CHAPTER IV.
“Get me Gracie’s night-dress, and we’ll put her to bed—you and I,” the captain said pleasantly to Lulu, when they had reached Gracie’s bedroom.
Lulu made haste to obey, and stood by his side ready to give her assistance when needed.
“Poor darling,” she said in a low tone, “how tired and sleepy she is, papa.”
“Yes, she is not at all strong yet,” he sighed, thinking to himself it was not likely she would ever be any thing but feeble and easily exhausted.
The child did not rouse to consciousness, but was still fast asleep as he laid her gently down upon her pillow.
He covered her up with tender care, then seating himself again, drew Lulu into his arms with a fond caress.
“Dear child,” he said, “your unselfish love for your sister makes me very happy.”
There was a flash of joy in Lulu’s eyes as she lifted them to his, then blushing and half hiding her face on his shoulder, “But I don’t deserve to have you say that, papa,” she murmured;“for I didn’t want to come up with you and Gracie.”
“No, but if you had had no desire to stay behind there would have been no self-denial in your yielding to her wish. You deserve all the credit I am giving you. Now do you want to go back again?”
“If you like me to, papa, Gracie is so sound asleep that she will not miss me.”
“Yes; and if you are not too tired with all the shopping you have done to-day, you may stay up half an hour later than your usual bedtime,” he said, taking her hand and leading her from the room.
“Oh, thank you, papa!” she cried, “I don’t think that I’m too tired, and I should like to so very much!”
“You are very greatly interested in what is going forward?” he remarked, inquiringly, and smiling down on her as they descended the stairs, her hand in his.
“Yes, indeed, papa! Oh, may I read the book that tells about the magic cave?”
“Some day, when you are a little older; at present you may read only what it says about that.”
Once such a reply to such a question would have brought a frown to Lulu’s brow, and she would have asked sullenly why she could not read the whole book now. But she wasimproving under her father’s training; growing much less willful and more ready to yield to his better judgment, having become convinced that he was really wiser than herself, and that he loved her too well to deny her any harmless indulgence.
So she responded in a perfectly pleasant tone, “Thank you, papa, I’ll read only that part.”
“I can trust you,” he said, “for I know you to be a truthful child; and I think, too, that you are learning to be an obedient one also.”
Lulu was allowed to stay in the parlor as long as the older people did, as it so happened that they were ready to retire earlier than usual that evening; they separated and scattered to their respective rooms before ten o’clock.
Captain Raymond lingered behind to see that every thing was made secure for the night. Passing into the library on his round he was a trifle surprised to find Harold there.
“Ah, I thought you had gone up-stairs with the rest!”
“So I did—part of the way at least—but the remembrance of something I heard this afternoon and which ought, I think, to give you pleasant dreams, brought me back to tell it. That boy of yours, captain, is a son to be proud of.”
“So I have thought myself, at times, but feared it might be only a father’s partiality,”returned the captain, his face lighting up with pleased surprise. “What have you to tell me of him?”
“He had an experience over at the Oaks last night, that might have easily proved too severe a test of moral courage to an older fellow than he, yet he came out of the trial with colors flying. I heard the whole story from Art Howard as we were driving together from the Oaks over to Roselands.”
And Harold went on to give a detailed and perfectly correct account of what had taken place among the lads after retiring to their rooms for the night.
He had an intensely interested and deeply gratified listener.
When he had finished, his hand was taken in a cordial grasp, while the captain said with emotion, “A thousand thanks, Harold! You can never know until you are a father yourself, what joy you have brought to my heart. I have strong hope that my boy will grow up a brave, true Christian gentleman, neither afraid nor ashamed to stand up for the right against all odds.”
“I believe it, sir; he’s a fine fellow; I’m so proud of him myself that I regret the fact that there is no tie of blood between us.”
The next morning Lulu was hurrying through the duties of the toilet, saying to herself thatshe wanted a little talk with Gracie about the Peri’s present to papa, before he should come in to bid them good-morning, as was his custom, when she heard his voice in their sitting-room, which adjoined her bedroom.
Half glad, half sorry, he was there already, Lulu made all haste to finish her dressing, then softly opened the communicating door.
Her father was seated with Grace on his knee, his back toward herself, and before he was aware of her presence she had stolen up behind him and put her arms round his neck, her lips to his cheek, with a loving “Good-morning, my dear, dearest papa!”
“Ah, good-morning, my darling daughter,” he responded, drawing her round in front of him into his arms and returning the kiss. “How happy it makes me to see you looking so bright and well. Beautiful, too,” he added to himself; but that he did not say aloud.
