pussy; and oh I’m ever so much obliged to you for her!”

His reply was prevented by a sudden, loud bark from the dog, as he spied pussy on the rug.

“Turn him out into the hall, May,” the captain said, hastily stepping in between dog and cat.  “Don’t be alarmed for your pet, Gracie; he shall not be permitted to harm her.”

“Nor my Polly either, shall he, papa?” asked Lulu, who was trying to make acquaintance with her new possession.

“No; certainly not.  But take care of your fingers, daughter; she may snap at them and give you a bite that you will remember for a long while.  Now go and get yourselves ready for tea.  It is almost time for the bell to ring.”

The children made haste to obey.  The captain and Violet lingered behind for a moment.

“How pleased they are!” she said with a joyous look up into her husband’s face.  “It’s a perfect treat to witness their delight on such occasions.  I can hardly wait to show them the tree with all its treasures.”

“Dear wife, your affection for my darlings is a well-spring of joy to me,” he said with tender look and smile; “and theirs for you no less so.  I am sure you have completely won their hearts.”

“You make me very happy,” she responded, her eyes shining with joy and love.  “But there! do you hear little Elsie calling for papa and mamma?”

The faces that surrounded the tea table that evening were very bright, though the children had no expectation of the treat in store for them; each had had a present from papa, and that was almost more than they had ventured to hope for.

But they were in gay spirits, looking forward to a time of rare enjoyment in spending the Christmas holidays with Grandma Elsie, at Ion.

“We’ll be glad to go,” remarked Lulu, “and then glad to come back to our own dear home.”

“So you will be twice glad,” said her father.

“Yes, that is just the way I feel about it,” Violet said.  “Mamma’s house will always be a home to me—­a dear home; and yet my husband’s doubly so.”

“It should, seeing that it is quite as much yours as his,” he said, with a gratified smile.  “Well, my dear, I see we have all finished eating.  Shall we go now?”

“Yes, sir; if you please.  Our little girls will want to take another peep at their new pets,” she said, rising and slipping her hand into his arm.