Violet and her mother were passing the night together, and lying side by side talked to each other in loving confidence of such things as lay nearest their hearts.  Naturally Vi’s thoughts were full of the husband from whom she had just parted—­for how long?—­it might be months or years.

“Mamma,” she said, “the more I am with him and study his character, the more I honor and trust and love him.  It is the one trial of my otherwise exceptionally happy life, that we must pass so much of our time apart, and that he has such a child as Lulu to mar his enjoyment of—­”

“Oh, dear daughter,” interrupted Elsie, “do not allow yourself to feel otherwise than very kindly toward your husband’s child; Lulu has some very noble traits, and I trust you will try to think of them rather than of her faults, serious as they may seem to you.”

“Yes, mamma, there are some things about her that are very lovable, and I really have a strong affection for her, even aside from the fact that she is his child; yet when she behaves in a way that distresses him I can hardly help wishing that she belonged to some one else.

“You surely must have noticed how badly she behaved for two or three days.  He never spoke to me about it, tried not to let me see that it interfered with his enjoyment (for he knew that that would spoil mine), but for all that I knew his heart was often heavy over her misconduct.

“Yet she certainly does love her father.  How she clung to him after she had heard that he must leave us so soon, with a remorseful affection, it seemed to me.”

“Yes, and though she shed but few tears in parting from him, I could see that she was almost heart-broken.  She is a strange child, but if she takes the right turn, will assuredly make a noble, useful woman.”

“I hope so, mamma; and that will, I know, repay him for all his care and anxiety on her account.  No father could be fonder of his children or more willing to do or endure anything for their sake.  Of course I do not mean anything wrong; he would not do wrong himself or suffer wrong-doing in them; for his greatest desire is to see them truly good, real Christians.  I hope my darling, as she grows older, will be altogether a comfort and blessing to him.”

“As her mother has been to me, and always was to her father,” Elsie responded in loving tones.

“Thank you, mamma,” Violet said with emotion; “oh, if I had been an undutiful daughter and given pain and anxiety to my best of fathers, how my heart would ache at the remembrance, now that he is gone.  And I feel deep pity for Lulu when I think what sorrow she is preparing for herself in case she outlives her father, as in the course of nature she is likely to do.”

“Yes, poor child!” sighed Elsie; “and doubtless she is even now enduring the reproaches of conscience aggravated by the fear that she may not see her father very soon again.

“She and Gracie, to say nothing of my dear Vi, will be feeling lonely to-morrow, and Edward, Zoe, and I have planned various little excursions, by land and water, to give occupation to your thoughts and pleasantly while away the time.”