“Lulu, dear, your father is very ill,” she said in tones quivering with emotion, and then the child noticed that there were traces of tears about her eyes and on her cheeks, “He was in terrible pain all night, and is very little better this morning,” she went on.  “O Lulu, I had a dear, dear father once, and he was taken ill very much as yours has been and—­in a few days.  Oh, how I loved him! and while he lived I thought I was a good daughter to him, for I don’t remember ever being wilfully disobedient, but after he was gone my heart reproached me with having neglected opportunities to give him pleasure, and not having always obeyed quite so promptly and cheerfully as I might, and I would have given worlds to go back and be and do all I ought.”

She ended with a burst of tears, covering her face with her hands and sobbing, “O papa, papa!  O my husband, my dear, dear husband!”

“O Mamma Vi!  I will ask your pardon—­I do! won’t you please forgive me for being so very, very naughty and impertinent? when you have been so good and kind to me too,” sobbed Lulu, dropping on her knees at Violet’s feet.

“I do with all my heart,” Violet said, lifting her up and kissing her.  “And shall we not always love each other for your dear father’s sake?”

“Oh, yes, yes, indeed!  I do love you!  I don’t know what made me be so wicked and stubborn.  Mayn’t I go to papa and tell him how sorry I am, and ask him to forgive me too?”

“Yes, dear, come; perhaps it may help him to grow better, for I know he has grieved very much over this,” Vi said, taking the child’s hand and leading her into the room where the captain lay.

As he saw them come in thus his eye brightened in spite of the severe pain he was enduring.

With one bound, Lulu was at his side, sobbing, “Papa, papa!  I’m so sorry for all my badness, and all your pain.  Please, please forgive me.  I’ve done it—­asked Mamma Vi’s pardon, and—­and I’ll never talk so to her again, nor ever disobey you any more.”

“I hope not, my darling,” he said, drawing her down to give her a tender fatherly kiss of forgiveness.  “I am rejoiced that you have given up your rebellion so that now I can love and pet you to my heart’s content—­if God spares me to get up from this bed of pain.  I do forgive you gladly, dear daughter.”

For several days the captain was very ill, but the best of medical advice was at hand, the best of nursing was given him by Elsie and Violet, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore and others, and, by the blessing of Providence, upon these means he recovered.

Lulu seemed very unhappy and remorseful until it was quite certain that he would get well, took little interest in any kind of recreation, and was often found hovering about the door of his room, eager to learn how he was and if possible gain admission to his presence, or permission to do something for his relief.

She was a changed child from that time, perfectly respectful, obedient, and affectionate toward both her father and Violet.