And Harold went on to give a detailed and perfectly correct account of what had taken place among the lads after retiring to their rooms for the night.
He had an intensely interested and deeply gratified listener.
When he had finished, his hand was taken in a cordial grasp, while the captain said with emotion, “A thousand thanks, Harold! You can never know until you are a father yourself, what joy you have brought to my heart. I have strong hope that my boy will grow up a brave, true Christian gentleman, neither afraid nor ashamed to stand up for the right against all odds.”
“I believe it, sir; he’s a fine fellow; I’m so proud of him myself that I regret the fact that there is no tie of blood between us.”
The next morning Lulu was hurrying through the duties of the toilet, saying to herself that she wanted a little talk with Gracie about the Peri’s present to papa, before he should come in to bid them good-morning, as was his custom, when she heard his voice in their sitting-room, which adjoined her bedroom.
Half glad, half sorry, he was there already, Lulu made all haste to finish her dressing, then softly opened the communicating door.
Her father was seated with Grace on his knee, his back toward herself, and before he was aware of her presence she had stolen up behind him and put her arms round his neck, her lips to his cheek, with a loving “Good-morning, my dear, dearest papa!”
“Ah, good-morning, my darling daughter,” he responded, drawing her round in front of him into his arms and returning the kiss. “How happy it makes me to see you looking so bright and well. Beautiful, too,” he added to himself; but that he did not say aloud.
“You’ve come in ’most too soon this morning, papa,” she remarked, lifting laughing eyes to his.
“Ah! how is that?” he asked.