“You’ve come in ’most too soon this morning, papa,” she remarked, lifting laughing eyes to his.
“Ah! how is that?” he asked.
“Why, I was just coming in to consult with Gracie about the gift you are to get from the Peri; and now I can’t, because it has to be a secret from you, you know.”
“Papa,” said Grace, “please name over lots of things you would like to have, so we can choose one, and you needn’t know which.”
“Lots of things that I should like to have!” he repeated, “I really can not think of one. I have been deluged with beautiful and useful presents; the lovely bracket Lulu sawed out for me, the pincushion Gracie made with her own small fingers for my toilet table, Mamma Vi’s beautiful painting that hangs over the mantel in my dressing-room, the watch case from Max, beside the too-numerous-to-mention gifts from others not quite so near and dear as wife and children.”
“But you’ve got to have something, you see, papa,” laughed Lulu, “whether you want it or not. Never mind, though, Gracie, we’ll think up something. Perhaps Aunt Zoe can help us.”
“Ah, that reminds me,” the captain said, “that we are to think of a gift for her. What shall it be, Lulu?”
“Suppose we say a ring, papa? When we were in that large jewelry store I saw her looking at one with an emerald in it, and she admired it very much. Would it cost too much!”
“Perhaps not,” he said; “I shall see about it.”
“Did you like the things we gave you for Christmas, papa?” asked Grace, affectionately stroking his face with her little white hand.
“Yes, indeed! particularly because they were all the work of your own hands. I could hardly have believed such tiny fingers as my Gracie’scould do work so fine as that on the cushion she made for her papa. And Lulu’s carving surprised and pleased me quite as much.”
“Isn’t it just lovely, papa?” cried Grace with enthusiasm. “I can’t do that kind of work at all.”
“No, you are not strong enough.”
“And I can’t sew half so well as she can,” added Lulu; “I’m not at all fond of plain sewing.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” remarked her father, “for I think every woman should be skilled in that sort of work.”
“I’d like sewing on a machine pretty well,” said Lulu, “but it’s slow, tedious work with a needle in your fingers.”
“Then I fear if I should buy you a machine now, you would never learn the skillful use of your needle. I want you to persevere with that, daughter, and I promise that as soon as your mamma tells me you have become an accomplished needle-woman, I will buy you the best machine that is to be had. And perhaps,” he added with a humorous look, “it will not be necessary to forbid you to use it too constantly.”
“I don’t believe it will, papa,” returned Lulu laughingly, “I don’t believe I should ever enjoy working it half so well as sawing and carving.”
Just then the breakfast-bell put an end to their talk.
Shortly after the meal was over Zoe drew Lulu aside and asked if she had decided upon the present from the Peri to the captain.
“No, not yet, Aunt Zoe; have you thought of any thing?”
“Yes, one that is spoken of in the book we take the idea from, the idea of the magic cave, the Peri and so on, I mean. It’s a pen-wiper with an ass’s head, and the words ‘There are two of us.’”
“Why, Aunt Zoe! that would be just insulting papa! I shan’t consent to it at all!” Lulu burst out indignantly.
“Oh no; it would be only to make fun, and your father would understand it and be as much amused as any one else.”
“I don’t like it; I couldn’t bear to have such a thing as that given to him,” returned Lulu. “I want to buy him a gold pen and holder that I saw in the city. I have money enough, and don’t you suppose I can get somebody to go for it?”
“Oh that will be easy enough,” said Zoe good-naturedly. “Edward is going in to-day, and I know he will do the errand willingly.”
“Oh, that will be nice! Thank you,” said Lulu, in a tone of delight, “I must run and tell Gracie about it.”
She was turning to go, but Zoe detained her. “Wait a moment,” she said. “There are somepretty things to be made for adorning the magic cave; do you want to help with the work?”
“Yes, Aunt Zoe, if you will show me what to do,” Lulu answered a little doubtfully, “you know I’m not an expert needle-woman; but I think I should enjoy working with pretty things; it would be much more interesting than plain sewing.”
“Yes, indeed, and you will take to it very readily if I am not greatly mistaken. I’ll join you presently, bringing some of the materials, and show you what is wanted.”
“Oh, if you please, Aunt Zoe! I’ll be ever so much obliged; you’ll find me in Gracie’s and my sitting-room,” Lulu answered, hurrying away.
“Yes; that will be a nice one for you to give papa,” Grace said in reply to Lulu’s communication, “but what shall I give him? I want to give him something too.”
“Make him a pen-wiper,” suggested Lulu; “that would go nicely with a pen and pen holder, and you know he said he would rather have something we made for him ourselves.”
