Elsie Yachting with the Raymonds. Finley Martha

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СКАЧАТЬ thank you, sir! Yes, indeed, I will," she said, hastily rising to her feet, and bidding good-night to Mr. Keith.

      "I too," said Max, following her example.

      "Good children," said their father; then noticing the longing look in Lulu's eyes, he excused himself to his friend, saying he would join him again presently, and went with them.

      "That is a beautiful, bright, engaging, little girl of yours, Raymond, – one that any father might be proud of," remarked Keith when the Captain had resumed the seat by his side.

      "She seems all that to me; but I have sometimes thought it might be the blindness of parental affection that makes the child so lovely and engaging in her father's eyes," returned the Captain, in tones that spoke much gratification.

      "I think, indeed I am sure, not," returned Keith. "About how old is she?"

      "Thirteen. Actually, she'll be a woman before I know it!" was the added exclamation in a tone of dismay. "I don't like the thought of losing my little girl even in that way."

      "Ah, you'll be likely to lose her in another before many years!" laughed his friend. "She'll make a lovely woman, Raymond!"

      "I think you are right," answered the father; "and I confess that the thought of another gaining the first place in her heart – which I know is mine now – is far from pleasant to me. Well, it cannot be for some years yet, and I shall try not to think of it. Perhaps she may never care to leave her father."

      "I don't believe she will if she is wise. You are a fortunate man, Raymond! Your son – the image of his father – is not less attractive than his sister, and evidently a remarkably intelligent lad. He will make his mark in the navy; and I dare say we shall have the pleasure of seeing him an admiral by the time we – you and I – are gray-headed, old veterans."

      "Perhaps so," returned the Captain, with a pleased smile; "but promotion is slow in the navy in these days of peace."

      "Quite true; and as true of the army as of the navy. But even that is to be preferred to war, – eh, Raymond?"

      "Most decidedly," was the emphatic reply.

      "You leave for home to-morrow evening, I think you said?" was Keith's next remark, made in an inquiring tone.

      "That is my plan at present," replied the Captain, "though I would stay a little longer rather than have the children disappointed in their hope of seeing everything about here that has any connection with the Revolution."

      "They seem to be ardent young patriots," said Keith. "It does one good to see their pride and delight in the flag. How their eyes shone at the sight of the rally round the colours."

      "Yes; and they feel an intense interest in everything that has any connection with the Revolutionary struggle. They get it in the blood; and it has been their father's earnest endeavour to cultivate in them an ardent love of country."

      "In which he has evidently been remarkably successful," returned Keith. "I am much mistaken if that boy does not do you great credit while in the Naval Academy, and, as I remarked a moment since, after fairly entering the service."

      "A kind and pleasant prediction, Keith," the Captain said, giving his friend a gratified look.

      "How many children have you, Raymond?" was the next question.

      "Only five," the Captain said, with a happy laugh, – "five treasures that should, it seems to me, make any man feel rich; also, a sweet, beautiful, young wife, who is to her husband worth far more than her weight in gold. 'Her price is above rubies.' And you, Keith, – you have not told me whether you have yet found your mate."

      "No, not yet. I sometimes think I never shall, but shall soon become a confirmed old bachelor," Keith replied. Then, after an instant's pause, "I wonder if Lulu's father would give her to me should I wait patiently till she is old enough to know her own mind in such matters, and then succeed in winning her heart?"

      "Ah, Keith, is that a serious thought or a mere idle jest?" queried the Captain, turning a surprised and not altogether pleased look upon his friend.

      "A sort of mixture of the two, I believe, Raymond," was the laughing reply; "but I haven't the least idea of putting any such mischief into your daughter's head, – at least, not at present. But if I ask your permission half a dozen years hence to pay my court to her, I hope it will not be refused."

      "Well, Keith," the Captain said, after a moment's silence, "I should be very loath to stand in the way of your happiness, – still more of that of my dear daughter; but the time is so far off that we need not discuss the question now. My little girl seems still the merest child, with no thought of the cares, pleasures, and duties of womanhood; and I wish to keep her so as long as I can. That is one reason why I rejoice in being able to educate her myself in our own home; and thus far the loves of the dear ones in it have seemed all-sufficient for her happiness. And I own to being particularly pleased with her oft-repeated assurance that she loves Papa better than she does any one else in all the wide world."

      "Ah, I do not wonder that she does, for her father is altogether worthy of all the love she can give him!" Keith said, with a half-sigh, thinking of the loneliness of his lot compared with that of the Captain.

      "Keith," the Captain said, after a moment's silence, "you tell me your furlough will not expire for some weeks yet. Can you not spend them with us at the sea-shore?"

      Donald demurred a little at first, saying he had made other plans; and besides, his going might interfere with his cousins' arrangements.

      "Not the slightest danger of that," the Captain averred; "and I am certain that one and all will be delighted to see you."

      "And I own to being fairly hungry for a sight of them," laughed Donald. "So, Raymond, your invitation is accepted, and on your own head be the consequences."

      "No objection to that; I'm delighted to have you on any terms, reasonable or otherwise," the Captain said, with his pleasant smile.

      Max and Lulu had an hour or more of good refreshing sleep before the two gentlemen separated for the night.

      Captain Raymond went very softly into Lulu's room, and stood for a moment by the bedside looking fondly down into the rosy, sleeping face, then, bending over her, kissed her tenderly on cheek and lip and brow.

      Her eyes opened wide and looked up into his, while a glad smile broke over her face.

      "You dear, good Papa, to come in and kiss me again!" she said, putting her arm round his neck and returning his caresses. "Oh, I do think I have just the very dearest, kindest, best father in the whole wide world!"

      "That's rather strong, isn't it?" he returned, laughing, but at the same time gathering her up in his arms for a moment's petting and fondling. Then, laying her down again, "I did not mean to wake you," he said; "and I want you now to go to sleep again as fast as you can, because, though to-morrow will, I hope, be a very enjoyable day to you and Max, it is probable you will find it quite fatiguing also."

      "Yes, sir; but I don't mean to think about it now, else I'd be wide awake presently, and maybe not sleep any more to-night," Lulu answered drowsily, her eyes closing while she spoke.

      He was turning away, when she roused sufficiently to ask another question. "Papa, will you please wake me when the time comes to get up?"

      "Yes, daughter," he replied. "Do not let the fear of not waking in СКАЧАТЬ