"Oh, yes, sir, that will be the best, I know," she said, rising promptly
from the seat she had taken, and with a loving look up into his face--for
he was close at her side now. "What a happy thing it is for me that I have
such a kind, wise father to take care of me!"

"A father whose strong desire it certainly is to make you and all his
children as happy as possible," he said, laying a hand on her head and
looking fondly down into her eyes. "Good-night, daughter, and don't
hesitate to call me if anything should go wrong with you or Grace."

"Am I also under orders to retire, sir?" asked Violet with a mischievous
smile up into his face, as Lulu bade good-night to the rest of the company
and disappeared down the companion-way.

"Not from me," he said, pleasantly taking a seat at her side as he spoke.
"Have I not told you many times that my wife does what she pleases? At
least, if she fails to do so it is in consequence of no order from me."

"No; you have never given me one yet, and I believe I should like you to
do so for once that I may see how it feels," she added with a low, musical
laugh, slipping her hand confidingly into his.

"Perhaps you might not find it particularly agreeable," he returned,
pressing the little hand tenderly in his. "But just to satisfy you I may
try it one of these days. You are not disappointed in the Fair so far?"

"No, no, not in the least! Oh, how lovely it is! and what a beautiful view
we have from here! How delighted our little Elsie and Ned will be with it
all to-morrow. I hardly know how to wait for the time to come when I can