w him cross the street and come into the room where
they were. With a cry of joy they threw themselves into his arms, and he
clasped both together to his heart, caressing them over and over again,
Violet looking on with eyes brimful of sympathetic tears.

The next moment the captain remembered her, and releasing the children,
introduced her. "This, my darlings, is the sweet lady whose picture I sent
you the other day, I am sure you will love her for papa's sake and her own
too."

"Will you not, dears?" Vi said, kissing them in turn. "I love you already
because you are his."

"I think I shall," Lulu said emphatically, after one long, searching look
into the sweet azure eyes; then turned to her father again.

But Gracie, putting both arms round Violet's neck, held up her face for
another kiss, saying in joyous tones, "Oh, I do love you now! my sweet,
pretty new mamma!"

"You darling!" responded Violet, holding her close. "I've wanted to have
you and nurse you well again ever since I heard how weak and sick you
were."

The words, reaching the ear of Mrs. Scrimp, as she hovered in the
background, brought a scowl to her brow. "As if she--an ignorant young
thing--could do better for the child than I!" she said to herself.

"Ah, Mrs. Scrimp!" the captain said, suddenly becoming aware of her
presence, and turning toward her with outstretched hand, "how d'ye do?
Allow me to introduce you to Mrs. Raymond." Violet offered her hand and
was given two fingers, while a pair of sharp black eyes looked coldly and
fixedly into hers.

Violet dropped the fingers, seated herself, and drew Gracie into her lap.

"Am I not too heavy for you to hold?" the child asked, nestling
contentedly in the arms that held her.

"Heavy!" exclaimed Violet, tears starting to her eyes as they rested upon
the little thin, pale face. "You are extremely light, you poor darling!
but I hope soon to see you grow fat and rosy in the sea air your papa will
take you to."

The captain had just left the room in search of Mr. Fox, taking Max with
him.

"You will have to be very careful not to overfeed that child, or you will
have her down sick," remarked Mrs. Scrimp with asperity, addressing
Violet. "She ought never to eat anything at all after three o'clock in the
afternoon."

Vi's heart swelled with indignation. "No wonder she is little more than
skin and bone, if that is the way she has been served!" she said, giving
Mrs. Scrimp as severe a look as her