“And succeeded,” he said, bending down to smooth her hair caressingly (for he was now close at her side), and giving her a tenderly affectionate look and smile.
Then he sat down and drew her into his arms, while Aunt Judy carried the baby away.
“Dear child,” he said, “you have made me very happy by your patience and forbearance under this provocation. I begin to have strong hope that you will learn to rule your own spirit, which the Bible tells us is better than taking a city.”
Lulu’s face was full of gladness. “Now, I don’t care if the fairies are spoiled!” she said with a happy sigh, putting her arm round his neck and laying her cheek to his. “I’m ’most obliged to baby for doing it.”
Her father continued his caresses for a moment, then he said, “I am going for a walk; would you like to go with me? I should be glad of your company, and I think you need the exercise.”
“Oh, ever so much, papa!” she answered joyously. “There’s nothing hardly that I like better than taking a walk with you!”
“Then you may go and put on your coat and hood, and we will set out at once.”
It was a bright clear morning, the air just cold enough to be bracing and exhilarating. Lulu felt it so and went skipping, jumping, dancing along by her father’s side, her hand in his and her tongue running very fast on the interesting subjects of children’s parties, tableaux and magic caves.
He listened with an indulgent smile. “I think my little girl is very happy this morning?” he said at length.
“Oh yes, yes, indeed I am, papa!” she answered earnestly, “how could I help it with so much to make me so?”