She looked smilingly up into his face as she spoke, for he was now standing by her side.

“I think that will be best for each of my children, and hope that my dear eldest daughter does not feel at all rebellious in regard to the matter,” he said in his pleasant, fatherly way.

“No, indeed, papa!” she responded heartily, “though the beautiful Court of Honor is so fascinating—­especially at night—­that if you had given me permission to go back there after tea I should have been very glad to do so.”

“And I should take pleasure in allowing you that gratification if I thought it best and right.”

“I don’t doubt that in the least, papa, and I am very glad to have you to decide all such questions for me,” she replied.

“Will we go over there, to the Court of Honor, to-morrow, papa?” asked little Elsie.

“No, daughter, we must keep the Sabbath day holy, and if we go anywhere it will be to church.”

“And if we don’t, we’ll have a meeting here on our own deck as we have on some other Sundays; won’t we, papa?”

“Yes; and the Lord Jesus will be with us; for he has said, ’Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’”

“Oh, papa, I shall like to think of that—­that the dear Lord Jesus is here with us—­but I do wish I could see him.”

“I too,” said little Ned.  “Please, papa, sit down now and let your baby boy sit on your knee a little while.  You have been gone so long away from me.”

“So long, papa’s dear boy!” the captain repeated with a smile of fatherly affection into the bright, coaxing little face, then seating himself, he took the little fellow in his arms, and petted and caressed him to his heart’s content.  “Papa missed his dear little boy,” he said, “but hoped he was having a good time here with dear grandma.”

“Yes, papa, so I was.  Grandma’s ever so nice, but I want my papa and mamma, too.”

“That’s right, darling! mamma and papa would never know how to do without their dear baby boy,” Violet said, adding her caresses to those of his father, the captain having taken a seat close at her side.

“Nor me either, mamma?” asked Elsie, drawing near, putting one hand into that of her mother and laying the other on her father’s knee, her look and tones a trifle wistful, as if she were half fearful that she was less highly appreciated than her brother.

“No, indeed, dear child!” they replied, speaking together, “we love you just the same.”

“Gracie also,” the captain added, turning toward her with a tenderly appreciative smile.  “You were looking very weary, daughter, when you left us some hours ago.  Are you feeling better now?

“Yes, thank you, papa,” she replied with a sweet, glad smile.  “How kindly careful of me you always are!”

“Yes,” he returned, “one is apt to be careful of his choicest treasures.”

“It is so delightful to be one of your treasures, you dear papa,” she said, going to his side in response to an inviting gesture, as Neddie got down from his knee to run to the side of the vessel to look at a passing boat.