"Ah, he is a zealous little fellow, he wishes to save me trouble," observed Captain Vallery, and Fanny hoped that such was the motive which prompted Norman, though she wished he had shown greater pleasure at seeing their papa come back. Mrs Vallery at her husband's request now opened the parcel, which Norman notwithstanding his efforts had been unable to do. Among other articles which he had brought for her and Mrs Leslie, she drew out a long parcel carefully done up in silver paper. "This I think must be for Fanny," she said. Fanny, her countenance beaming with pleasure, carefully unwrapped the parcel, and exhibited a beautiful doll with a wax head and shoulders and wax hands looking exactly, she thought, as if they were real flesh. "Oh, thank you, papa, thank you," she exclaimed running up and kissing him. "Look granny! look mamma! see what a lovely little girl she is, with such fair soft hair and such blue bright eyes, she must surely be able to see out of them." Mrs Leslie and her mamma admired the doll, which was indeed a very handsome one, and very superior to poor Nancy. "There, Norman, you will not be ashamed to walk out with her, I am sure," she said. "But I hope Nancy will not think that she will make me forget her, for I should not like to hurt her feelings. What name shall we give her? for she would not like to be called `The New Doll,' shall it be Emma or Julia or Lucy? I think Lucy is a very pretty name--shall she be called Lucy, granny? Norman do you like that name? it sounds so soft and so nice for a young lady doll as she is." Norman had been eyeing the doll with no pleasant feelings; he did not like that his sister should receive a present when he thought that there was none for him. "You may call her Lucy, or whatever you fancy," he answered gruffly, "boys like me do not care for dolls." "He is a fine, manly, little fellow," observed Captain Vallery. "I have not forgotten you, though, Norman. Perhaps mamma will find something more to your taste in that large, round parcel," and Mrs Vallery drew out the package at which her husband pointed. "There, Norman, that is the sort of thing a boy likes," said the Captain, handing it to him. Norman snatched at it eagerly, and, with the assistance of his papa, tore off the paper, and found within an enormous football covered with leather, which he could just manage to grasp with his arms. "There, you will be able to play with that famously on the lawn," said Captain Vallery, "and I must come out and join you. I used to be very fond of football when I was at school, and we must have some fine games together."