CHAPTER VII.
Some two hours later the Captain was taking his usual evening walk uponthe deck, when Lucilla and Evelyn joined him.
"We feel like taking a little stroll, father, and hope you will notobject to our company," remarked Evelyn, as they reached his side.
"I could not, with truth, say it was unpleasant to me, daughter," hereturned, with a smile, and passing a hand caressingly over her hair,as she stood close at his side. "The fact is, I am very glad of thecompanionship of you both."
"And we are both thankful to hear you say it, I am sure," returnedLucilla, in a sprightly tone, and with a bright, loving look up intohis eyes. "I'd be heart-broken if I thought my father didn't love meenough to care to have me near him."
"And I should be much distressed if I had reason to believe my daughterdidn't care to be near me. If Grace were as strong and healthy as youare, it would double the pleasure to have her with us. She has gone toher stateroom, I suppose."
"Yes, papa, and most of the others have retired to their rooms, too.Dr. Harold and Chester are playing a game of chess, and so will hardlymiss Eva and me."
"Perhaps not; so we will take our promenade undisturbed by anxietyabout them," laughed the Captain, offering an arm to each.
It was a beautiful evening; the moon was shining in a clear sky andmaking a silvery pathway upon the waters.
"Where do you suppose Max is now, father?" asked Evelyn, with a slightsigh.
"Probably in Washington; though it is possible he may have received hisorders and gone aboard his vessel."
"And doubtless he is thinking of you, Eva, as you are of him," saidLucilla, speaking in low, tender tones.
"No doubt of it," said their father, "for he is very fond of his sweet,young wife. As we all are, daughter dear," he added, softly patting thesmall, white hand resting upon his arm.
"Dear father," she said, with emotion, "it is so kind in you to give methe fatherly affection I have so missed and longed for in years past."
"And daughterly affection from you is an adequate return," he saidpleasantly. "I expect to enjoy that in all this winter's wanderings bysea and land."
"Wanderings which I am very glad to be allowed to share," she said; andthen they talked of the various places they expected to visit while onthis winter trip.
At length Evelyn, saying it was high time for her to join Grace in thestateroom they shared together, said good-night and returned to thecabin, but Lucilla delayed her departure a little longer--it was sopleasant to have her father all to herself for a bit of private chatbefore retiring for the night.
They paced the deck silently for a few moments, then she said: "Father,I have thought a good deal of that talk we had in our Bible lessonsome time ago, about the second coming of Christ. Do you think it--hiscoming--is very near?"
"It may be, daughter. The signs of the times seem to indicate itsapproach. Jesus said, 'Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not theangels of heaven, but My Father only.' He has given us signs, however,by which we may know that it is near; and judging by them we may, Ithink, know that it is not very far off now."
"Then, papa, doesn't it seem as if we ought to be busied with religiousduties all the time?"
"I think whatever duties the Lord gives us in His Providence may, insome sense, be called religious duties--for me, for instance, the careof wife, children and dependents. We are to go on with household andfamily duties, those to the poor and needy in our neighborhood; alsoto take such part as we can in the work of the church at home and forforeign missions, and so forth; all this, remembering his command,'Occupy till I come,' and endeavoring to be ready to meet him with joywhen he comes."
"And isn't it a very important part trying to win souls to Christ?"
"It is, indeed, and 'he that winneth souls is wise.' Leading a trulyChristlike life may often win them to join us in being his disciples,even though we refrain from any word of exhortation; though there aretimes when we should not refrain from giving that also."
"As you did to me, father," she said, with a loving look up into hisface. "Oh, I shall try to be a winner of souls. The Bible makes theway clear, again and again, in a very few words. You know it tells usJesus said to Nicodemus, 'God so loved the world, that He gave His onlybegotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, buthave everlasting life.'"
"Yes; and Peter said to Cornelius and his kinsmen and friends, aftertelling them of Jesus, 'To Him give all the prophets witness, thatthrough His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remissionof sins.' And Paul and Silas, when asked by the jailor, 'Sirs, whatmust I do to be saved?' replied, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,and thou shalt be saved.' Salvation is God's free gift, without moneyand without price. One must believe in His divinity, His ability andwillingness to save, taking salvation at His hands as a free, unmeritedgift. But now, dear child," he added, taking her in his arms, with afond caress, "it is time for you and that not very strong husband ofyours to be seeking your nest for the night. 'The Lord bless thee, andkeep thee; the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be graciousunto thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give theepeace.'" he added in solemn tones, laying a hand tenderly upon her headas he spoke.
"Thank you, dear father," she said, in tones half tremulous withemotion, "I do so love that blessing from your lips. And Chester and Iboth think I have the best father in the world."
"It is pleasant to have you think that," he returned, with a smileand another caress, "but no doubt there are many fathers in the worldquite as good, kind and affectionate as yours; perhaps if my daughterswere less affectionate and obedient than they are, they might findtheir father more stern and severe. Now, good-night--and may you havepeaceful sleep undisturbed by troubled dreams."