Only a hasty survey of the upper rooms was taken that night, for all began to feel the need of rest and sleep. Apartments connected with each other and the nursery were selected for occupation, and soon all were resting peacefully in their beds.
CHAPTER XVII.
The Sabbath morning dawned bright and clear. Lulu rose with the sun and, before he was an hour high, was down on the veranda, gazing with delight upon the lovely landscape spread out at her feet.
So absorbed in its beauties was she that she failed to hear an approaching footstep, and was aware of her father's presence only when he laid a hand gently on her head and, bending down, imprinted a kiss on her lips.
"An early bird as usual, my darling!" he said.
"Yes, sir, like my father, my dear, dear father," she returned, twining her arms around his neck and holding him fast for a moment.
"Did you sleep well?" he asked, releasing himself and taking her hand in his.
"Oh, yes, indeed, papa! Did not you?"
"I did; I think we all did," he answered. "God has been very good to us. And what a lovely, lovely Sunday morning it is!"