“That would be very pleasant,” Elsie said her eyes shining; “and so far you have the decided advantage of a suitor who would carry her away from us; but, Captain, you are a father, and the woman whom you marry should be not only a wife to you, but also a mother to your children; but for that care and responsibility my little Vi is, I fear, far too young.  Indeed, my mother heart can ill brook the thought of her being so burdened in the very morning of her life.”

“Nor should I be willing to burden her, my dear Mrs. Travilla,” he said with feeling; “she should never bear the lightest burden that I could save her from.  But, my dear madam, would my children be any better off if I should remain single?  I think not, and I also think that should I marry another while my heart is your daughter’s, I should be doing very wrong.  But I cannot; if I fail to win her I shall remain as I am to the end of my days.”

“I trust not,” she said; “you may get over this and meet with some one else with whom you can be very happy.”

He shook his head very decidedly.  “I feel that that is impossible.  But how was it in your own case, Mrs. Travilla?  Mrs. Dinsmore is, I understand, but a few years older than yourself.”

“That is quite true, sir; and I know papa never let her take any responsibility in regard to me, but taught, trained, and cared for me in all respects himself; he was father and mother both to me,” she said with a lovely smile; “but you, my dear sir, are so situated that you could not follow his example; you can neither stay at home with your children nor take them to sea with you.”

“True, but they can stay where they are quite as well if I am married as if I remain without a wife.  I love them very dearly, Mrs. Travilla, and earnestly desire to do my whole duty to them, but I do not think it a part of that either to do without the dear little wife I covet, or to burden her with cares unsuited to her tender years.  Are you not willing to let me settle this question of duty for myself?”

“I certainly have not the shadow of a right or inclination to attempt to settle any question of duty for you, sir,” she answered with sweet gentleness, “but I must, I think, try to help my dear child to consider such questions for herself.  And with her, after all, must the decision of this matter remain.”

Both mother and lover waited with anxiety for that decision, and while waiting the captain wrote his letter, the mother busied herself with her accustomed cares and duties as daughter, mother, mistress, and hostess, each heart lifting up silent petitions that the result might be for God’s glory and the best interests of all concerned.

Elsie was not surprised that Violet did not join the family that evening on her return from the Laurels.

“She doubtless wants a talk with her mother first,” was her silent comment on learning that Vi had gone directly to that part of the house in which the private apartments of the family were situated, and presently, as all separated for the night, she sought her own dressing-room, expecting to find Violet waiting for her there.