“Thank you, my dear,” he said, his eyes shining with pleasure.
Then catching a beseeching look from Lulu, he bent down and kissed her, saying, “All is right between us now, daughter.”
But Lulu’s conscience was not quite at ease; Violet’s words had called up some memories that troubled it, and her innate honesty and truthfulness prompted another confession.
“Papa,” she said, bursting into tears, “Mamma Vi is kinder than I deserve. I have been very naughty to her a number of times, when you were away and didn’t know any thing about it; so ill-tempered and disrespectful that you would have punished me severely if you had been at home to see and hear it all.”
“But that is all past and there is no occasion to bring it up again,” Violet hastened to say.
“Yet I am glad she has made the confession,” the captain said gravely, and with a slight sigh, sitting down as he spoke, and drawing Lulu into his arms, “for it is a proof of honesty and truthfulness that gives me great hope that my dear, eldest daughter will yet make a noble woman, the pride and joy of her father’s heart.”
“Dear papa, how kind in you to say that,” sobbed Lulu, hiding her face on his breast. “Oh, I will try to be every thing you wish.”
CHAPTER XVI.
It wanted barely two weeks of Lulu’s birthday when by her misconduct she lost sight of her pony for a time.
Of course Max and Grace inquired for what reason she had been sent away, and it was a mortification to Lulu to have to own that papa had ordered it as a punishment to her for disobedience.