“Yes, my dears,” he went on, “I think you will find it quite enjoyable to have your little friends sharing your rooms for a while; but don’t allow yourselves to be so taken up with sport as to neglect your morning and evening devotions; never begin a new day, or lie down to sleep at night, without thanking your Heavenly Father for his goodness and mercy to you and yours, and asking to be kept from danger and from sin. Never be ashamed or afraid though the whole world should know that you do this. Jesus said, ‘Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in Heaven.’”
“Papa,” said Lulu, “I don’t think I’d hesitate to say my prayers before others, even if I expected they’d laugh at me. I mean if I could not go by myself to do it; but when we can find a private place where no one but God can see or hear us, oughtn’t we to choose it for the purpose?”
“Yes; Jesus said, ‘When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.’ You have a private place in that little tower room opening into Lulu’s bedroom, and there you and your guests can go by turns to pray in secret.”
Then he told them how Max had shown his moral courage while visiting at the Oaks.
“I’m proud of my brother!” exclaimed Lulu, when the tale was told, and her eyes shone as she spoke.
“I too,” said Grace. “I’m afraid I might not have been so brave. But Eva and Lora say prayers too; so we won’t have such a trial as Maxie had.”
At that moment there was a sound of wheels on the drive, and Lulu, running to the window, exclaimed in joyous tones, “It’s the Fairview carriage with Aunt Elsie Leland, little Ned and Eva in it. Oh I’m so glad they’ve come the very first!”
“We will go down and welcome them,” the captain said, taking Gracie’s hand. “Do you feel able to walk, daughter? or shall I carry you?”
“I’m a little tired, papa,” Grace answered, and he picked her up and carried her.
Meanwhile hasty, impetuous Lulu had flown to meet her friend, and as the captain appeared on the scene was embracing her with as much ardor and effusion as if they had been separated for months instead of only a day or two.