ntleness; but shaken as he was, he was too much gratified to permit
the reproof, smiled, and held up a bunch of grapes to invite the little
maid back. But this was an offence; she put her hands behind her, and,
with a dignified gesture, announced, 'I do not give kisses for grapes. I
did it because Johnnie will not let me alone, and said I was unkind.'

'Theodora all over!' said her father, much entertained. It was a
great step that he had discovered that the children could afford him
diversion, especially now, when nothing else could have served to wile
away the tedious hours. He could bear no reading aloud from any one but
Johnnie, whom he would not refuse; and to whom he listened with pride
in a performance he fancied wonderful, while the little books cost
no effort of attention, and yet their simple lessons floated on his
thoughts, and perchance sank into his heart. Or when he lay panting and
wearied out with oppression, the babe's movements would attract his
eye, and the prattlings of the little girls at their mamma's side would
excite a languid curiosity that drew him out of himself. Sometimes that
childish talk left food for thought. One day when the children had
been sent into the next room to share some fruit from the plate by his
bed-side, Helen's voice was overheard saying, 'I wish papa would never
get well!'

'Helen! Helen, how can you?' pleaded her brother's shocked voice.

'He is so much more good-natured when he is ill,' was Helen's defence.
'I like him now; I don't like him at all when he is well, because then
he is always cross. Don't you think so, Johnnie?'

'That is not kind of you when he lies there, and it hurts him so sadly
to breathe. You should wish him to be well, Helen.'

'If he would be kind to me.'

'O, you don't know what it feels like to be ill,' said Johnnie. 'I do
want to see him strong and able to ride, and go out to his soldiers
again. I hope he will be kind still, and not go away and make mamma
unhappy--'

'If he would ever lead me by the hand, like the little girl's papa at
the house with the parrot, I should like that sort of papa, if he was
not a little thin short ugly man. Should not you, Johnnie?'

'No! I never shall like anything so well as my own papa. I do love him
with my whole, whole heart! I am so glad he will let us love him now!
It seems to come over me in the morning, and make me so glad when I
remember it.'

Violet had been on the point of stopping this conversa