e had never heard before:

"And for that very reason, I wish to make myself useful to you; besides,
Bertha and I are very lonely without you."

The color grew deeper upon Violet's cheek, for both his look and tone
were very earnest; but she promised to come down to dine with them, and
then ran up to her room to make some slight change in her attire.

During dinner Mr. Lawrence was kindly attentive. He cut her meat for
her, and unostentatiously prepared whatever would be awkward for her to
manage, talking all the while upon some entertaining subject, and made
himself so agreeable and helpful throughout the meal that Violet was
glad that she had consented to resume her place at the table.

After that she came down every day, and grew quite used to having him
care for her, and found it very pleasant, too.

"He is like a dear, kind father, only a great deal more thoughtful and
attentive than most fathers would be," she told herself, when thinking
it over afterward, and how he had interposed in every way to prevent her
from feeling awkward in accepting his attentions.

Mr. Lawrence kept his word--he would allow no more lessons while she was
crippled, but planned some amusement or pleasant trip for every day,
until she was entirely well.

Once she remonstrated against the idle life she was leading.

"Mr. Lawrence," she said, "I do not feel right about this. I ought to be
at work--I am not earning my salt."

"And why should you?" he asked, gravely.

"But I came here to perform certain duties, and I am doing nothing but
playing--just drifting along, and having a pleasant time," she
explained.

"I hope so; but I am very sorry if you feel any weight of obligation,
when that should rest upon me," he returned, in the same tone as before.
"Miss Huntington, do you imagine that it is nothing to me that you saved
my child from some serious accident--perhaps from death? Do you think me
so ungrateful as not to wish to do everything possible for you, when you
have suffered so much in your efforts to save her? I hope we shall hear
no more about your earning your salt--that, and everything else, has
been already earned a good many times over," he concluded, with a
luminous smile.

Violet had not thought of it in this way before, but she was effectually
silenced, and objected no more at anything he chose to do for her.

One rainy morning, they had an unusually merry time over a humorous
story which Mr. Lawrence read to them.