“I missed my eldest daughter, from the family circle this evening,” he went on smoothing her hair caressingly; “indeed I think we all missed her.  I hope we will not be deprived of her company in the same way again.”

“I hope not, papa; I do mean to be more faithful in preparing my lessons.  I’m sure I ought when I have such a kind, kind teacher,” she added looking lovingly into his eyes.  “Dear papa,” putting her arm round his neck and laying her cheek to his, “I do love you so, so much!”

“My darling,” he responded, “your love is very precious to me, and I don’t think it can be greater than mine for you.  My daughter’s worth to her fond father—­could not be computed in dollars and cents,” he added with a happy laugh.

“I hope Grandma Elsie found your sewing well done?”

“Not so very, papa,” she replied, her tone expressing some mortification; “she said it was not so nicely done as the last.”

“That is a pity; it will hardly do to keep on so—­going backward instead of forward as regards improvement in that line of work.”

“No, papa, I don’t mean to; I didn’t bring home quite so much this time, though some of the girls did look as if they thought I was growing lazy—­and it was dreadfully mortifying to have them think so—­and I’m going to try Eva’s plan.  She says she divides her work into as many portions as there are days to do it in, and won’t let herself miss doing at least one portion each day.  She says she gets it done quite easily in that way, often finished before the day when it is to be handed in.”

“But it can’t be that she puts it off for story-reading, games and what not?”

“No, sir; and I don’t mean to any more.  I’ll put that sewing first after what you say are more important duties, and not let myself have any play till it’s done.  I think I can ’most always do it before breakfast, now that you don’t require me to sweep or dust my own rooms.  I’m very much obliged to you, papa, for saying I needn’t do those things any more while I have so many lessons.”

“I want my daughters to understand all kinds of housework so that they may be competent to direct servants, if they have them, or be independent of them if they have not,” he said; “but now that you have learned how to sweep and dust, I do not think it necessary for you to make use of that knowledge while your time can be better employed, and I am able to pay a servant for doing the work.”

CHAPTER XIX.

One morning at breakfast, Max asked, “Papa, have you told Lu yet?”

“No,” replied the captain, “I wished her to eat her meal first in peace and comfort; therefore I am sorry you spoke, as I see you have roused her curiosity.”

“Yes, papa; mayn’t I know what you are talking about?” asked Lulu, giving him a disturbed, rather apprehensive look.  “Oh does the court meet to-day?”

“It’s been meeting for several days,” returned Max, “and the trial of our burglars comes up to-day.”