"I think he's a valuable fellow, and pays for his keep." "Yes; I am very glad I selected him as a Christmas gift to you," said his father.

"But now I must warn you both to say nothing to, or before Gracie, about this occurrence; for timid as she is, it would be apt to cause her much suffering from apprehension." "We will try to keep it a secret from her, papa," replied both children.
"And in order to succeed in that you will have to be on your guard and give no hint of the matter in presence of any of the servants." "We will try to remember, papa," they promised with evident intention to do so.
"That is right," he said.

"I think I can trust you not to forget or disobey.

I know you would be loath to have your little sister tortured with nervous terrors.

Now go and get yourselves ready for tea." Lulu was full of excitement over her adventure, and through the evening found it difficult to refrain from speaking of it before Grace; but equally desirous to obey her father and to save her little sister from needless suffering, she resolutely put a curb upon her tongue till she found herself alone with him at bedtime.
Then she must needs go over the whole scene again, and seeing that it was a relief to her excitement, he let her run on about it to her heart's content.
"Has it made you feel at all timid to-night, daughter ?" he asked kindly.
"No, papa," she answered promptly; "I don't think the man could get into the house; do you ?" "I think it most probable he has walked on till he is miles away from here by this time," the captain answered.