But we will ask him again for that, and to give you strength to fight against your evil nature as you never have fought, and to conquer." "And to make the baby well, papa," she added sobbingly, as he knelt with her.
"Yes," he said.
When they had risen from their knees, he bade her get her hat and coat, saying, "You need fresh air and exercise.

I will take you for a walk." "I'd like to go, papa," she said; "but"-- "But what ?" "I--I'm afraid of--of meeting some of the family; and--and I don't want to see any of them." "Perhaps we shall not meet them," he said; "and, if we do, you need not look toward them; and they will not speak to you.

Put on your hat and coat at once: we have no time to lose." She obeyed; and presently they were walking down the avenue, not having met any one on their way out of the house.
The captain moved on in silence, seemingly absorbed in sad thought, and hardly conscious that Lulu was by his side.
She glanced wistfully up into his grave, stern face two or three times, then said humbly, pleadingly, "Papa, please may I put my hand in yours ?" "Certainly," he said, looking down at her very kindly, as he took her hand, and held it in a warm, affectionate clasp.

"Child, you have not lost your father's love.

You are very dear to me, in spite of all your naughtiness." He slackened his pace, for he saw she was finding it difficult to keep up with him; and his attention was again attracted to the heat of her hand.
"You are not well, perhaps not able to walk ?" he said inquiringly, and in tenderly solicitous accents.
"It is pleasant to be out in the air, papa," she answered; "but it tires me a good deal more than usual." "We will not go far, then," he said; "and, if your strength gives out before we get back to the house, I will carry you." They were in the road now, some distance beyond the avenue-gates; and at this moment a number of horsemen came in sight, approaching from the direction opposite to that they were taking.
Perceiving them, Lulu uttered a sharp cry of terror, and shrank behind her father, though still clinging to his hand.
"What is it, daughter ?" he asked in surprise: "what do you fear ?" "O papa, papa!" she sobbed, "are they coming to take me and put me in prison?
Oh, don't let them have me!" "Don't be frightened," he said soothingly.