"I wish he could indeed!" responded the captain; "but princ.i.p.ally because I fear he will prove a care and trouble to your grandfather and mother, who, I am inclined to think, are more capable than I of giving him proper training. I shall go away feeling easier in regard to my children"s welfare than I ever have before since they lost their mother."
"I am very glad of that, Levis," Violet said, her eyes shining with pleasure, "and I do believe they will have a happy life at Ion."
"It will certainly be their own fault if they do not," he replied.
Rose Travilla was somewhat less amiable in disposition than her mother and older sisters, and had been much disgusted with Lulu"s exhibition of temper that evening.
Talking with her mother afterward in her dressing-room, "Mamma," she said, "I wish you hadn"t offered to let Lulu Raymond live with us at Ion. I don"t at all like the way she behaves, and I wish you and grandpa would tell her father to send her off to boarding-school."
"That is an unkind wish, Rose," said her mother. "Perhaps if you had had the same treatment Lulu has been subjected to since her mother"s death, you might have shown as bad a temper as hers. Haven"t you some pity for the little girl, when you reflect that she is motherless?"
"I don"t think she could have a sweeter mother than our Vi," was the unexpected rejoinder. "But she doesn"t appreciate her in the least," Rose went on, "but seems always on the watch against any effort on Vi"s part to control her."
"She seems to be naturally impatient of control by whomsoever exerted,"
Mrs. Travilla said, "but we will hope to see her improve in that respect, and you must set her a good example, Rose.
"And I want you to think how sad it would be for her to be parted from the brother and sister she loves so dearly and sent away alone to boarding-school. I shall never forget how alarmed and distressed I was when your grandpa threatened me with one."
"Did he, mamma?" asked Rosie, opening her eyes very wide with surprise.
"Yes, he was very much displeased with me at the time," her mother said with a sigh. "But we will not talk about it; the recollection is very painful to me."
"No, mamma; but I cannot get over my astonishment, for I thought you were never naughty, even when you were a little child."
"Quite a mistake, Rosie; I had my naughty times as well as other children," Mrs. Travilla said, smiling at Rosie"s bewildered look. "But now I want you to promise me, my child, that you will be kind and forbearing toward poor little motherless Lulu."
"Well, mamma, to please you I will; but I hope she won"t try me too much by impertinence to you or Violet. I don"t think I can stand it if she does.
"Try to win her love, Rosie, and then you may be able to influence her strongly for good."
"I don"t know how to begin, mamma."
"Force your thoughts to dwell on the good points in her character, and think compa.s.sionately of the respects in which she is less fortunate than yourself, and you will soon find a feeling of love toward her springing up in your heart; and love begets love. Do her some kindness, daughter, and that will help you to love her and to gain her love."
"Well, mamma, I shall try if only to please you. But do tell me, did grandpa punish you very severely when you were naughty?"
"His punishment was seldom anything more severe than the gentle rebuke, "I am not pleased with you," but I think I felt it more than many a child would a whipping; I did so dearly love my father that his displeasure was terrible to me."
"Yes, I know you and he love each other dearly yet, and he often says you were a very good, conscientious little girl."
"But to return to Lulu," said Mrs. Travilla, "I had thought she would be a nice companion for you, and until this evening I have not seen her show any naughty temper since the first week she was here."
"No, mamma, she has been quite well-behaved, I believe, and perhaps she will prove a pleasant companion. I am sorry for her, too, because she hasn"t a dear, wise, kind mother like mine," Rosie added, putting her arms about her mother"s neck, "and because the father, I am sure she loves very much, must soon go away and leave her."
CHAPTER V.
"Farewell, G.o.d knows when we shall meet again."
--Shakespeare.
The next morning the captain and Max were out together on the beach before Violet and the little girls had left their rooms. The lad liked to be alone with his father sometimes. He had always been proud and fond of him, and the past few months of constant intercourse had greatly strengthened the bonds of affection between them. The boy"s heart was sore at thought of the parting that must soon come, the captain"s hardly less so. He talked very kindly with his son, urging him to make the best use of his time, talents and opportunities, and grow up to be a good, honorable and useful man.
"I want to be just such a man as you are, papa," Max said, with an admiring, affectionate look up into his father"s face, and slipping his hand into his as he spoke.
The captain clasped the hand lovingly in his, and held it fast.
"I hope you will be a better and more talented man, my boy," he said, "but always remember my most ardent wish is to see you a truly good man, a Christian, serving G.o.d with all your powers."
At this moment a voice behind them said, "Good-mornin", cap"n. I"se got a lettah hyah for you, sah."
"Ah, good-morning, Ben, and thank you for bringing it," said the captain, turning round to receive it.
"You"s bery welcom, sah," responded Ben, touching his hat respectfully, then walking away toward Mr. Dinsmore"s cottage.
"From Washington," the captain remarked, more to himself than to Max, as he broke the seal.
Max watched him while he read, then asked, a little tremulously, "Must you go very soon, papa?"
"Within three days, my boy. But we won"t say anything about it until after prayers, but let Mamma Vi and your sisters enjoy their breakfast in peace."
"Yes, sir. Papa, I wish I was going with you!"
"But think how your sisters would miss you, Max."
"Yes, sir, I suppose they would. I hadn"t thought of that."
"Besides, I want you to take my place to Mamma Vi as nearly as you can,"
added his father, looking smilingly at him.
"O papa, thank you!" cried the boy, his face growing bright with pleased surprise. "I will try my very best and do all for her that I can."
"I don"t doubt it, my son. And now let us go in, for it must be breakfast-time, I think."
Lulu and Grace ran out to the veranda to meet them with a glad, "Good-morning, papa," and holding up their faces for a kiss.
It was bestowed heartily, as he stooped and gathered them in his arms, saying in tender tones, "Good-morning, my dear little daughters."
The breakfast bell was ringing, and they hastened to obey its summons.
They found Violet already in the dining-room, and looking sweet and fresh as a rose, in a pretty, becoming morning dress.
The captain chatted cheerfully with her and the children while he ate, seeming to enjoy his beefsteak, m.u.f.fins and coffee; but Max scarcely spoke, and occasionally had some difficulty in swallowing his food because of the lump that would rise in his throat at the thought of the parting now drawing so near.
Directly after breakfast came family worship. Then as Violet and her husband stood together before the window looking out upon the sea, he gave her his Washington letter to read.