The child was sound asleep, her yellow braid hanging over the captain's broad shoulder.

He was gazing down into her face with a look which was so full of yearning and love that it brought a choke into the throats of the pair who saw it.
They entered the dining room.

The captain sprang from his chair and, still holding the little girl close against his breast, met them at the sitting-room door.

When he saw who the visitors were, he caught his breath, almost with a sob, and seemed relieved.
"S-s-h-h!" he whispered warningly.

"She's asleep." The members of the Board of Strategy nodded understandingly and sat down upon the sofa.