n
of her faults, serious as they may seem to you."

"Yes, mamma, there are some things about her that are very lovable, and
I really have a strong affection for her, even aside from the fact that
she is his child; yet when she behaves in a way that distresses him I
can hardly help wishing that she belonged to some one else.

"You surely must have noticed how badly she behaved for two or three
days. He never spoke to me about it, tried not to let me see that it
interfered with his enjoyment (for he knew that that would spoil mine),
but for all that I knew his heart was often heavy over her misconduct.

"Yet she certainly does love her father. How she clung to him after she
had heard that he must leave us so soon, with a remorseful affection, it
seemed to me."

"Yes, and though she shed but few tears in parting from him, I could see
that she was almost heart-broken. She is a strange child, but if she
takes the right turn, will assuredly make a noble, useful woman."

"I hope so, mamma; and that will, I know, repay him for all his care and
anxiety on her account. No father could be fonder of his children or
more willing to do or endure anything for their sake. Of course I do not
mean anything wrong; he would not do wrong himself or suffer wrong-doing
in them; for his greatest desire is to see them truly good, real
Christians. I hope my darling, as she grows older, will be altogether a
comfort and blessing to him."

"As her mother has been to me, and always was to her father," Elsie
responded in loving tones.

"Thank you, mamma," Violet said with emotion; "oh, if I had been an
undutiful daughter and given pain and anxiety to my best of fathers, how
my heart would ache at the remembrance, now that he is gone. And I feel
deep pity for Lulu when I think what sorrow she is preparing for herself
in case she outlives her father, as in the course of nature she is
likely to do."

"Yes, poor child!" sighed Elsie; "and doubtless she is even now enduring
the reproaches of conscience aggravated by the fear that she may not see
her father very soon again.

"She and Gracie, to say nothing of my dear Vi, will be feeling lonely
to-morrow, and Edward, Zoe, and I have planned various little
excursions, by land and water, to give occupation to your thoughts and
pleasantly while away the time."

"You are always so kind, dearest mamma," said Violet; "always thinking
of others and planning for their enjoyment."

"Oh, how lonely it d