“I don’t want to, papa, I——­” she began; but he silenced her with a look.

“Bid good-night to our friends and come,” he said.  “You also, Max.”

Max, though surprised at the order, obeyed with cheerful alacrity in strong contrast to Lulu’s sullen and reluctant compliance, which said as plainly as words that she would rebel if she dared.

“I don’t see why papa makes us come away so soon,” she grumbled to her brother in an undertone, as they passed from one cottage to the other, their father a little in advance.

“He must have some good reason,” said Max, “and I for one am willing enough to obey him, seeing it’s such a little while I’ll have the chance.”

They had now reached the veranda of their own cottage.

“Come in quickly out of this cold wind, children,” their father said; then as he closed the outer door after them, “Run into the parlor and get thoroughly warm before going up to your rooms.”

He sat down by the stove with Grace on his knee, and bade the other two draw up close to it and him, one on each side.  And when they had done so, “My three dear children,” he said in tender tones, glancing from one to another, “no words can tell how much I love you.  Will you all think very often of papa and follow him with your prayers when he is far away on the sea?”

“Oh, yes, yes, papa!” they all said with tears in their eyes, while Gracie put her small arms round his neck.  Lulu rested her head on his shoulder, and Max took a hand and pressed it in both of his.

“Papa, you will think of us, too?” he said inquiringly.

“Yes, indeed, my darlings; you will never be long out of my mind, and nothing will make me happier than to hear that you are well and doing your duty faithfully.”

“I shall try very hard, papa,” Max said, with affectionate look and tone, “if it is only to please you and make your heart glad.”

“Thank you, my son,” his father replied, “but I hope a still stronger motive will be that you may please God and honor Him.  Never forget, my children, that though your earthly father may be far away and know nothing of your conduct, God’s all-seeing eye is ever upon you.”

A half hour had passed very quickly and delightfully to the children, when at length, seeing Gracie’s eyelids begin to droop, their father said it was time for him to carry her up to bed.

“Shall we stay here till you come down again, papa?” asked Max.

“No; you and Lulu may go to bed now.”

“Then good-night, papa.”

“No, you need not bid me good-night yet,” the captain said.  “I shall see you both in your rooms before you are asleep.”

“Well, Lu, are you sorry now that papa made you come home so soon?” asked Max, as they went up-stairs together.

“No, indeed!  Haven’t we had a nice time, Max?  Oh, if only we could keep papa all the time!”

“I wish we could,” said Max.  “But we won’t have so hard a time as we’ve had for the last two years whenever he was away.”