CHAPTER XVIII.
"Had you a call from Professor Manton, Levis?" asked Violet, as they sattogether on the veranda that evening. "I thought so because he passed usas we were coming home and was looking very glum."
"Yes, he was here this afternoon," replied the captain.
"In search of pupils, I suppose?"
"Yes; and was rather disappointed to learn that I had none for him. Heasked about Rosie and Walter, but I was unable to tell him positivelywhether they would, or would not, be sent to him; though I gave him butlittle encouragement, perhaps I should say none at all, to expect them."
"No; I am nearly certain they will not be willing to go to him, and thatmamma will not care to send them; indeed she more than hinted that shewould be delighted to commit them to your care should you show yourselfwilling to undertake the task of instructing them. Are you willing?"
"I am hardly prepared to answer that question, my dear," he repliedthoughtfully. "They might not be willing to submit to the authority ofa brother-in-law."
"I am almost sure you would have no trouble in governing them," returnedViolet.
"I don't believe you would have any at all, papa," remarked Lulu, whowas leaning on the arm of his chair and listening with much interest tothe conversation; "neither of them is half so--so wilful andquick-tempered as I am."
The captain smiled at that, put an arm about her, and drew her closer tohim. "But they don't belong to me as you do," he said, touching his lipsto her cheek. "You are my very own, own little daughter, you know."
"Yes, indeed, and so glad to be," she returned, putting her arm roundhis neck and gazing into his eyes, her own shining with filial love.
The younger ones were already in bed, even Gracie having felt too muchfatigued with the duties and pleasures of the day to wait for eveningprayers.
"Yes, I think you may esteem yourself a fortunate child in that respect,Lu," said Violet. "I really believe it is the next best thing to beinghis wife," she added, with a pleasant little laugh.
"I think it's the very best thing, Mamma Vi," returned Lulu.
"Well, to go back to the original topic of discourse, Levis--or atleast to the question whether you are willing to undertake the tuitionof my young sister and brother," Violet went on. "I feel certain theywould give you no trouble in governing them; also that your talent forteaching is such that they could not fail to greatly improve under yourtuition."
"But might not your grandpa feel that I was interfering with him?"queried the captain.
"Oh, no, indeed! Grandpa feels that he is growing old, and has doneenough of that kind of work. And you would be glad to please mamma?"
"Most certainly; I could refuse her nothing--the poor, dear woman!"
"Then we may consider it settled? Oh, thank you, my dear."
"Well, yes; I suppose so. Are you willing to share your teacher withRosie and Walter, daughter mine?" he asked, softly stroking Lulu's hair.
"My teacher, but not my father, you dear papa," returned Lulu, pattinghis cheek, then holding up her face for a kiss, which he gave heartilyand repeated more than once.
"What do you think, Mamma Vi, of your husband having an amanuensis?" hecontinued, affectionately squeezing Lulu's hand, which he had taken inhis. "My correspondence was disposed of to-day with most unusual andunexpected ease. I would read a letter, tell my amanuensis the reply Iwished to make, and she would write it off on the typewriter while Iexamined the next epistle, asking few directions and making scarcely anymistakes."
"Lulu did it?" Violet exclaimed in surprise "Why, Lu, I am bothastonished and delighted!"
"Thank you, Mamma Vi; and I am very glad that I can help my dear, kindfather, who does so much for me," Lulu answered, putting her arm roundhis neck, and laying her cheek to his. "Oh, I couldn't possibly do halfenough for him! but I hope I may be of a great deal of use to him someof these days."
"You are that already, dear child," he said; "so useful and so dear thatyour father would not know how to do without you."
"How good in you to say that, dear papa; but I am sure it would be tentimes worse for me to be without you," she returned. "Oh, I'm glad I'mnot a boy, to have to go away from you."
"I am glad too," he responded; "glad that my children are neither allboys nor all girls. It is quite delightful, I think, to have some ofeach."
"Yes, sir; and I think it's delightful to have both brothers and sisterswhen they are of as good a sort as mine are, though I've seen some I'dbe sorry to have."
"As I have seen some children that I should be sorry, I think, to callmy own. Yet if they were mine I would probably love them dearly, andperhaps not see their faults; or rather love them in spite of theirnaughtiness."
"Just as you do me, papa," she said, a little sadly. "Haven't you alwaysloved me, though I've sometimes been very, very naughty indeed?"
"Yes, always," he said, holding her close, as something very dear andprecious. "And I believe my little girl has always loved me even when Ihave been quite severe in the punishment of her faults."
"Yes; oh, yes, indeed, papa! because I have always felt that I deservedit; often a much more severe punishment than you inflicted; and that youdidn't do it because you liked to, but because you wanted to make megood."
"And happy," he added. "I think you are never happy when disobedient,wilful, or ill-tempered."
"No, indeed, papa! and I'm thankful to you that you have never indulgedme in those things."
"And I think, with Lu, that you are one of the best of fathers, Levis,"remarked Violet.
"It is certainly very pleasant to be so highly esteemed by one's wifeand daughter, whether deserving of it or not," he said, with a pleasedlittle laugh; "yet I am not at all sure that such flattery is quitegood for me."
"I don't believe any amount of praise could ever hurt you, papa," Lulusaid, with a look into his eyes of ardent love and reverence; "you doseem to me to be just perfect; never doing or saying anything wrong."
"I think it must be my little girl's great love for her father thatmakes her so blind to his faults and failings," he replied, in low,tender tones.
"A blindness certainly shared by your wife," remarked Violet lightly."We have been married five years and I have yet to hear the first unkindword from my husband's lips."
"He would be an exceedingly unreasonable man who could find fault withsuch a wife as mine," was his smiling rejoinder.
