ent
to sleep last night thinking of all you had been saying to me and feeling
so glad of your dear love and that you want to keep me all your own for
ever so long." Then she added, with an arch look up into his face, "Don't
you think, papa, it will be best for you to have me under eye all the
time wherever we go?"

"I am not afraid to trust you, my darling," he answered with a smile, "but
of course I want you near me that I may take the very best care of you
always and all the time."

"Well, then, I'll get and keep just as close to you as I can," she
answered with a merry look and smile. "But, papa----"

"Well, daughter, what is it?" he asked, as she paused and hesitated, as if
fearful that he might be displeased with what she was about to say.

"I was just thinking,--please don't be vexed with me,--but wasn't Mamma Vi
only nineteen when you married her?"

"Yes," he said, with a slight smile, "but circumstances alter cases, and I
have changed my views somewhat since then."

"Yes," she said, reflectively; "she had no father, and it was you she
married, you who know so well how to take care of both her and your
daughters."

At that her father merely smiled again and patted her cheek, saying. "I am
glad you are so well content with my guardianship."

He did not think it necessary to tell her of a talk with Violet the night
before, in which he had expressed his determination to keep his daughters
single for some years to come,--certainly not less than five or six,--and
his fear that Chester and one or two others had already begun to perceive
their charms, and might succeed all too soon in winning their affections;
in reply to which Violet had, with a very mirthful look, reminded him how
young she herself was at the time of their marriage, and that he did not
seem to think it at all necessary to wait for her to grow older.

In answer to that he had laughingly insisted that she was far more mature
than his daughters bid fair to be at the same age; adding that besides he
certainly ought to have gained something in wisdom in the years which had
passed since their marriage.

"Ah," said Violet giving him a look of ardent affection, "after all I am
glad you had not attained to all that wisdom some years earlier, my dear
husband, for my life with you has been such a happy, happy one. Your dear
love is my greatest earthly treasure, our little son and daughter scarcely
less a joy of heart to me."

"To me also," he said,