a more lovable one than she is when her temper does
not get the better of her; and, as Gracie says, whenever it does, 'she
gets sorry very soon.'"

"My darling," he said, pressing the hand he held, "you are most kind to
be so ready to see what is commendable in my wayward child. I cannot
reasonably expect even you to look at her with her father's partial
eyes. And dearly as I certainly do love her, I have been exceedingly
angry with her to-day; so angry, that, for a time, I dared not trust
myself to go near her, I, who ought to have unlimited patience with her,
knowing, as I do, that she inherits her temper from me."

"I don't know how to believe that, my dear, good husband," Violet said,
gazing up into his face with fond, admiring eyes; "for I have never seen
any evidence of it. If you have such a temper, you have certainly gained
complete mastery of it. And that may well give us hope for Lulu."

"I do not despair of her," he said; "though I was near doing so
to-day--for a time--after hearing a full account of her passionate
behavior--her savage assault, as it seemed to be, upon her baby sister."

"Oh!" moaned Violet, bending over the little one with fast-falling
tears,--for it was moaning as if in pain,--"my baby, my poor, precious
baby! how gladly mamma would bear all your suffering for you, if she
could! O Levis! what shall we do if she is taken from us?"

"Dear wife, I hope we may not be called to endure that trial," he said;
"but, in any case, we have the gracious promise, 'As thy days, so shall
thy strength be.' And that blessed assurance, for our consolation, in
regard to her, 'He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them
in his bosom.'"

"'Tis a very sweet promise; but, oh! I don't know how to resign her,
even to Him," she said, weeping bitterly.

"Nor I; but we will try to leave it all with Him. We will rejoice if she
is spared to us; and, if not, we will be glad to know that she is so
safe, so happy with Him--gathered with His arm, carried in His bosom."

"Yes, yes," she sobbed: "it would be only for ourselves we would need to
grieve, not for her, sweet pet."

Elsie, Violet's mother, came into the room at that moment.

"My dear Vi," she said tenderly, "you are looking sadly worn and weary.
I want you and the captain to take your rest to-night, while Arthur and
I will care for baby."

"Thank you, dearest mamma," Violet replied; "but rest and sleep are
quite as necessary to you as to me; a