floating home. All were
weary with the day's sight-seeing and soon retired to their state-rooms;
but Lucilla, noticing that her father had remained on deck, hastened back
again for the bit of private chat with him of which she was so fond, yet
in these days could so seldom get. He welcomed her with a smile, and
drawing her into his arms added a tender caress.

"And what has my little girl, my dear eldest daughter, to say to her
father to-night?" he asked.

"Oh, not very much of anything, papa," she replied, "but I'm hungry for a
little petting and a chance to hug and kiss my dear father; without
anybody by to criticise," she concluded, with a low, happy laugh.

"Very well, my darling, you have my full permission to do all you care to
in that line," he said, patting her cheek and pressing his lips to it
again and again. "I haven't lost the first place in my little girl's heart
yet?"

"No, indeed, papa; and you need not have the least bit of fear that you
ever will."

"That is good news; if something I have heard so many times can be
properly called news."

"Are you tired hearing it, father, dear?" she asked half entreatingly,
half incredulously.

"Indeed no, my darling," he returned, holding her close. "I can hardly
bear to think there will ever be a time when I shall have to relinquish
the very first place in your heart; though I do not believe the time will
ever come when your love for me will fail entirely or even be very small."

"I can't believe there is the very least danger of that, my own dear, dear
father," she returned earnestly, "and oh, it would break my heart to think
that you would ever love me any less than you do now."

"It would take a great deal to lessen my love for you, dear one," he
replied, repeating his caresses. "Has this been a happy and enjoyable day
to you, daughter?"

"Oh, very, papa! what a delightful time we are having!"

"You will be almost sorry when the time comes for returning home?"

"Oh, no, indeed, sir! we have such a sweet home that I am always glad to
be back to it when we have been away for a few weeks."

"But then playtime will be over and studies must be renewed."

"And that, with such a cross, cross teacher whom nobody loves," she
returned sportively, and laying her head on his shoulder, for he had sat
down, drawing her to his side and putting an arm about her waist.

"Ah, indeed! I had thought it was your father who was to teach you."

"And you didn't know h