back now?" something seemed to reply; "suppose he should; wouldn't
he punish you for your behavior since he left, only two days ago?"

"Yes," she sighed; "I haven't the least doubt that if he were here and
knew all he would punish me severely again; and I suppose he wouldn't be
long in the house before he would hear it all; yet for all that I should
be--oh, so glad if he could come back to stay a good while."

Last night's storm had spent itself in a few hours, and the morning was
bright and clear; yet a long drive planned for that day by our friends
was unanimously postponed, as several of them had lost sleep, and wanted
to make it up with a nap.

Violet sought her couch immediately after dinner, slept off the last
remains of her headache, and about the middle of the afternoon was
preparing to go down to the beach, where all the others were, except
Grace, who was seldom far from mamma's side, when the outer door opened,
and a step and voice were heard which she had not hoped to hear again
for months or years.

The next moment she was in her husband's arms, her head pillowed on his
breast, while his lips were pressed again and again to brow and cheek
and lips, and Grace's glad shout arose, in sweet, silvery tones, "Papa
has come back! Papa has come back! My dear, dear papa!"

"Can it be possible, my dear, dear husband?" cried Violet, lifting to
his a face radiant with happiness. "It seems too good to be true."

"Not quite so good as that," he said, with a joyous laugh, "But it is
quite a satisfaction to find that you are not sorry to see me."

"Of which you were terribly afraid, of course," she returned, gayly. "Do
tell me at once how long our powers of endurance of such uncongenial
society are to be taxed?"

"Ah, that is beyond my ability."

"Then we may hope for weeks or months?" she said, rapturously.

"Certainly we are not forbidden to hope," he answered, smiling tenderly
upon her.

"Oh, I am so glad!" she said, with a happy sigh, leaning her head on his
shoulder and gazing fondly up into his face, his right arm about her
waist, while Grace clung to the other hand, holding it lovingly between
her own and pressing her lips to it again and again.

"Ah, my darling little girl," he said presently, letting Violet go to
take Grace in his arms. "Are you glad to see papa back again so soon?"

"Oh, yes, indeed; nothing else could have made me so very, very glad!"
she cried, hugging him close, and giving and re