"What did I tell you about leaving this room?" he asked.
"I know you said I shouldn't do it till I asked her pardon," she replied, bursting into a fit of passionate weeping, "but I'll never do that, and if I get sick and die you'll be sorry for keeping me shut up so."
"You must not talk to your father in that impertinent manner," he said sternly. "It is not I who keep you here, it is your own self-will; and just so long as that lasts you will remain here."
"I haven't a friend in the world," she sobbed; "my own father is cruel to me since he——"
"Hush!" he said in stern indignation. "I will have no more of that impertinence! Will you force me to try the virtue of a rod with you, Lucilla?"
She started and looked up at him with frightened eyes.
"I should be very loath to do so, but advise you to be very careful how you tempt me to it any farther," he said, and left her.
He went down with a heavy heart to the breakfast-room where his wife, Max and Gracie awaited his coming.
All three greeted his entrance with loving smiles. Vi was looking very lovely, and he noticed with gratitude that Gracie's eyes were bright and her cheeks faintly tinged with pink. She was improving rapidly in the bracing sea-air and winning all hearts by her pretty ways.
She ran to meet him, crying, "Good-morning, my dear papa!"