if you were treated ever so badly," remarked Lulu, with an admiring,
appreciative look at her friend, accompanied by a regretful sigh over
her own infirmity of temper.

"Perhaps my faults lie in another direction; and how much credit do
people deserve for refraining from doing what they feel no temptation to
do?" said Evelyn, with an arch look and smile directed toward Lulu.

"And those that tease quick tempered people, and make them angry,
deserve at least half the blame," Rosie said softly in Lulu's ear,
putting an arm affectionately about her as she spoke. "I don't mean to
do so ever again, Lu, dear."

"I'm sure you don't, Rosie," returned Lulu, in the same low key, her
eyes shining, "and it's ever so good in you to take part of the blame of
my badness."

The visitors went away shortly after tea, Violet carried her babies off
to bed, and the older three of the Woodburn children were left alone
with their father.

They clustered about him, Grace on his knee, Lulu on one side, Max on
the other, while their tongues ran fast on whatever subject happened to
be uppermost in their thoughts, the captain encouraging them to talk
freely; for he was most desirous to have their entire confidence in
order that he might be the better able to correct wrong ideas and
impressions, inculcate right views and motives, and lead them to tread
the paths of rectitude, living noble, unselfish lives, serving God and
doing good to their fellow creatures.