Martha Finley

“ I owe every thing to Ned, and he pets and indulges me to the greatest extent. Besides, he is so good, noble, and true, that any woman might be proud to be his wife."
"Yes: I admit every word of it; but all that doesn't explain your tears," returned Ella, half sympathizingly, half teasingly. "Now, I should have supposed that anybody who could boast of such a piece of perfection for a husband would be very happy."
"But I—we've hardly ever been separated over night," stammered Zoe, blushing rosy red; "and—and—O Ella! ”

“ Lulu looked astounded for an instant; then the tears welled up into her eyes as she said falteringly, "I—don't deserve it; and—I thought papa was so vexed with me, I should never have expected he'd give me a single cent."
"He's just a splendid father, that's what he is!" cried Max, with another bound of exultant delight. "He says that if we go to the mountains, and grandpa thinks I can be trusted with a gun, I'm to have one of the best that can be bought; and, if I'm a splendid boy all the time, when he comes home I shall have a fine pony of my own." ”

“ He hurried away, and the captain went at once to Lulu.
She was on the bed where he had left her, but, at the opening of the door, started up, and turned to him with a look of wild affright.
"Papa!" she cried breathlessly, "is—is the baby?—Oh, no! for how glad your face is!"
"Yes, baby is very much better; in fact, quite out of danger, the doctor thinks. And you? have you not slept?" he asked, bending over her in tender solicitude; for she had fallen back on her pillow, and was sobbing as if her heart would break, weeping for joy as she had before wept with sorrow, remorse, and penitence. ”

“ It is time for you to be dressed for the evening."
"Papa, who is to tell us what to wear,—you, or mamma Vi?" asked Lulu, as they pursued their way back to the house.
"You may wear your cream-colored cashmere with the cherry trimmings;
Gracie, hers with the blue," he replied.
"That's just what I wanted you to say, papa! I like those dresses," remarked Lulu with satisfaction.
"That is well: and Gracie, of course, is pleased; for she never objects to any thing papa or mamma wishes her to do," he said, with a loving glance down into the little girl's face. ”

“ Violet explained the cause; and Elsie said, very kindly, "I don't want you sent away, Lulu, dear. No one could desire a better behaved child than you have been of late; and I have written to your father to tell him so, and ask that you may stay with us still. So cheer up, and hope for the best, little girl," she added, with a smile and an affectionate kiss.
Lulu had risen, and was standing by Elsie's side. As the latter bent down to bestow the caress, her arms were thrown impulsively about her neck with a glad, grateful exclamation, "O grandma Elsie! how good you are to me! ”

“ She dropped her head on his shoulder, and burst into a passion of tears and sobs. "Papa, papa! what shall I do if baby dies? Oh! I would do or bear any thing in the world to make her well."
"I don't doubt it, daughter," he said; "but a bitter lesson we all have to learn is, that we cannot undo the evil deeds we have done. Oh! let this dreadful occurrence be a warning to you to keep a tight rein upon your quick temper."
"Oh! I do mean to, indeed I do," she sobbed; "but that won't cure the dear baby's hurt. Papa, all day long I have been asking God to forgive me. Do you think he will?" ”

“ I can't ever make up to her for—for hurting her so, though I did not mean to do it."
"Of course not: you couldn't be so cruel toward any baby, but especially your own sweet little sister," was the gentle, sweet-toned reply. "I am rejoiced, especially for you, my dears, and for your mamma, that your father is going to settle down here; for I know it will add greatly to your happiness, he is such a good husband and father, and you will so enjoy having a home of your own."
"Yes, aunt Elsie: we think it is the best thing that could have happened to us," replied Max. ”

“ Lulu gladly availed herself of the permission, took the baby in her arms, and sat down with it on her lap.
"Lu, Lu!" the little one repeated in her sweet baby voice; and Lulu hugged her close, kissing her again and again, and saying softly, "You dear, sweet darling; sister loves you, indeed, indeed she does!"
The captain looked on, his heart swelling with joy and thankfulness over the evident mutual affection of the two; for there had been a time when he feared Lulu would never love the child of her step-mother as she did Max and Grace. ”

