began to be filled with curiosity not unmingled with apprehension,
but was too proud to question the girl.

All through the afternoon and evening her thoughts dwelt much upon what
her father had said to her, and the words and tender tones of his prayer
rang in her ears and melted her heart. Beside she had become thoroughly
convinced that what he had said he would do, so that there was no hope of
release until won by obedience.

She was disappointed that he did not come with her supper nor afterward,
for she had almost resolved to submit. She cried herself to sleep that
night, feeling such a love for her father as she had never known before,
and an intense longing for his kiss of forgiveness.

She became not willing only, but eager to do his bidding that she might
receive it.

In the morning she dressed herself with neatness and care and impatiently
awaited his coming. She was sure it must be long past the usual hour when
at last the door opened and Violet came in with the waiter of bread and
milk.

She set it down and turned to the little girl, who stood gazing at her in
silent surprise.

"Lulu, dear, your father is very ill," she said in tones quivering with
emotion, and then the child noticed that there were traces of tears about
her eyes and on her cheeks, "He was in terrible pain all night, and is
very little better this morning," she went on. "O Lulu, I had a dear, dear
father once, and he was taken ill very much as yours has been and--in a
few days. Oh, how I loved him! and while he lived I thought I was a good
daughter to him, for I don't remember ever being wilfully disobedient, but
after he was gone my heart reproached me with having neglected
opportunities to give him pleasure, and not having always obeyed quite so
promptly and cheerfully as I might, and I would have given worlds to go
back and be and do all I ought."

She ended with a burst of tears, covering her face with her hands and
sobbing, "O papa, papa! O my husband, my dear, dear husband!"

"O Mamma Vi! I will ask your pardon--I do! won't you please forgive me for
being so very, very naughty and impertinent? when you have been so good
and kind to me too," sobbed Lulu, dropping on her knees at Violet's feet.

"I do with all my heart," Violet said, lifting her up and kissing her.
"And shall we not always love each other for your dear father's sake?"

"Oh, yes, yes, indeed! I do love you! I don't know what made me be so
wicked and stubborn. M