“Oh, I’d like to, if I only knew how! Maybe mamma would give me some stuff to make it of and show me how to do it.”
“Yes, I’m sure she will,” cried Lulu; “she’s so kind.”
At that moment Violet and Zoe came intogether, bringing with them a quantity of material to be fashioned into dolls, fairies, etc., for ornamenting the magic cave, or to do duty as gifts to be dispensed by the Peri.
“If you little girls feel inclined to give us some assistance in this work, we shall be glad to have it,” said Violet pleasantly.
“I should very much indeed, Mamma Vi, if you or Aunt Zoe will show me how,” exclaimed Lulu, eagerly.
“I too, mamma,” said Grace. “Please, mayn’t I make papa a present first! I was thinking of a pen-wiper for him, if you’ll please show me how to make a pretty one.”
“Gladly, my dear. What would you think of a little book, its inside leaves of chamois, the cover of soft morocco, all fastened together with ribbon, and papa’s name printed in gilt letters on the outside?”
“Oh, that would be ever so nice, mamma! But I haven’t any chamois or morocco; and could any body go and buy them for me in time?”
“I have some of each and will make you a present of as much as you need,” Violet returned gayly, bending down to press a kiss upon the little eager upturned face.
“I have some liquid gilding too,” she went on, “so there will be no trouble about the lettering on the cover. I will do that part and perhapspapa will not object because so much is my work.”
“Oh, no; I’m sure he won’t!” exclaimed Grace; “and mamma, you’re so very kind to help me so!”
Lulu was eagerly turning over the piles of pretty things, while Zoe gave her directions how to fashion them into the desired articles.
Violet went in search of what was needed for the pen-wiper, and presently they were all four busily engaged, chatting and laughing right merrily as they worked, Violet and Zoe seeming to feel almost as young and free from care as the two little girls.
They were dressing paper dolls as fairies in wide-spreading tarleton skirts highly ornamented with tinsel.
Lulu had dressed two, thought their appearance really beautiful, and was highly delighted at her success; she was holding the second one up and calling the attention of her companions to it, when Harold Travilla looked in to say that a quantity of things to be used in getting up the tableaux, had come over from Ion, been taken by the captain’s order, to one of the unoccupied rooms, and mamma thought Vi, Zoe and perhaps Lulu, might like to look them over and select for the different characters.
“Of course we will,” said Zoe, jumping up with alacrity, while Lulu hastily dropped herfairy into her work-basket, asking “O, Mamma Vi, may I?”
“Certainly, dear; Gracie too, if she wishes,” Violet answered pleasantly, adding, “you will have plenty of time to finish your gift for papa afterward, little girlie.”
Zoe had already hurried on ahead, Violet and Lulu followed more slowly, as Grace was not yet strong enough to move quickly, and they would not leave her behind.
Reaching the room whither the package had been conveyed, Grace was comfortably seated in an arm-chair where she could overlook the proceedings without fatigue, and the others gave themselves up to the fascinating business of examining the articles and discussing their merits, and the uses to which they should be put.
There were some very elegant silks, satins, velvets, brocades and laces among them, and Lulu was quite lost in admiration. She thought it would be delightful to wear some of them even for the little while a tableau would last, and hoped it would be decided that she should take part in several.
At length, having seen every thing, and being seized with a desire to go on with her work, in which she had become quite interested, she ran back to her own rooms without waiting for the others.
Reaching the open door of the sitting-room, she paused upon the threshold, transfixed with astonishment and dismay. The baby, at the moment sole occupant of the apartment, was seated on the floor tearing up her fairies, while round her lay scattered in wildest confusion, the contents of Lulu’s work-basket, skeins of silk, and worsted tangled together, ribbons and bits of silk, satin and velvet that Lulu had thought to fashion into various dainty little articles, all crumpled and wet, showing this Miss Baby had been putting them in her mouth and trying her pretty new teeth upon them.
Lulu’s first impulse was to spring forward, snatch the fairy out of the baby’s hands, and give the little mischief-maker an angry shake.
But she controlled herself with a great effort, and recalling the sad scenes and bitter repentance of a few weeks ago, refrained from rushing at the child, but moved gently toward her, saying in soft persuasive tones:
“Oh, baby, dear, don’t do so, let sister have that, there’s a darling! Oh, you’ve made sad work! But you didn’t know any better, did you, pretty pet?”
“Oh, Miss Lu! I’se awful sorry! didn’t neber t’ink ob my child doing sech ting!” exclaimed the baby’s nurse, hurrying in from an adjoining room. “I was jes’ lookin’ at de Christmas tingsscattered roun’ an’ hyar de chile gets hol’ o’ yo’ work-basket fo’ I sees what she ’bout.”
