have our dear papa and Mamma Vi, and the little ones left. Besides,
Maxie will come home again to visit us one of these days."

"Oh, but he'll never live at home with us any more," sobbed Gracie; "at
least I'm afraid he won't; and--and oh, I do love him so! and he's the
only big brother we have."

"But we have papa, dear, dear papa, who used to be obliged to go away
and leave us; but we have him all the time now," Lulu replied half
chokingly. "I wish we could have them both, but we can't, and we both do
love papa the best after all."

"And papa loves his two dear little girls more than tongue can tell,"
the captain said in tenderest tones, drawing near, bending down to take
both in his arms together, and kissing first one and then the other. "Be
comforted, my darlings," he went on, holding them close to his heart;
"we haven't lost our Maxie by any means; and though I left him feeling a
trifle homesick and forlorn, he will get over that in a day or two I
know, and greatly enjoy the business of preparing himself for the life
work he has freely chosen."

"But, oh, papa, how he will miss our lovely home, and you, and all of
us!" sobbed Gracie, hiding her tear-stained face on her father's
shoulder.

"Not as you would, my darling," he replied, holding her close and
caressing her with great tenderness. "Boys are different from girls, and
I think our dear Maxie will soon feel very happy there among his mates,
though he will, I am sure, never cease to love his father, sisters,
Mamma Vi, baby brother, and his home with them all."