Didn't you?
Oh thank you ever so much!" "Your father provided it, and your thanks are due to him far more than to me," Violet replied, with a smiling-glance in his direction.
At that they crowded about him, Max putting a hand affectionately into his and thanking him with hearty words of appreciation, while the little girls hugged and kissed him to his heart's content.
The servants had gathered about the door, little Elsie's mammy among them, with her nursling in her arms.
"Oh pretty, pretty!" shouted the little one, clapping her hands in an ecstacy of delight.

"Let Elsie down, mammy." "Come to papa," the captain said, and taking her in his arms carried her to the tree and all around it, pointing out the pretty things.
"What would you like to have ?" he asked.

"What shall papa give you off this beautiful tree ?" "Dolly," she said, reaching out for a lovely bisque doll seated in a tiny chair attached to one of the lower branches.
"You shall have it; it was put there on purpose for papa's baby girl," he said, taking it up carefully and putting it into her arms.

"Now let us see what we can find for mamma and your brother and sisters." His gift to Violet was some beautiful lace selected with the help of her mother.

He had contrived to add it to the adornments of the tree without her knowledge.