id with
a lovely smile; "but you, my dear sir, are so situated that you could not
follow his example; you can neither stay at home with your children nor
take them to sea with you."

"True, but they can stay where they are quite as well if I am married as
if I remain without a wife. I love them very dearly, Mrs. Travilla, and
earnestly desire to do my whole duty to them, but I do not think it a part
of that either to do without the dear little wife I covet, or to burden
her with cares unsuited to her tender years. Are you not willing to let me
settle this question of duty for myself?"

"I certainly have not the shadow of a right or inclination to attempt to
settle any question of duty for you, sir," she answered with sweet
gentleness, "but I must, I think, try to help my dear child to consider
such questions for herself. And with her, after all, must the decision of
this matter remain."

Both mother and lover waited with anxiety for that decision, and while
waiting the captain wrote his letter, the mother busied herself with her
accustomed cares and duties as daughter, mother, mistress, and hostess,
each heart lifting up silent petitions that the result might be for God's
glory and the best interests of all concerned.

Elsie was not surprised that Violet did not join the family that evening
on her return from the Laurels.

"She doubtless wants a talk with her mother first," was her silent comment
on learning that Vi had gone directly to that part of the house in which
the private apartments of the family were situated, and presently, as all
separated for the night, she sought her own dressing-room, expecting to
find Violet waiting for her there.

But the room was unoccupied; one swift glance revealed that fact, and also
showed her the box Violet had left on her toilet-table, and beside it some
little token of love and remembrance from each of the other members of the
family.

A label on each told who was the giver, and breathed of tender affection
to her for whom it was prepared.

She looked them over with glistening eyes, a heart full of gratitude for
the loves still left her, though sore with the thought, recalled by every
anniversary, of him who was gone, and a sweet and beautiful smile playing
about her lips.

Violet's gift was the last to be taken up and examined. So life-like was
the pictured face suddenly exposed to Elsie's view that it startled her
almost as if he had come in and stood by her side. Th