Is not that so, my dear ?" "Ah, my love, don't question me too closely," he returned with a smile in his eyes that said more plainly than words that he was a proud, fond father to the child whose conduct was under discussion.
But at that moment the carriage was announced.

Lulu came running down ready for her trip, her father handed her in, then seated himself and put his arm round her looking down into her face with a tenderly affectionate smile.
"You will not find it a very severe ordeal, daughter," he said.
"You're not afraid, Lu, are you ?" asked Max.
"No; not with papa close by to take care of me and tell me what to do," she answered, nestling closer to her father.
"No," said Max; "and the burglars wouldn't be allowed to hurt you anyhow.

The magistrate and the sheriff, and the rest would take care of that you know." "I suppose so," returned Lulu, "but for all that it would be dreadful to have to go there without papa.

You wouldn't want to yourself, Max." "I'd a great deal rather have papa along, of course; anybody would want his intimate friend with him on such an occasion, and papa is my most intimate friend," replied the lad with a laughing, but most affectionate look into his father's face.
"That's right, my boy; I trust you will always let me be that to you," the captain said, grasping his son's hand and holding it for a moment in a warm affectionate clasp.
"You are mine, too, papa; my best and dearest earthly friend," Lulu said, lifting to his, eyes shining with filial love.

"Papa, aren't you afraid those bad men will try to harm you some day, if they ever get out of prison ?" "We are always safe in the path of duty," he replied, "and it is a duty we owe the community to bring such lawless men to justice, for the protection of those they would prey upon.