were spent in lively chat over them and about other pretty things seen in the city stores.
Then Grace was summoned to the sewing room to inspect the work going on there. Violet went with her, and Harold hastened away to see a patient, the captain and Elsie following him as far as the veranda, he seating himself and drawing her to his knee to pet and fondle her, as was his wont when they happened to be alone together.
"Well, darling little daughter," he said, "I hope you have had a pleasant time at home with grandma and Ned and cousins while papa and mamma were away?"
"Yes, sir; grandma was telling us about Washington and Braddock's defeat, and it was very interesting. So the time passed very pleasantly. Papa, what beautiful things you and mamma and the rest brought home from the city! I wish" – she paused, blushing and hanging her head.
"Well, dear child, speak out and tell papa what you want," he said encouragingly.
"I was just wishing I could buy a handsome wedding gift for dear Sister Grace; but I did not think she was going to be married so soon, and – and my pocket money is almost all gone."
"Well, never mind," he said with a smile and patting her cheek. "I have been considering an increase of pocket money for you and Ned just at this time. I shall give each of you $50 to-morrow, to do with exactly as you please – buy for yourselves or for others or save up for some future time."
"Oh, papa, thank you, thank you!" she cried joyously. "And now can you tell me what to buy for Sister Grace?"
"We will consult mamma about that," he said, "and perhaps she will go with us into the city to-morrow to make the purchase."
"Ah, Elsie wanting to do some shopping, too?" asked Violet's pleasant voice as she stepped out from the hall door to the veranda and came quickly toward them. "No" – to her husband – "do not get up; I will take a seat by your side," suiting the action to the word.
"Yes, mamma," answered the little girl; "surely I ought to give a wedding present to Sister Grace; and papa is going to give me money – $50 – to buy it with."
"Oh, that is nice," said Violet. "Levis, my dear, you are certainly the best of fathers, as well as of husbands."
"According to my very partial wife," he returned with a pleased little laugh.
"And this one of your daughters, too, papa," said Elsie.
"As well as all the kith and kin who know him well," added Violet. "What do you think of buying with that large sum of money, Elsie?"
"I want your advice about that, mamma."
"I believe Grace feels very rich now – in silks, satins, laces, jewelry" – Violet responded in a musing tone. "Ah, well of that last few ladies can have too much. A ring, a bracelet, would hardly come amiss."
"No, mamma, I do not believe they would; and they would be becoming to sister's beautiful hands and arms. I wonder if Ned would not like to buy one or the other for her with his $50."
"Let us go to the library now and consult him about it," said the captain, setting Elsie down and rising to his feet as he spoke.
"The best plan, I think," said Violet. "He is sure to want to spend your gift to him in something for Grace."
They found Ned still awake and pleased at their coming.
"You may be newsteller and questioner, Elsie," said their father, and she told in hurried, joyous fashion what he had promised, and what she thought of buying for Grace with her $50, concluding with the query, "What will you do with your fifty, Ned?"
"I do not know. I cannot go to the stores to find anything," he sighed disconsolately.
"But you can trust mamma and the rest of us to select something for you," suggested his father in tender tones.
"Oh, I guess that will do," responded Ned more cheerfully; "and be sure that I want it to be something handsome, if it costs every cent of the $50."
So that matter was settled, and the next morning the captain, Violet and Elsie drove into the city, visited the best jewelry store, and selected a beautiful ring and bracelet. Elsie was so charmed with them that she seemed hardly able to think of anything else on the homeward drive.
"I hope Ned will be pleased with the bracelet," she said; "but if he would rather have the ring for his gift to Gracie, he may, and I will give the bracelet."
"That is right, daughter," said the captain. "I think they are both beautiful, and they cost very nearly the same."
They found Ned awake and full of eager expectation. He heard the carriage wheels on the driveway, and cried out, "There they are, grandma, and oh, how I wish I could run out to the veranda to meet them!"
"Never mind about that, sonny boy; they will be in here directly," was the kind response, and the next minute Elsie came running in, holding up two little parcels.
"We have bought them, Ned," she cried. "They are just lovely, and you may open the packages and take your choice which to have for your gift to Sister Grace," and she put them in his hands as she spoke.
He looked delighted, hastily tore open the larger package, and cried out, "Oh, I will take this for mine. It is the prettiest bracelet I ever saw!"
"But the ring is every bit as beautiful," said Elsie, "and I do not care in the least which you give and which will be my present to Gracie."
"And since you do not care in the least, it won't matter who gives which," laughed their mother.
"And that makes it easy for you both," said the captain, drawing up a chair to the side of the couch for his wife, then seating himself by her side.
"What do you think of them, mother?" turning to Grandma Elsie.
"That they are both beautiful," she replied. "Grace is sure to be greatly pleased with them. Ah, here she comes!" as the young girl came tripping in, followed by Harold.
"Oh, Gracie, here are our wedding gifts to you – Elsie's and mine. Come look at them," cried Ned, raising himself to a sitting posture in his excitement.
"Oh, they are lovely, lovely!" she responded, taking them from his hands, turning them about in hers and gazing upon them delightedly. "But," she added in a regretful tone, "I am afraid you have both spent far too much on me."
"Not at all, daughter; they were bought with both your mamma's and my full approval," said the captain. "What do you think of them, Harold?" as he, too, seemed to be giving the trinkets a critical examination.
"I entirely agree in the opinion Grace has just expressed," he replied. "They are quite worthy of the admiration of us all. Must have cost a pretty penny, I should say."
"But not too much for gifts to our dear sister Grace," said Elsie.
"No, no; I quite agree with you in that opinion," replied Harold, with a smile and a look of ardent love and admiration at the sweet face of his betrothed.
"Put them on, Gracie, and let us see how they will look on your pretty hand and arm," pleaded Ned, and she complied.
"Ah, they fit nicely," she said with a pleased little laugh; then took them off and replaced them in their boxes, adding, "but are too handsome and costly to wear just now. They should be shown first along with the other Christmas and wedding gifts."
"Such a long time to wait," sighed Ned disconsolately.
"Not so very, Neddie boy," returned Grandma Elsie in a cheery tone; "this is Friday, and Christmas comes next week on Wednesday."
"Oh, I am glad it is so near! But, oh, dear," he added with a sigh, "it won't be so delightful as it has been other years, because I cannot go out of doors and run and play as I have on other Christmas days."
"No; but do not fret, my little son; you shall have a good time in the house," said his father.
"Oh, yes, papa, and will we have a Christmas tree? I am not too old for that, am I?"
"No, not at all; and I doubt if you ever will be," returned his father, smoothing his hair and smiling down into his face.
"Oh, Sister Grace, will your dresses