she asked, as they quickened
their footsteps, taking the direction toward the house.

"If you have time, and wish to do so, daughter."

"Yes, sir; I have hardly anything to do till it is time for the drive to
Ion."

"Unless you should find a letter, or more than one, of your own, calling
for a reply," he returned, smiling down into her bright, animated face.

"That is not very likely, considering how few correspondents I have,"
she laughed.

They reached the veranda from one direction as the servant entered it
from another, and the captain, taking the mail bag from him, walked on
into the library, Lucilla following. He emptied the contents of the bag
upon the table, and going rapidly over them, said: "Several letters for
our guests" (laying them aside as he spoke), "one for your mamma; none
for any of my children, and only two business letters for me. Well,
daughter," glancing at the clock on the mantel, "you may sit down to
your typewriter and answer these at my dictation; as I see there will be
time to do so before the ringing of the breakfast bell. Ah, good-morning,
Keith!" as at that moment that gentleman entered the room. "Here are
letters which I was just about to send up to you."

"Thank you," said Keith, taking them from his host's outstretched hand.
"I am glad to have saved you the trouble. I hope you and Miss Lucilla
are both quite well?" giving her a bow and smile as he spoke.

"Entirely, thank you, and have just come in from our usual early stroll
together about the grounds. I hope you rested well. Take that easy-chair
and don't let our presence interfere with your enjoyment of your
letters."

Keith declined that invitation, saying he felt a strong inclination for
a breath of the sweet morning air before the summons to the breakfast
table should come; so would read his letters upon the veranda, and, with
them in his hand, passed out of the room.

"I strongly suspect that was from a polite disinclination to hinder us
in our work, papa," remarked Lucilla in a sprightly tone, as her father
uncovered the machine and made all things ready for her work.

"Quite likely," he responded, "for I never met anyone more truly polite
and thoughtful for others. He is a Christian man and acts from Christian
principles in all that he does."

"As his friend, my father, does," she said with a look of filial
reverence up into his face as he stood by her side.

"And as I trust my daughter does and will ever do," he