"It certainly is," assented Lu. "Just listen to the hail and rain dashing against the windows. And there comes papa now," she added, as a tap was heard at their sitting-room door. She ran to open it and receive the fatherly caress that always accompanied his morning greeting to each one of his children. "Grace is not up yet?" he said inquiringly, as he took possession of an easy-chair. "Yes, papa, but not dressed yet; so that I shall have you to myself for a while," returned Lu in a cheery tone and seating herself on an ottoman at his knee. "A great privilege that," he said with a smile, passing a hand caressingly over her hair as he spoke. "It is storming hard, so that you and I must do without our usual early exercise about the grounds." "Yes, sir; and I am sorry to miss it, though a chat with my father here and now is not so bad an exchange." "I think we usually have that along with the walk," he said, smiling down into the eyes that were gazing so lovingly up into his. "Yes, sir, so we do; and you always manage to make the shut-in days very enjoyable." "It is what I wish to do. Lessons can go on as usual with you and Grace as well as with the younger ones, and after that we can have reading, music, and quiet games." "And Grace and I have some pretty fancy work to do for Christmas time." "Ah, yes! and I presume you will both be glad to have a little--or a good deal--of extra money with which to purchase gifts or materials for making them." "If you feel quite able to spare it, father," she returned with a pleased smile; "but not if it will make you feel in the least cramped for what you want to spend yourself." "I can easily spare you each a hundred dollars," he said in a cheery tone. "Will that be enough, do you think?" "Oh, I shall feel rich!" she exclaimed. "How very good, kind, and liberal you are to us and all your children, papa." "And fortunate in being able to be liberal to my dear ones. There is no greater pleasure than that of gratifying them in all right and reasonable desires. I think that as soon as the weather is suitable for a visit to the city we will take a trip there for a day's shopping. Have you and Grace decided upon any particular articles that you would like to give?" "We have been doing some bits of fancy work, father, and making up some warm clothing for the old folks and children among our poor neighbors--both white and colored; also a few things for our house servants. And to let you into a secret," she added with a smile and a blush, "I am embroidering some handkerchiefs for Chester." "Ah, that is right!" he said. "Chester will value a bit of your handiwork more than anything else that you could bestow upon him." "Except perhaps the hand itself," she returned with a low, gleeful laugh.