But in rebelling against the authority of that earthly parent she had broken God’s command, “Honor thy father and thy mother,” and the light of his countenance was withdrawn from her.
The captain sat reading alone in the library on Friday evening, the rest of the family having retired to their rooms for the night. A slight sound caused him to look up from his book to find, much to his surprise, Lulu standing by his side and wearing a very troubled countenance.
“What is it?” he asked. “You bade me good-night some time ago, and I thought had gone to bed. Are you not well, my child?”
“Yes, papa; but—papa, if Eva was troubled in her mind, and came to you for help, wouldn’t you listen to her and tell her what to do?” she asked, low and hesitatingly, her head drooping, her eyes on the carpet.
“Certainly; I should be very glad to do anything in my power to relieve her, and if instead of Eva, it were one of my own children, I surely should not be less ready to help and comfort. Tell me freely what it is that troubles you.”
As he spoke he laid aside his book and took one of the small hands in his, holding it in a tender, loving clasp.
Lulu’s tears began to fall. “Papa,” she sobbed, “when I behaved so rebelliously toward you, I sinned against God, and I am afraid he is angry with me. O papa, what shall I do?”
“Go at once and ask his forgiveness, daughter; ask in the name of Jesus, and for his sake.
“‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.’
“‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’”