Ida's natural vigour throve on the strength-giving properties of sun and breeze the last traces of unwholesome pallor passed from her face, and exercise sent her home flushed like the dawn.
One afternoon she went to sit with her grandfather on a bench beneath an apple-tree.

The old man had his pipe and a newspaper.

Ida was quiet, and glancing at her presently, Abraham found her eyes fixed upon him.
"Grandfather," she said, in her gentlest voice, "will you let me give a garden-party some day next week ?" "A party ?" Mr.Woodstock raised his brows in astonishment.

"Who are you going to invite ?" "You'll think it a strange notion .-- I wonder whether I can make it seem as delightful to you as it does to me.

Suppose we went to those houses of yours, and got together as many poor little girls as we could, and brought them all here to spend an afternoon in the garden.