He hurried away, and the captain went at once to Lulu.
She was on the bed where he had left her, but, at the opening of the door, started up, and turned to him with a look of wild affright.
“Papa!” she cried breathlessly, “is—is the baby?—Oh, no! for how glad your face is!”
“Yes, baby is very much better; in fact, quite out of danger, the doctor thinks. And you? have you not slept?” he asked, bending over her in tender solicitude; for she had fallen back on her pillow, and was sobbing as if her heart would break, weeping for joy as she had before wept with sorrow, remorse, and penitence.
He lifted her from the bed, and sat down with her in his arms.
“Don’t cry so, daughter, dear,” he said soothingly, softly caressing her hair and cheek: “it will make your head ache still more.”
“I can’t help it, papa: I’m so glad, so very, very glad!” she sobbed; “so glad the dear baby will get well, and that I—I’m not a murderess. Papa, won’t you thank God for me?”
“Yes,” he said with emotion,—“for you and myself and all of us.”
When they had risen from their knees, “Now I hope you can sleep a while, and afterward eat some supper,” he said, lifting her, and gently laying her on the bed again.
“O papa! I wish you could stay with me a little longer,” she cried, clinging to his hand.
“I cannot stay now, daughter,” he said; “but I will come in again to bid you good-night.”
He leaned over her, and kissed her several times. She threw her arm round his neck, and drew him down closer.
“Dear, dear papa!” she sobbed: “you are the best father in the world! and oh, I wish I was a better girl! Do you think I—I’m a curse to you now?”
“I think—I believe you are going to be a very great blessing to me, my own darling,” he answered in tones tremulous with emotion. “I fear I was hard and cruel in what I said when I came to you that first time last night.”
“No, papa, I deserved it every bit; but it ’most broke my heart, because I love you so. Oh, I do want to be a blessing to you, and I mean to try with all my might!”
“My dear little girl, my own little daughter, that is all I can ask,” he said, repeating his caresses.
Then he covered her up with tender care, and left her, weary and exhausted with the mental suffering of the last two days, but with a heart singing for joy over his restored affection and the assurance of the baby’s final recovery.
She expected to stay awake till he came again, but in less than five minutes was fast asleep.
The captain found Max and Gracie hovering near as he passed out into the hall.
“Papa,” they said, coming hastily forward, “may we go in to see Lulu now?” Max adding, “I was too angry with her at first to want to see her, but I’ve got over that now.” Grace: “And mayn’t she know now that we’re going to keep you always at home?” taking his hand in both of hers, and looking up coaxingly into his face.