Elsie at Nantucket eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 270 pages of information about Elsie at Nantucket.

Elsie at Nantucket eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 270 pages of information about Elsie at Nantucket.

The next moment she was in her husband’s arms, her head pillowed on his breast, while his lips were pressed again and again to brow and cheek and lips, and Grace’s glad shout arose, in sweet, silvery tones, “Papa has come back!  Papa has come back!  My dear, dear papa!”

“Can it be possible, my dear, dear husband?” cried Violet, lifting to his a face radiant with happiness.  “It seems too good to be true.”

“Not quite so good as that,” he said, with a joyous laugh, “But it is quite a satisfaction to find that you are not sorry to see me.”

“Of which you were terribly afraid, of course,” she returned, gayly.  “Do tell me at once how long our powers of endurance of such uncongenial society are to be taxed?”

“Ah, that is beyond my ability.”

“Then we may hope for weeks or months?” she said, rapturously.

“Certainly we are not forbidden to hope,” he answered, smiling tenderly upon her.

“Oh, I am so glad!” she said, with a happy sigh, leaning her head on his shoulder and gazing fondly up into his face, his right arm about her waist, while Grace clung to the other hand, holding it lovingly between her own and pressing her lips to it again and again.

“Ah, my darling little girl,” he said presently, letting Violet go to take Grace in his arms.  “Are you glad to see papa back again so soon?”

“Oh, yes, indeed; nothing else could have made me so very, very glad!” she cried, hugging him close, and giving and receiving many tender caresses.

“But how did it happen.  Levis?” Violet was asking.

“Through some unlooked-for change in the plans and purposes of the higher powers,” he answered, lightly.  “My orders were countermanded, with no reasons given, and I may remain with my family till further orders; and, as you say, we will hope it may be months before they are received.”

“And you were glad to come back to us?” Violet said, inquiringly, but with not a shade of doubt in her tones.

“Yes, yes indeed; I was full of joy till I heard that one of my children had been disobeying me, bringing serious consequences upon herself and others.”

His countenance had grown very grave and stern.  “Where is Lulu?” he asked, glancing about in search of her.

“Down on the beach with mamma and the rest,” Violet answered.

“Can you give me a true and full account of her behavior since I have been away?” he asked.

“My dear husband,” Violet said, entreatingly, “please do not ask me.”

“Pardon me, dearest,” he returned.  “I should not have asked you; Lulu must tell me herself; thankful I am that many and serious as are her faults, she is yet so honest and truthful that I can put full confidence in her word and feel sure that she will not deceive me, even to save herself from punishment.”

“I think that is high praise, and that Lulu is deserving of it,” remarked Violet, glad of an opportunity to speak a word in the child’s favor.

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Elsie at Nantucket from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.