He put it about her shoulders while Harold lifted away that box and, pointing to the address on the next, asked Lucilla if he should open that for her. "Yes, indeed! if you please," she answered, her eyes shining with pleasure. He did so at once, bringing to light a very handsome sealskin coat. "Oh, how lovely! how lovely!" she exclaimed, examining it critically. "Papa, thank you ever so much!" "You are heartily welcome, daughters, both of you," he said; for Grace too was pouring out her thanks, her lovely blue eyes sparkling with delight. And now Violet's box yielded up its treasure--a mate to Lu's--and she joined the young girls in their thanks to the giver and expressions of appreciation of the gift. "Here, Lu, I see this bears your name," said Harold, taking a small package from the tree and handing it to her. She took it, opened it, and held up to view a beautiful gold chain and locket. As she opened the latter, "From Chester," she said with a blush and a smile, "and oh, what a good likeness!" "His own?" asked Violet. "Ah, yes! and a most excellent one," she added, as Lucilla held it out for her inspection. All, as they crowded around to look, expressed the same opinion. "Oh, here's another big bundle!" exclaimed Ned; "and with your name, mamma, on it! And it's from grandma. See!" pointing to the label. "Let me open it for you, my dear," said the captain, and doing so brought to light a tablecloth and dozen napkins of finest damask, with Violet's initials beautifully embroidered in the corner of each. "Oh, they are lovely!" she said with a look of delight, "and worth twice as much for having such specimens of mamma's work upon them. I know of nothing she could have given me which I would have prized more highly." There was still more--a great deal more fruit upon that wonderful tree; various games, books, and toys for the children of the family and the servants; suitable gifts for the parents of the latter, useful and handsome articles for Christine and Alma, and small remembrances for different members of the family from relatives and friends. Chester joined them before the distribution was quite over and was highly pleased with his share, especially the handkerchiefs embroidered by the deft fingers of his betrothed. The captain too seemed greatly pleased with his as well as with various other gifts from his wife, children, and friends. The distribution over, Violet's brothers hastened to Ion to go through a similar scene there. And much the same thing was in progress at the home of each of the other families of the connection. Grandma Elsie's gift to each daughter, including Zoe, was similar to that given to Violet, tablecloth and napkins of the finest damask, embroidered by her own hands with the initials of the recipient--a most acceptable present to each.