"He would be an exceedingly unreasonable man who could find fault with such a wife as mine," was his smiling rejoinder.
"But to change the subject, I suppose we may look for the rest of our party about the last of next week?"
"Yes, I think so."
"I shall be ever so glad to see them—especially dear Grandma Elsie and Rosie and Walter; but oh, I wish the Fairview folks were coming, especially Eva," remarked Lulu, ending with a sigh of regret.
"Ah, well, daughter, perhaps Evelyn may be here before the winter is over," the captain said, exchanging a slightly amused glance with Violet.
"Oh, I hope so!" exclaimed Lulu; "but of course one can't expect to have everything one wants in this world."
"No, certainly not," her father said; "it would be by no means good for us if we could."
"Not for me, I know; but oh, I have a great, great many blessings—health and strength and such a dear kind father to love me, provide for me, teach me, and train me up in the way I should go," she concluded, with a smiling look up into his eyes.
"That is what I am trying to do, at all events," he returned, holding her close, "though I sometimes fear I may not always have taken the wisest way."
"Is it because you have succeeded so poorly that you fear so, papa?" she asked. "If so, don't be troubled about it, because I don't believe it's from any mistake of yours, but only that I'm so very naughty and unmanageable."