"I have not displeased you, dear mother, have I? I did not feel that I was
saying anything wrong."

"No, darling; I did not think you would understand me, that was the
reason why I did not explain to you. I am always ready to talk with you,
if you can comprehend what I am saying."

"Never mind, mother, I am six years old; it won't be a great while
before I shall be 'a little older,' and then I can realize how very good
you are to me, my dear mother, and how patient you are."

Mrs. Grosvenor clasped the child in her arms. "What makes little pet
look so sober to-night?" asked Captain Grosvenor, as taking her on his
knee, he pushed the dark brown curls from off her forehead, and looked
into her mild, blue eyes. "What makes Sea-flower so quiet? Has anything
happened to either of your seven kittens? or has some flower which has
lived already a week longer than nature designed, at last withered, and
gone the way of all frailties?"

"O, father, I should be very wicked if I were not happy, when I have so
much to make me so; but sometimes, when I hear the shore roaring so loud
as it does this evening, and look up at the stars, as they twinkle in
their homes far away in the sky, there is something which comes over me
of sadness, making me a great deal happier; and there is one particular
star which I always notice, for it seems as if it was looking down at me
so gently, that I forget myself, and put out my hand to touch it, as if
it was not so far away; and I fancy sometimes that the star can read my
thoughts, for it seems to smile when I am happiest."