His father was very much interested, and very sorry to have caused any anxiety. He put a whole shilling into the 'till,' which more than put Leo's accounts straight. And the next day he did something still nicer. He brought Leo home the neatest little letter-weigher you ever saw, and told him to add a new rule, to say that letters should be weighed at a charge of a farthing each, in case anyone was in doubt how many stamps to put on. And he also gave Leo a present of a packet of big envelopes of different sizes, which he told him he might sell for a halfpenny each, as they were thick and strong. So Leo's business is flourishing and increasing very much, and he has even thoughts of adding luggage labels and registered-letter envelopes to his stock in trade. And since the night that mamma watched for the burglars, not a single stamp or postcard or anything has ever been missing. [Illustration] [Illustration: DENIS IS FRIGHTENED. Page 121.] BRAVE LITTLE DENIS. The brave man is not he who feels no fear, For that were stupid and irrational; But he whose noble soul its fear subdues, And bravely dares the danger nature shrinks from. JOANNA BAILLIE. CHAPTER I.--WHAT IS 'BRAVE?' The news had come up to the nursery, and there was great excitement and rejoicing. Linda and Nettie chattered so fast, and had so many questions to ask, that the 'big' boys, Alex and Lambert, when they came in to tea could not at first find out what it was all about, or get anyone to explain. And when at last baby--Miss Baby, who was two years old and quite understood that, when nurse wanted to speak, it was not the time to pull her shoes off and complain that 'hers toes was told'--condescended to be quiet and let poor nurse answer, the noise did not grow any less, I can assure you. 'Going to Baronscourt for Christmas. Hurrah!' shouted Alex. 'Three cheers for Granny, Lambert,' which Lambert was only too ready to join in. 'Do you think Granny will make us a Christmas-tree, nurse?' asked Nettie. 'She _should_,' said Linda, 'because of missing last year, you know.' 'Me kismas-tee, too,' said Baby. 'Silly little girl, everybody can't have a Christmas-tree for themselves,' said Linda; at which snub Baby began her preparations for a scream, which was only averted by Alex good-naturedly picking up his little sister and instructing her to give three cheers for Granny. 'Now join too, Denis,' said Linda. 'Why don't you cheer too?' Denis raised his grave little face. 'I want to finish this story,' he said, dropping his eyes again on the book in his hands. 'What a fancy he's taken for reading, all of a sudden,' said Linda in a lower voice to nurse. 'I don't believe he understands it. He reads awfully slowly when he's at his lessons.'