"And you have saved them for me, you dear father," she said, clinging
about his neck and laying her cheek to his, her eyes full of tears, a
slight tremble in her voice. "But they are yours, because I am," she
added, laughing a little hysterically. "Oh I'm every bit yours; from the
crown of my head to the soles of my feet."

"Yes, so you are; one of my choice treasures, my darling," he said with
emotion; "and my heart is full of thankfulness to God our heavenly
Father for enabling me to save you from being so sadly maimed."

"And I do think your Mamma Vi is almost as thankful as either of you,"
Violet said, coming to his side and softly smoothing Lulu's hair.

They were in the dressing-room, no one else present but Grace and Max.

"I'm pretty thankful myself," observed the latter jocosely, but with a
telltale moisture about the eyes; "I shouldn't like to have a sister
with a fingerless hand."

"Oh don't, Max! don't talk so!" sobbed Grace, "I just can't bear to
think of such dreadful things!"

Her father turned toward her and held out his hand. She sprang to his
side and he put his arm about her.

"The danger is happily past, my pet," he said, touching his lips to her
cheek; "so dry your eyes and think of something else, something
pleasanter."

"You've got enough of skating, I suppose, Lu? you won't want to try it