“Are you, papa’s sweet pet?” returned the captain, bending down to take her in his arms with a tender caress.
Then he kissed his wife and the lovely babe crowing in her arms and reaching out his chubby ones to be taken by his father, evidently as much rejoiced as Elsie at his return.
“In a moment, Ned,” laughed the captain, stooping to give a hug and kiss to Gracie waiting at his side; then taking possession of an easy-chair, with a pleasant “Thank you, my dears,” to Max and Lulu, who had hastened to draw it forward for him, he took a baby on each knee, while the three older children clustered about him, and Violet, sitting near, watched with laughing eyes the merry scene that followed.
“Gracie and Elsie may search papa’s pockets now and see what they can find,” said the captain.
Promptly and with eager delight they availed themselves of the permission.
Grace drew forth a small, gilt-edged, handsomely bound volume.
“That is for your mamma,” her father said; “you may hand it to her; and perhaps, if you look farther, you may find something for yourself.”
Violet received the gift with a pleased smile and a hearty “Thank you, Gracie. Thank you, my dear. I shall be sure to prize it for the sake of the giver, whatever the contents may be.”
But the words were half drowned in Elsie’s shouts of delight over a pretty toy and a box of bon-bons.
“Hand the candy round, pet; to mamma first,” her father said.