"Dear Lu," said Grace, "I am perfectly sure our dear father forgave all that long ago."
"Yes, but I can never forget or forgive it myself. Nor can I forget how glad and thankful he was that I was not the one killed by the bear out at Minersville, or his saving me that time when I was so nearly swept into Lake Erie by the wind; how closely he hugged me to his breast—a tear falling on my head—when he got me safely into the cabin, and the low-breathed words, 'Thank God, my darling, precious child is safe in my arms.' Oh, Gracie, I have seemed to hear the very words and tones many a time since. So I cannot doubt that he does love me very much; even if I am not so dear to him as his wife is."
"And you love mamma, too?"
"Yes, indeed! she is just like a dear older sister. I may well love her since she is so dear to papa, and was so kind and forbearing with me in those early years of her married life when I certainly was very far from being the good and lovable child I ought to have been. She was very forbearing, and never gave papa the slightest hint of my badness."
"She has always been very good and kind to us," said Grace, "and I love her very dearly."
"And papa showed his love for me in allowing Chester to offer himself because he had saved my life—for otherwise he would have forbidden it for at least another year or two."
"Yes, I know," said Grace. "We certainly have plenty of proofs that father does love us very much."
"But we must not delay at this business, as he bade us hasten down again," Lucilla said, quickening her movements as she spoke.
"No; I'm afraid he is beginning to wonder what is keeping us so long," said Grace, following her example.
They had no idea how their father was engaged at that moment. As he reached the lower hall Frank Dinsmore stepped forward and accosted him. "Can I have a moment's chat with you, captain?" he asked in an undertone, and with a slightly embarrassed air.