the hand warmly, dropped
it, and, without a word, hurried into the nursery.

He found nearly the whole family gathered there, every face full of a
great gladness.

The doctor, however, following him in, speedily cleared the room of all
but two or three: only the two Elsies, besides himself and the parents,
were left.

Violet looked up at her husband as he entered, with a face so bright and
joyous that it recalled the days of their honeymoon.

"Oh, how happy I am! how good God has been to us!" she whispered, as he
bent down to kiss her: "our darling is spared to us! See how sweetly she
is sleeping!"

"Yes," he returned, in the same low tone, his features working with
emotion: "and what double reason for joy and gratitude have I--the
father of both the injurer and the injured!"

"Forgive me that I have felt a little hard to Lulu. I can and do forgive
her now," she said, her sweet eyes looking penitently into his.

"Darling," he returned with emotion, "I have nothing to forgive, but
shall be very glad if you can find any love in your heart, after this,
for my wayward child, little as she merits it."

Then, without waiting for a reply, he turned to Mrs. Leland with a
brotherly greeting, not having seen her before since his arrival at Ion.

"Vi has told me the glad tidings you brought her yesterday," she said,
as he held her hand in his; "and I can't tell you how delighted we all
are to know that you have come to stay among us."

"And now I can rejoice in that to the full, my dear, dear husband,"
Violet said, dropping her head on his shoulder as he sat down by her
side, and put his arm about her.

For a little while they all sat silently watching the sleeping babe;
then Arthur glanced at the clock, and, with a low-toned promise to be
back in an hour, rose, and left the room.

"Excuse me for a little, dear," the captain said to Violet, and softly
followed Arthur out to the hall.

"Can you spare me a moment?" he asked.

"Yes, full five of them, if necessary," was the jovial reply.

Arthur's heart was so light in consequence of the improvement in his
young patient, that a jest came readily to his lips.

"Thank you," returned the captain warmly, then went on to describe
Lulu's condition, and ask what should be done for her.

"Relieve her mind as speedily as possible with the good news of the
certainty of the baby's recovery, and, if you choose, the other glad
tidings you brought us yesterday," Arthur answer