“Oh mamma, do please go on and tell the whole story of that Christmas, and all the good times you had that winter,” pleaded Rosie.  “I have always enjoyed it so much, and I’m sure Eva and Lulu and Gracie will.”

Rosie’s request was seconded by several other voices in the little crowd, and Grandma Elsie, ever willing to give pleasure, kindly complied.

But as my young readers have already had the story in Mildred’s Married Life, I shall not repeat it here.  Suffice it to say it seemed to greatly interest all her listeners, and Lulu gathered from it a far different impression of Mr. Dinsmore, as a father, from that she had derived from tales told her by some of the old servants in the family connection.

They had given her the idea that he was exceedingly stern and tyrannical, but his daughter painted him as a most loving and indulgent parent.  Mayhap the truth lay somewhere between the two pictures, for as he himself had often said, Elsie was ever won’t to look upon him through rose colored glasses.

“You did have a very nice time, Grandma Elsie!  I could almost wish I’d been in your place,” exclaimed Lulu, when the tale had come to an end.  “But no I don’t, either, for then I couldn’t be my father’s child,” putting her arm round the captain’s neck and laying her cheek to his, “and to belong to him is better than anything else!”

“My little Lulu being the judge,” laughed the captain, tightening the clasp of his arm about her waist.

“Or any other of your children, papa,” added Grace from her seat on his knee, affectionately stroking his face with her small white hand as she spoke.  “Grandma Elsie, won’t you please go on and tell about other Christmases that you remember?”

“I think, my dear, I have done my full share of story telling for one evening,” replied Mrs. Travilla pleasantly.  “It is your father’s turn now, as the next in age.  Captain, will you not favor us with some of your reminiscences of former holiday experiences? or of something else if you prefer.  I know you are a famous story teller.”

“Oh yes, captain!” “Oh yes, papa do, please,” urged the others.

“Some other time, perhaps,” he said.  “Do you know how late it is? time to call the servants in to prayers, and then for the little folks to seek their nests.  Max, my son, ring the bell.”

“Then you don’t mean to let us stay up to watch the old year out and the new year in, papa?” queried the lad, as he rose and obeyed the order.

“Hardly,” his father answered with a slight smile; “You are all too young to be allowed to lose so large a portion of your night’s rest.  To do so would spoil all the anticipated pleasure of to-morrow.”

“Then I am sure we don’t want to, captain,” said Evelyn, “for we are looking forward to a great deal of pleasure.”

CHAPTER XII.

“My little Grace looks tired,” the captain said, bending down and taking her in his arms as the little folks were bidding good night.  “I shall carry you up stairs, darling, after the old custom.”