Presently she came in, bringing some needlework; Rosie and Walter with her.

The captain closed the book he had been reading and turned toward them with a pleased smile.

“So I am not to be left to solitude, as I feared,” he remarked.

“You must please send us away, sir, whenever you think that preferable to our company,” returned Violet lightly.

“Do you deem me capable of such rudeness, Miss Travilla?” he asked with playful look and tone.

“We will not consider it such,” she answered, seating herself and beginning her work, “since we can wander at will all over the house, while, for the present, you, sir, are a prisoner confined to this room and the next.”

“That reminds me,” he said, “that of late you have absented yourself a great deal from this room; to my no small discontent.”

“It is flattering to my vanity and self-appreciation to learn that you have missed me,” she returned sportively, but with a slightly heightened color.

“You can never be away from the rest of us without being missed, Vi,” remarked Rosie; “especially now that Sister Elsie is away.”

“And do you not mean to gratify my curiosity as to what has been the cause of your many and prolonged absences, Miss Violet?” queried the captain.

“I have been busy elsewhere, sir.  But is it not an understood thing that curiosity is a peculiarly feminine trait?”

“I am able to plead guiltless to the charge of ever having made such an insinuation,” said the captain; “and do now confess to having a full share of inquisitiveness.”

“May I tell, Vi?” asked Rosie.

“We must first learn whether Captain Raymond can keep a secret,” Vi answered, glancing at him with a saucy smile.

“Yes, indeed!” he said, “as you shall learn if you will but allow me the opportunity.”

“Then I may tell I!” cried Rosie; and hardly waiting for her sister’s nod of acquiescence, went on.  “She is preparing such a nice surprise for dear mamma, Captain Raymond, a miniature of papa which she has been painting on ivory.  I think it looks more like him than any photograph or painted portrait that we have.  And I am sure mamma could not have a more acceptable present.  Besides that, Vi has painted two flower-pieces; one for grandpa and one for grandma.”

“You have certainly been very industrious, Miss Violet,” he remarked.  “I have heard your studio spoken of.  May I hope for the pleasure of visiting it when I recover the free use of my limbs?”

“That will not be for some weeks, sir; and in the mean while I will take your request into consideration,” she answered demurely.

The morning passed very rapidly to the captain; the children amused him with their prattle, and when after an hour or two, Rosie grew tired of the bit of fancy-work she was doing under her sister’s supervision, and yielded to Walter’s entreaties to “come to the nursery and build block-houses,” thus leaving Violet his sole companion, the moments sped faster than before; for he found her a very interesting and entertaining conversationist.