“You ought to have watched her, Aunt Judy: It was your business to see that she didn’t get into mischief,” returned Lulu in a tone of sorrow and vexation. “All these pretty things are ruined, just ruined? And I’d taken so much pains and trouble to make those fairies for the magic cave,” she went on, taking them up and turning them over in her hands with a despairing sigh.
“Never mind, daughter, there are plenty more pretty things where those came from,” said her father’s voice from the open doorway.
Lulu started, and looked up in surprise. “Papa!” she exclaimed, “I did not know you were there. I did try to be patient with baby.”
“And succeeded,” he said, bending down to smooth her hair caressingly (for he was now close at her side), and giving her a tenderly affectionate look and smile.
Then he sat down and drew her into his arms, while Aunt Judy carried the baby away.
“Dear child,” he said, “you have made me very happy by your patience and forbearance under this provocation. I begin to have strong hope that you will learn to rule your own spirit, which the Bible tells us is better than taking a city.”
Lulu’s face was full of gladness. “Now, Idon’t care if the fairiesarespoiled!” she said with a happy sigh, putting her arm round his neck and laying her cheek to his. “I’m ’most obliged to baby for doing it.”
Her father continued his caresses for a moment, then he said, “I am going for a walk; would you like to go with me? I should be glad of your company, and I think you need the exercise.”
“Oh, ever so much, papa!” she answered joyously. “There’s nothing hardly that I like better than taking a walk with you!”
“Then you may go and put on your coat and hood, and we will set out at once.”
It was a bright clear morning, the air just cold enough to be bracing and exhilarating. Lulu felt it so and went skipping, jumping, dancing along by her father’s side, her hand in his and her tongue running very fast on the interesting subjects of children’s parties, tableaux and magic caves.
He listened with an indulgent smile. “I think my little girl is very happy this morning?” he said at length.
“Oh yes, yes, indeed I am, papa!” she answered earnestly, “how could I help it with so much to make me so?”
“You are looking forward to a great deal of pleasure in entertaining your young friends next week?”
“Yes, papa; and that makes me glad; but that isn’t all, you know.” And she looked up into his face with an arch, loving smile.
“What else?” he asked, returning the smile with one full of fatherly affection.
“Oh a great many things, papa; but most of all, that you don’t have to go away and leave us any more; that makes this the very happiest winter of our lives so far, Maxie and Gracie and I all think.”
“You may safely put my name into that list also,” he said.
“You’d rather be with us than on your ship?”
“Much rather, daughter. I greatly enjoy these walks with you, as well as many another pleasure belonging to life at home with wife and children.”
“Papa, why did you forbid me to take walks by myself?” asked Lulu presently.
“Wait a moment,” he said, and just then a turn in the road brought them face to face with a ragged, dirty man of aspect so forbidding that Lulu, though not usually a timid child, clung to her father’s hand and shrank half behind him in terror.
The tramp noted it with a scowl, pushed rudely by them and disappeared round the corner.
“O papa,” panted Lulu, “what a horrible looking man! He looked at me as if he’d like to kill me.”
“How would you enjoy meeting him alone?” asked her father.
“Oh! not at all, papa! I’d be frightened half to death!”
“I think you would; and what is more, I think he—and many another of the same class—would be a more dangerous creature for you to meet alone than any wild beast. Do you need any further reply to your question of a moment ago?”
“O papa! no indeed! and I shall never disobey you again by roaming about by myself. I see now that you were kind to punish me for it.”
“I thought it far kinder than to let you run the risk that such disobedience would bring,” he said. “And,” he went on presently, “there are others who, though not so forbidding in appearance, are very nearly if not quite as dangerous: who coax and wheedle children and by that means get them into their power and carry them away from their parents and friends, to lead miserable sinful lives. I think it would break my heart to lose my dear little Lulu in that way; so, my darling, heed your father’s warning, and never, never listen to them.”
“Indeed I’ll not listen to them!” she exclaimed in her vehement way, “but I am sure nobody could ever persuade me to go away from you, my own dear, dear father!”
“Ah,” he said with a sigh, “I think you forget how, a few weeks ago, you attempted to run away from me without persuasion from any one.”
“But that was because I thought you didn’t love me any more, papa,” she answered humbly; “but now I know you do,” she added, looking up into his face with eyes full of ardent affection.
“Never doubt it again my precious child, never for one moment doubt that you are very, very dear to your father’s heart,” he said with emotion, bending down to give her a tender kiss.