er
clung with the most ardent affection?

CHAPTER XIV.

"Nor less was she in heart affected,
But that she masked it with modesty,
For fear she should of lightness be detected."
--_Spenser's "Fairy Queen."_

Violet had lingered at the Laurels, with her Aunt Rose, for some hours
after her mother returned to Ion with the children, and in the meanwhile
there had been a long talk between Mrs. Travilla and Capt. Raymond, in
which he had pleaded his cause with all the eloquence an ardent passion
could inspire.

Elsie's answer was, "If you have won my daughter's heart, her hand shall
not be refused you. But she is yet too young for the grave
responsibilities of married life. Nor can I reconcile myself to the
thought of parting with her so soon; therefore I should greatly prefer to
have the matter dropped, at least for the present."

The captain repeated what he had said to Mr. Dinsmore in regard to his
willingness to leave Violet with her mother if only he might have her for
his wife.

"That would be very pleasant," Elsie said her eyes shining; "and so far
you have the decided advantage of a suitor who would carry her away from
us; but, Captain, you are a father, and the woman whom you marry should be
not only a wife to you, but also a mother to your children; but for that
care and responsibility my little Vi is, I fear, far too young. Indeed, my
mother heart can ill brook the thought of her being so burdened in the
very morning of her life."

"Nor should I be willing to burden her, my dear Mrs. Travilla," he said
with feeling; "she should never bear the lightest burden that I could save
her from. But, my dear madam, would my children be any better off if I
should remain single? I think not, and I also think that should I marry
another while my heart is your daughter's, I should be doing very wrong.
But I cannot; if I fail to win her I shall remain as I am to the end of my
days."

"I trust not," she said; "you may get over this and meet with some one
else with whom you can be very happy."

He shook his head very decidedly. "I feel that that is impossible. But how
was it in your own case, Mrs. Travilla? Mrs. Dinsmore is, I understand,
but a few years older than yourself."

"That is quite true, sir; and I know papa never let her take any
responsibility in regard to me, but taught, trained, and cared for me in
all respects himself; he was father and mother both to me," she sa