Violet joined them just as Lulu took the last sheet from the machine.

“Oh,” she said, “I see you are busy; but I will not interrupt.”

“We are just done, my dear, and very glad to have you with us,” said her husband.

“Yes, Mamma Vi, this is the last letter papa wants written for him, and you are just in time to help me decide on a reply to one of my own.”

“Willingly, if you wish it; but I should say your father’s advice would be worth far more than mine,” returned Violet in a sprightly tone.  “Levis, my dear, do you refuse to tell her what to do or say?”

“I only advise her to follow her own inclination—­if she can find out what that is,” he answered, regarding Lucilla with a smile that seemed a mixture of fatherly affection and amusement.

“Yes, papa is so dear and kind he won’t give me any order at all, and I am so used to being directed and controlled by him that it really seems hard work to decide for myself,” laughed Lucilla.

“But what about?  My curiosity is keenly aroused,” said Violet, glancing from one to the other.

“An invitation for me to go boating and picnicking day after to-morrow,” returned Lucilla.  “You may read it,” handing Chester’s note to Violet.  “I have no very strong inclination to accept,—­especially as we are expecting to take that day for our shopping expedition to the city,—­but papa seems to think I should hardly decline on that account.  Still he leaves me free to decline or accept as I please, and though I have often wished he would, when he wouldn’t, this time I wish he wouldn’t when he will”; she ended with a hearty laugh.

“And I suppose your conclusion is that fathers are sometimes very doubtful blessings,” the captain said, assuming a grave and troubled air.

She gave him a startled look.  “Oh, papa! surely you are not in earnest? surely you know that I was not?” she exclaimed beseechingly.

He smiled and held out his hand.  She sprang to his side and he drew her to a seat upon his knee.

“Yes, daughter, dear, I do,” he said, caressing her hair and cheek with his hand, “and I, too, was but jesting; I am troubled with no doubts of the sincere, ardent affection of my eldest daughter.”

“Yes,” said Violet with a smile, “I think she very nearly makes an idol of her father—­which is not surprising considering what a dear, good father he is.  Well, I have read the note, Lu, and I think, if I were you, I would accept the invitation.  Don’t you think, my dear, that we might do the shopping to-morrow?”

“Certainly, if it suits you, my love,” he replied.  “I do not know why to-morrow would not suit for that business as well as the next day.”

“And that leaves you free to accept Chester’s invitation, Lu.”

“Yes, and I begin to feel as if I might enjoy it right well if——­”

“If what, daughter?” her father asked, as she paused, leaving her sentence unfinished.