"Is she in there ?" "I will carry Elsie to the nursery, my love," said the captain.

"Lulu and Gracie, you may perhaps find your pets in your own little sitting room." "Oh yes!" they cried in chorus, and started up the stairs after their father and Violet.
Outside the night was cold, but within the house the atmosphere was that of summer; doors stood open, and in the halls, and the rooms used by the family, lights were burning; also the air was sweet and fragrant with a faint odor of roses, heliotrope and mignonette, coming from the conservatory and from vases of cut flowers placed here and there; all the result of Capt.

Raymond's kind forethought for the comfort and pleasure of wife and children, and the careful carrying out of his orders by the faithful housekeeper Christine.
No wonder home looked so attractive to its returning occupants, even coming from a former one quite as beautiful and luxurious.
"Oh how sweet it does look here!" exclaimed both the little girls as they entered their little sitting-room.
"Oh! and there is my pussy lying on the rug all curled up like a soft round ball!" added Grace.

"You are having a nice nap, pretty kitty, and I don't mean to wake you, but I must pet you just a little bit," dropping down beside her, and gently stroking the soft fur.
"And there's my Polly in her cage and fast asleep too, I do believe," said Lulu, "I want ever so much to hear her talk, but I'll be as good to her as you are to your pet, Gracie; I won't wake her.
"Now we must take off our things, Gracie, for you know papa always says we mustn't keep them on in the house, and that we must put them away in their places." "Yes; but I'm so tired! Papa would let me wait a minute." "Of course, you poor little weak thing! I'll take them off for you and put them away too; and you need hardly more," Lulu said, hastily throwing off her own coat and hat.
Then kneeling on the rug beside her sister, she began undoing the fastenings of her coat.
"Dear Lu, you're just as good to me as can be!" sighed Grace in tender, grateful accents.

"I really don't know what I'd ever do without my nice big sister." "Somebody else would take care of you," said Lulu, flushing with pleasure nevertheless.