"And why should you?" he asked, gravely.
"But I came here to perform certain duties, and I am doing nothing but playing—just drifting along, and having a pleasant time," she explained.
"I hope so; but I am very sorry if you feel any weight of obligation, when that should rest upon me," he returned, in the same tone as before. "Miss Huntington, do you imagine that it is nothing to me that you saved my child from some serious accident—perhaps from death? Do you think me so ungrateful as not to wish to do everything possible for you, when you have suffered so much in your efforts to save her? I hope we shall hear no more about your earning your salt—that, and everything else, has been already earned a good many times over," he concluded, with a luminous smile.
Violet had not thought of it in this way before, but she was effectually silenced, and objected no more at anything he chose to do for her.
One rainy morning, they had an unusually merry time over a humorous story which Mr. Lawrence read to them.
"What a jolly time we are having, papa!" Bertha remarked, with a long-drawn breath of content, when the story was concluded.
"You are right, pet, and I only hope you will always be as happy," her father returned, fondly, as he stroked her glossy hair.
"Of course, I am sorry that Miss Huntington's arm had to be broken," the child continued, naively, "but we have had such a delightful time during these last three weeks that I wish it could always last, don't you?"
"It would be very pleasant, Bertha," said her father, musingly.
"I think we three make just the nicest chums," the little miss went on; "wouldn't it be fine if we could stay so and always be together?"