“ It was Zoe who answered first.
"Yes: if these young Raymonds are not satisfied with the furnishing of their apartments, I, for one, shall deem them the most unreasonable and ungrateful of human kind."
"She won't have a chance to, though," said Max; "for we're delighted with every thing papa has got us. Aren't we, Lu and Gracie?"
"Yes, indeed!" they both replied. "Oh, we have ever so many beautiful things! Papa and grandma Elsie helped us to choose them; so, of course, they are all just right," added Lulu, looking gratefully from one to the other. ”

“ She is devotedly attached to her husband, but Lulu is a sore thorn in her side."
"I don't believe she has ever acknowledged as much, or could be induced to," said Zoe.
"No," assented Edward; "but it is evident to those who know her well, nevertheless. She tries hard to conceal the fact, and has wonderful patience with the wilful passionate child, really loving her for her father's sake."
"And for her own, too, if I mistake not," Arthur said. "There is something quite lovable about Lulu, in spite of her very serious faults."
"There is," said Edward. "I have felt it strongly myself at times. ”

“ But Violet bent down and kissed her affectionately, saying in a kindly tone, "I hope you are feeling better than you did yesterday?"
"O mamma Vi!" Lulu cried, throwing her arm round her young step-mother's neck, and bursting into tears, "is baby still getting better? and will you forgive me? I am, oh, so sorry!"
"Yes, dear, baby is improving fast; and it is all forgiven, so far as I am concerned," was the gentle reply.
Then the captain kissed his little girl good-morning, and they all went down to the breakfast-room together. ”

“ If you have such a temper, you have certainly gained complete mastery of it. And that may well give us hope for Lulu."
"I do not despair of her," he said; "though I was near doing so to-day—for a time—after hearing a full account of her passionate behavior—her savage assault, as it seemed to be, upon her baby sister."
"Oh!" moaned Violet, bending over the little one with fast-falling tears,—for it was moaning as if in pain,—"my baby, my poor, precious baby! how gladly mamma would bear all your suffering for you, if she could! O Levis! what shall we do if she is taken from us?" ”

“ CHAPTER XIV. "The dread of evil is the worst of ill."
On leaving the breakfast-room, Violet hastened back to the nursery; but the captain, calling Max and Grace into her boudoir, said, as he took the little girl on his knee, and motioned Max to sit by his side,—
"I have some news for you, my children: can you guess what it is?"
"Something good, I hope, papa," said Max: "you look as if it was."
"I am very much pleased with my share of it," the captain said, smiling; "and I shall know presently, I presume, what you two think of yours. What would you like it to be, Gracie?" ”

“ Lulu asked herself as, in fear and trembling, she watched Violet opening with eager fingers the packet handed her at the breakfast-table.
Max and Gracie, too, looked on with interest quite equal to Lulu's; but in their case there was only joyous expectancy unmingled with dread.
"There is something for each of us, as usual," Violet said presently, with a smiling glance from one to another,—"Max, Lulu, Gracie, and myself." ”

“ Lulu caught his hand, and kissed it, tears of mingled joy and penitence springing to her eyes.
He smiled down at her, and laid his other hand tenderly on her head for an instant.
Then turning to Max, "Now, my boy," he said, "we must settle where you are to lodge. Have you any choice?"
"Is it to be more than one room for me, papa?" he asked, with an arch smile. "I believe boys don't usually fare quite so well as girls in such things."
"My boy does," returned his father: "you shall have two or three rooms if you want them, and quite as well furnished as those of your sisters." ”

“ Grace called to Lulu as she came up the stairs, "O Lu! come in here a minute, into my room. Look, look, on the bed! see how many papa has given me,—ten nice new one dollars."
Lulu counted them as they lay spread out in a row.
"Yes, ten," she said. "O Gracie! isn't it nice? isn't papa kind?"
"'Course he is; kindest man ever was made," said Grace. "Now see how many you have." ”

“ I wish cousins Cal and Art would invite themselves to dine with us too."
"Art's very busy just now," said Ella: "there's a good deal of sickness, and I don't believe he's spent a whole night at home for the last week or more."
"Dear me! I wouldn't be a doctor for any thing, nor a doctor's wife!" exclaimed Zoe.
"Well, I don't know: there's something to be said on both sides of that question," laughed Ella. "I can tell you, Art would make a mighty good husband; and it's very handy, in ease of sickness, to have the doctor in the house." ”

