"Unless I am needed, volunteer my services, and am accepted," he returned, in a slightly playful tone.
"Oh, papa, don't, please don't!" she exclaimed, clinging more closely to him. "It will be dreadful enough to have Max in such danger, but to have you, too, in it would be heart-breaking."
"Well, dear child, we won't be so foolish as to trouble ourselves about what may never happen. And if it ever should happen, we must just put our trust in the Lord, believing that he doeth all things well, and trusting his promise, 'As thy days, so shall thy strength be.' And you can rejoice in the fact that Chester is neither sailor nor soldier," he added, with a smile, and softly patting the hand resting upon his arm.
"Yes, father dear, that is no small comfort," she said; "especially as I know he is patriotic enough to do all in his power for his country."
"Ah, no doubt of that! I think Chester would be as ready as any one else to take up arms in her defence if he saw that his services were needed. And I don't believe this daughter of mine would say a word to prevent him."
"I think not, papa; but I hope I may never be tried in that way."
"A hope in which I heartily join you, daughter. I should be glad indeed to know that we were done with wars. But that is so uncertain that we, as a nation, must be ever prepared to repel attack—on land or sea. 'Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.'"
"And liberty is worth that price, isn't it, father?" she said, with a bright smile up into his face.
"Yes; so we think; we could never be content without it."
They paced silently back and forth for a few moments, then Lucilla asked, "How long are we going to lie quietly here in Portland harbor, papa?"