“I’ve always had medical advice for her when it was needed,” snapped Mrs. Scrimp.

The captain re-entered the room at that moment.  He had made short work with Mr. Fox, paying his bill, and sending him away with his ears tingling from a well-merited rebuke for his savage treatment of a defenceless child.

It was Mrs. Scrimp’s turn now; there was no evading the direct, pointed questions of the captain, and she was compelled to acknowledge that she had followed out her own theories in the treatment of Gracie, instead of consulting a physician, even after he had directed her to seek medical advice and treat the child in careful accordance with it.

“Well, madam,” he remarked with much sternness and indignation, “if my little girl is an invalid for life, I shall always feel that you are responsible for it.”

“I’ve been a mother to your children, Capt.  Raymond,” she exclaimed, growing white with anger, “and this is your gratitude!”

“A mother!” he said, glancing from her to Vi, “I hope there are few such mothers in the world.  My poor starved baby! papa’s heart aches to think of what you have had to endure,” he added in moved tones, the big tears shining in his eyes, as he lifted Gracie on his knees and fondled her tenderly.

Mrs. Scrimp rose and took an abrupt and indignant leave, her bill having been already settled.

CHAPTER XIX.

NEW RELATIONSHIPS AND NEW TITLES.

“Are you hungry, Gracie darling?” her father asked with tender solicitude.

“No, papa,” she said, “we had our breakfast just a little while before Aunt Beulah brought us here.”

“Well, if ever you suffer from hunger again it shall not be your father’s fault,” he returned with emotion.

Taking out his watch, “We have a full half hour yet,” he said.  “Max, my son, do you know of any place near at hand where oranges, bananas, cakes, and candies are to be had?”

“Oh, yes, papa! just at the next corner.”

“Then go and lay in a store for our journey,” handing him some money.

“May I go too, papa?” asked Lulu, as Max set off with alacrity.

“No, stay here; I want you by my side,” he said, smiling affectionately upon her.

“I’m glad you do!  O papa, I have wanted you so badly!” she exclaimed, leaning her cheek against his arm and looking up lovingly into his face, “and so have Max and Gracie.  Haven’t we, Gracie?”

“Yes, indeed!” sighed the little one.  “O papa, I wish you didn’t ever have to go away and leave us!”

“I hope to stay with you longer than usual this time, and when I must go away again to leave you in a very happy home, where no one will wish to ill-use you,” he said, with a glad look and smile directed toward his bride.

“No one at Ion or in any house of my dear mother’s will ever show them anything but kindness and love if they are good and obedient,” said Vi.  “We all obey grandpa, but we love to do it, because he is so dear and never at all unreasonable.”