“And here are some candies in mine,” said Grace.  “Haven’t you got some?”

“Yes, oh yes! and nuts and raisins.  I’d like to taste them; but I think we’d better leave them till after breakfast.  I’m pretty sure papa would say so.”

“Yes, ’course he would; so we’ll wait.”

“Good obedient children; aren’t they?” the captain said in a gratified whisper to Violet.

“Very; I’m proud of them,” she responded.

It was growing light and Lulu, taking up the despised potato, examined it more critically.  Presently she uttered an exclamation,

“O Gracie, see!  It opens and there’s something inside!”

The captain and Violet listened intently for what might come next.

“More candies and—­something wrapped up in soft paper.  O Gracie! it’s a lovely little breastpin!”

“Oh, oh, how pretty!” cried Grace.  “I wonder if I have one too!” In their excitement they were forgetting the danger of disturbing others and talking quite loud.

“Yes, mine opens,” Grace went on, “and—­oh yes, I’ve got candies and something with paper round it and—­oh yes, yes, it is a pin!  Not quite like yours, but just every bit as pretty!”

“I think they are having a merry Christmas,” said the captain, a happy light in his eyes, “and, my love, I wish you the same.”

Violet returned the wish; but the children were talking again and they kept quiet to hearken.

“Oh this sweet potato opens too,” Lulu was saying, “and there’s something that feels like a stick.  O Gracie, Gracie, look! it’s a gold pencil, a lovely little gold pencil!  Have you one?”

“No; but you haven’t a doll.”

“Well, I think Santa Claus has been very generous and kind to us.”

“Just as good and kind as if he was our own papa,” Gracie said, with a sweet silvery laugh.

“The dear, grateful darlings!” exclaimed the captain, his tone half tremulous with feeling.  “I sometimes fear I am almost too indulgent; but it is such a dear delight to give them pleasure.”

“And I don’t believe it does them the least harm, so long as you do not indulge them in any wrong doing,” said Violet.  “Love never hurts anybody.”

“Merry Christmas, my darlings,” he called to them.  “Did Santa Claus fill your stockings?”

“Oh merry, merry Christmas, papa!” they answered.  “Yes, sir, Santa Claus or somebody did, and gave us lovely things.  We’re very much obliged to him.”

As they spoke the door into their little sitting-room opened and Max put in his head, crying in his turn, “Merry Christmas to you all—­papa and Mamma Vi, Lulu and Gracie.”

A chorus of merry Christmases answered him; then Lulu asked, “What did Santa Claus put in your stocking, Maxie?”

“A good deal:  about as much as could be crammed into it; some handsome neckties, candies and nuts and a gold pencil.”

“Very nice,” commented Lulu, and she and Grace, both talking at once, gave a gleeful account of their discoveries in searching their stockings.