“ Grace ran and opened the schoolroom door at the sound of her father's approaching footsteps.
"See, papa," she said, "we are all here, waiting for you to come, and tell us what lessons to learn."
"Yes, you are good, punctual children," he replied, glancing at the pretty little clock on the mantel; "for it still wants five minutes to nine."
"Papa, I know what lessons to learn, of course," remarked Lulu; "but the others are waiting for you to tell them."
"Yes. I shall examine Max first," the captain said, seating himself at his writing-table. "Bring your books here, my son." ”

“ Max wheeled about, dashed down the avenue at a rapid gallop, turned, and came back at an easy canter; his father and sisters, Violet also, watching him in proud delight, he was so handsome, and sat his pony so well.
"Ah! that will do," his father said when the lad was within easy hearing-distance: "these fellows," glancing at the horses attached to the carriage, "are getting too restless to stand any longer; so you may finish your exhibition at another time. I have seen enough to feel that you are quite equal to the management of your pony."
"O papa! he's just splendid!" ”

“ Violet, hurrying down to welcome her husband home, passed them on the stairway.
"You two happy children!" she said, glancing smilingly back at them.
"Children!" echoed Edward. "Mrs. Raymond, how can you be so disrespectful to your elder brother?—your senior by some two years."
"Ah! but your united ages are much less than Levis's and mine; and husband and wife make but one, don't they?" she returned gayly, as she tripped away.
Baby was almost herself again, and the young mother's heart was full of gladness. ”

“ A little after nine the Roselands carriage was announced; and the doctor and Ella took their departure, Edward and Zoe accompanying them to the outer door.
The sky was black with clouds, and the wind roaring through the trees on the lawn.
"We are going to have a heavy storm. I think," remarked Arthur, glancing upward: "there is not a star to be seen, and the wind blows almost a gale. I hope no patient of mine will want the doctor very badly to-night," he added with a slight laugh. "Step in out of the wind, cousin Zoe, or you may be the very one to send for me." ”

“ I don't think you can, but I'll be done in five minutes."
Edward lay watching for her coming, listening for the sound of her light footsteps, and, as she opened the door, looked up, and greeted her with a tenderly affectionate smile.
"O Ned! dear, dear Ned!" she cried, hastening to the bedside; "how like yourself you look again!"
"And feel, too, love," he said, drawing her down till their lips met in a long kiss.
Arthur had stepped out on her entrance, and they were quite alone together.
"God has been very good to us, darling, in sparing us to each other,"
Edward said, in low, moved tones. ”

“ Though, in common with all the rest, deeply interested in the new home, Max was not sorry when his father and Violet decided that it was time to return to Ion; for he was eager to show his pony to grandma Elsie, Zoe, and Rosie, who had not yet seen it.
"Papa, do you require me to keep along-side of the carriage?" he asked, as he remounted.
"No: if you wish, you may act as our avant-courier," was the smiling reply. "I quite understand that you are in haste to display your new treasure." ”

“ Good-by," giving her friend a hearty embrace.
"Well, children," the captain said at breakfast the next morning, "remember, I expect every one of you to be in the schoolroom at five minutes before nine, and to begin studying exactly at the hour."
"Every thing to be done with naval precision, I suppose," remarked Violet, giving him a bright half-saucy smile; "that being, I understand, about on a par with military."
"Yes," he said, smiling in return, "that is to be the rule in this house for every one but my wife: she is to follow her own sweet will in all things." ”

“ I was delighted to come anyhow," she answered gayly, as she threw aside the latter garment, and took possession of an easy-chair beside the open fire. "To tell you a secret," she went on laughingly, "I like my cousins Ned and Zoe Travilla immensely, and am always glad of an excuse to pay them a visit. But that Miss Deane,—oh! she's just too sweet for any thing!" making a grimace expressive of disgust and aversion, "and a consummate, incorrigible flirt: any one of the male sex can be made to serve her turn, from a boy of sixteen to a man of seventy-five." ”