“I am sure you are,” laughed Violet. “I never saw a brighter.”
“Thank you, my love,” he returned. “And did you ever see a more grateful set of children?”
“No, never! I hope you feel that you have an appreciative wife, also?”
“She is far beyond my deserts,” he answered softly, the words reaching no ear but hers; for the children were again talking among themselves, and paying no heed to what might be passing between their elders.
“No, sir,” returned Vi, with a saucy smile up into his eyes. “I utterly deny that that is so, and stoutly maintain the contrary.”
“My dear,” he said laughingly, “have you so little respect for your husband’s opinions?”
“Yes, sir, just so little,” she answered merrily; “that is in regard to the matter under discussion.”
“Ah, that last is a saving clause,” he said with a look of amusement. “Shall we go back to the parlor? I see the children have forsaken us. Max seems half wild with delight at being at home again—it is so new and pleasant a thing for him and his sisters to have a home of their own.”
“With their father in it,” added Violet. “I think they never forget that that is the best part of it.”
“As he does not that wife and children are the best part of it to him,” responded the captain, feelingly.