“My dear little daughter,” he said when he came to bid her good-night in her room, “your willingness to stay at home and attend to lessons instead of going to the city to help Marian with her shopping pleases me very much, because it shows that you have confidence in your father’s wisdom and his love for you.”
He smoothed her hair caressingly and kissed her as he spoke.
“Thank you for telling me that, you dear papa,” she returned, her eyes shining. “I know you love me, and that your requirements are always meant for my good; also that you are very wise and know what is best for your own little girl. Oh, I’m so glad I am your very own!” she added, hugging him with all her strength.
“Not gladder than I am to own you, my darling,” he said, repeating his caress. “I should like to give you the pleasure of going were it not that I feel that you have had already more interruptions to your studies than ought really to have been allowed.”
“Yes, papa, I believe I have,” she returned, “and as I do want to be as well educated as possible, so that I may be very useful if God spares my life, I really do not want you to indulge me more in play-times and holidays than you think best.”
CHAPTER XIV.
The next day was the Sabbath, and spent as that holy day usually was by our friends at Ion, Woodburn, and by their near kindred on the neighboring estates. To Zoe, rejoicing in her new hope—the blessed hope that she was indeed a child of God and an heir of glory—it was a sweetly solemn and happy day, and to her young husband almost equally so. They attended church in company with the other members of the family and received many kindly greetings and inquiries in regard to the narrow escape of Thursday night.