CHAPTER XI.
"My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."-- _Psalm_ 5:3.
It was early morning; Captain Raymond was pacing to and fro along the top of the cliffs, now sending a glance seaward, and now toward the door of the cottage which was his temporary home, as if expecting a companion in his ramble.
Presently the door opened and Lulu stepped out upon the porch.

One eager look showed her father, and she bounded with joyful step to meet him.
"Good-morning, my dear papa," she cried, holding up her face for a kiss, which he gave with hearty affection.
"Good-morning, my dear little early bird," he responded.

"Come, I will help you down the steps and we will pace the sands at the water's edge." This was Lulu's time for having her father to herself, as she phrased it.

He was sure to be out at this early hour, if the weather would permit, and she almost equally sure to join him: and as the others liked to lie a little longer in bed, there was seldom any one to share his society with her.
He led her down the long flights of stairs and across the level expanse of sand, close to where the booming waves dashed up their spray.
For some moments the two stood hand in hand silently gazing upon sea and sky, bright with the morning sunlight; then they turned and paced the beach for a time, and then the captain led his little girl to a seat in the porch of a bathing-house, from which they could still look far out over the sea.
"Papa," she said, nestling close to his side, "I am very fond of being down here all alone with you." "Are you, daughter ?" he said, bending down to caress her hair and cheek.
"Well, I dearly love to have my little girl by my side.

How long have you been up ?" "I can't tell exactly; because, you know, papa, there is no time-piece in my room.