"Thank you," he said heartily, his face brightening very much; "if it would not be overtaxing you, I should be very glad indeed to do some shopping by proxy; glad to have the benefit of your and Mrs. Travilla's taste and judgment in the selection of some Christmas presents for my children. It will be all I can do for them this year. I had thought of sending money for the purpose, to the persons in charge of them, but it would be far more satisfactory to me to have some share in the choice of the articles." Both ladies assured him that it would give them pleasure to do whatever they could to assist him in making the desired purchases, and Mr. Dinsmore suggested that a variety of goods might be sent out from the city stores for him to select from. He said that was a good idea, but he would leave it to the ladies to have that done, or to choose for him a book for each of his children, a doll for each girl, and writing-desks, fully furnished, for Max and Lulu. "I think," he added with a smile, "whatever I may give will seem to them more valuable if sent from this distance than if bought near at hand." "Yes," Mrs. Dinsmore said, "that is human nature." The shoppers set out the next morning soon after breakfast, expecting to return about the usual dinner-hour. Watching the departure from the window near which he was seated, the captain observed with pleasure that Violet was not of the party, hoping that if left behind, she would give him the enjoyment of her society during the absence of the others. Presently she came in, bringing some needlework; Rosie and Walter with her. The captain closed the book he had been reading and turned toward them with a pleased smile. "So I am not to be left to solitude, as I feared," he remarked. "You must please send us away, sir, whenever you think that preferable to our company," returned Violet lightly. "Do you deem me capable of such rudeness, Miss Travilla?" he asked with playful look and tone. "We will not consider it such," she answered, seating herself and beginning her work, "since we can wander at will all over the house, while, for the present, you, sir, are a prisoner confined to this room and the next." "That reminds me," he said, "that of late you have absented yourself a great deal from this room; to my no small discontent." "It is flattering to my vanity and self-appreciation to learn that you have missed me," she returned sportively, but with a slightly heightened color. "You can never be away from the rest of us without being missed, Vi," remarked Rosie; "especially now that Sister Elsie is away." "And do you not mean to gratify my curiosity as to what has been the cause of your many and prolonged absences, Miss Violet?" queried the captain. "I have been busy elsewhere, sir. But is it not an understood thing that curiosity is a peculiarly feminine trait?"