"But to change the subject, I suppose we may look for the rest of ourparty about the last of next week?"
"Yes, I think so."
"I shall be ever so glad to see them--especially dear Grandma Elsie andRosie and Walter; but oh, I wish the Fairview folks were coming,especially Eva," remarked Lulu, ending with a sigh of regret.
"Ah, well, daughter, perhaps Evelyn may be here before the winter isover," the captain said, exchanging a slightly amused glance withViolet.
"Oh, I hope so!" exclaimed Lulu; "but of course one can't expect to haveeverything one wants in this world."
"No, certainly not," her father said; "it would be by no means good forus if we could."
"Not for me, I know; but oh, I have a great, great manyblessings--health and strength and such a dear kind father to love me,provide for me, teach me, and train me up in the way I should go," sheconcluded, with a smiling look up into his eyes.
"That is what I am trying to do, at all events," he returned, holdingher close, "though I sometimes fear I may not always have taken thewisest way."
"Is it because you have succeeded so poorly that you fear so, papa?" sheasked. "If so, don't be troubled about it, because I don't believe it'sfrom any mistake of yours, but only that I'm so very naughty andunmanageable."
"Really, now, Lu, I think your father has succeeded fairly well at thebusiness," laughed Violet. "I doubt if anybody else would have donebetter."
"Or half so well," said Lulu; "and I am fully resolved to try to docredit to his training."
"I think you had a letter from Max to-day, Levis?" remarked Viole
tinquiringly, "Dear fellow, I hope he was quite well at the time ofwriting?"
"Yes; and apparently in excellent spirits. He seems to be doing well inhis studies; content with things as they are too, though evidentlyfeeling that he would greatly enjoy being here with the rest of us."
"Yes, poor, dear fellow! I wish he could make one of our party;especially at Christmas time."
"So do I," said his father. "We must make it up to him with as full anaccount as possible of the Christmas doings here."
"I wonder what they will be," said Lulu.
"We will have to consider and decide that question--to some extent, atleast--after mamma comes," replied Violet.
"And now we must go in and have prayers; for it is near bedtime for myeldest daughter," remarked the captain, rising and taking Lulu's hand inhis.
The days flew by on swift wings, even to Lulu and Grace, so filled werethey with duties and pleasures, and at length the time had come whenGrandma Elsie and the others were expected by the evening boat.
Their arrival was anticipated with great delight by every one on theestate, and all possible preparations had been made for their comfortand to show how gladly welcome they were. Everything indoors and out wasin beautiful order, a feast of fat things ready in the kitchen, thefamilies from the parsonage and Magnolia Hall were present byinvitation, and as the hour drew near when the boat might be expected,all gathered at the wharf and eagerly watched for its appearance.
At length their patience was rewarded; the little steamer appeared insight far down the bayou, came puffing along past the orange orchard,and rounded to at the landing.
In another moment the travelers were on shore: Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore,Grandma Elsie, Rosie, Walter, and--could Lulu believe her eyes--yes,there was Evelyn! It could be no one else; and with a cry of joy the twolittle girls ran into each other's arms.
"Oh, Eva, Eva, I'm so glad! I hadn't the least idea that you were comingtoo!" cried Lulu, fairly wild with delight.
"Ah, papa, you must have known and kept it a secret from me to give mesuch a glad surprise," she exclaimed, as she caught sight of his faceand noted the pleased smile with which he was regarding her.
"Yes, daughter, I knew and planned, with Mamma Vi and the others, togive you this pleasant surprise," he said, bending down to bestow apaternal kiss upon the gentle, fatherless girl who had won so large aplace in the heart of his own dear child.
"And we were all very glad to have Eva along," Rosie said. "And, O Lu,I'm looking for very good times this coming winter here in our lovelyViamede, and with your father here I know it will be pleasanter thanever for you--pleasanter for all of us; for, Brother Levis, I hear thatI am to be your pupil instead of Professor Manton's; a change which Ihaven't a doubt I shall enjoy extremely."
"Ah, don't be too sure of that, little sister," he returned laughingly,giving a welcoming embrace to her also. "I am a very strictdisciplinarian, as Lulu here can testify," laying a hand affectionatelyon his daughter's shoulder.
"Yes, Rosie, papa is strict, but if one does exactly as he orders, he'skind as kind can be; and maybe he wouldn't be quite so stern and strictwith other folks' children as he is with me--his very own, you know."
But a reply from Rosie was prevented by Violet catching her in her arms,saying, "You dear child, how glad I am to have you here at last! We haveall been looking forward to your coming as well as to that of dear,darling mamma, grandpa, and the others."
At the same time Grandma Elsie was embracing Lulu most affectionately,saying how well she looked, and hoping that she and Grace, as well asthe older people, had been enjoying Viamede.
"Indeed we have, dear Grandma Elsie," replied Lulu. "Oh, it was so goodand kind in you to invite us all to spend the winter in this loveliestof lovely places!"
"Good to myself, dear child, quite as much as to you; for I love to haveyou all about me."
"And I hope you are better? A great deal better?" returned Lulu, with aninquiring look into the sweet face.
"Very much better, thank you, dear child. Almost my old self again," wasthe sweet-toned reply.
Some few moments more were spent in the exchange of glad, affectionategreetings and inquiries after each other's health and welfare, then alltook their way to the house; even Grandma Elsie claiming that herstrength was quite equal to so short a walk, the journey on the boathaving been restful rather than fatiguing. Yet it was evident to allthat she was far from strong, and they joined Mr. Dinsmore in an urgententreaty that she would retire at an early hour to her own room and bed;which she did, her daughters accompanying her to see that nothing waslacking that could in any way add to her comfort.