“You’ll do as I want you to, then, papa?” said Maud, laying her hand with a coaxing gesture on her father’s arm.
“I suppose I shall have to,” said her father, smiling.
“That’s a good papa. I’ll kiss you now.”
“I will submit to the infliction with as good a grace as possible,” said Mr. Lindsay, with a comic look of resignation.
It will be perceived that the relations between Mr. Lindsay and his daughter were more cordial and affectionate than is sometimes the case. He had a warm, kindly nature, and the death of his wife had led him to centre all his love and all his hopes upon his daughter, who, we must acknowledge, was attractive and lovable enough to justify any father’s love and pride. Warm-hearted and impulsive, she won the affection of all who surrounded her, and had even made a considerable impression upon the not very susceptible heart of her strait-laced and prim governess, Miss Pendleton.
Though he had made a playful opposition to the request of his daughter, Mr. Lindsay was from the first favorably disposed towards granting it. He, too, had been pleased with the frank, manly bearing of Harry Raymond, and had been interested in the history of his life. He felt impelled to help him, as he could well afford to do, and to make up to him for the frowning of fortune by securing to him a more prosperous future.
Accordingly he sought Captain Scott immediately after his interview with Maud.
“I want to speak to you about this boy you have picked up, Captain Scott,” he commenced.
“I was just thinking about him myself. If I had anything for him to do, I would let him work his passage. As it is, I suppose I shall have to give it to him. But that won’t set him right entirely. He’ll land at Melbourne without a penny, with no means of reaching home.”