t, father, he may come into the house in the
night. You know he did before."

"Yes, I remember; and I have arranged to have watchmen--armed
men--patrolling the grounds near at hand; so that if he makes such an
attempt it will be at the risk of his life. It is wise and right for
us to take all possible precautions, then trust calmly and securely in
the protecting care of our Heavenly Father. Try to do so, dear child,
and do not lie awake in fear and trembling."

"I will not, if I can help it, father," she said.

"I will remember the sweet words of the Psalmist, 'The salvation of
the righteous is of the Lord; he is their strength in the time of
trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them: he shall
deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in
him.'"

"Yes," he said, "trust in the Lord and he will deliver you. 'According
to your faith be it unto you.' Have confidence in your earthly father
too. We will have the doors open between our rooms, and if anything
alarms you in the night run right to your father for protection and
help."

"I will, dear papa," she said; "and, oh, with a kind, all-wise and
all-mighty Heavenly Father, and so dear and wise an earthly one, I
can lie down in peace and sleep as sweetly as ever I did."

"I hope so, dear child. And I think I hardly need caution you to keep
all this from our timid, nervous Grace; and the younger ones also."

"They shall not learn it from me, papa," she said; "I will do what I
can to keep them all in ignorance of the danger that seems to
threaten."

She kept her word, and a week slipped by without any further evidence
of the near vicinity of the convict.

CHAPTER XVI.

Lucilla and Grace rode out every day on their ponies, always
accompanied by their father, sometimes by Violet also, though the
latter generally preferred a drive in the carriage, taking her
children with her. And Lucilla, being stronger than Grace, would, if
she had occasion, go a second time when it suited her father to go
with her. Chester Dinsmore came often to the house, and sometimes
joined them in their rides; for he was keeping a vigilant watch for
traces of the escaped convict who was known to cherish so great an
enmity to Lucilla.

Chester made no lover-like advances to the girl he so coveted, because
so far he had been unable to win her father's consent, but he was glad
to seize every opportunity to be with her and do