Lulu rested her head on his shoulder, and Max took a hand and pressed it in both of his.
"Papa, you will think of us, too ?" he said inquiringly.
"Yes, indeed, my darlings; you will never be long out of my mind, and nothing will make me happier than to hear that you are well and doing your duty faithfully." "I shall try very hard, papa," Max said, with affectionate look and tone, "if it is only to please you and make your heart glad." "Thank you, my son," his father replied, "but I hope a still stronger motive will be that you may please God and honor Him.

Never forget, my children, that though your earthly father may be far away and know nothing of your conduct, God's all-seeing eye is ever upon you." A half hour had passed very quickly and delightfully to the children, when at length, seeing Gracie's eyelids begin to droop, their father said it was time for him to carry her up to bed.
"Shall we stay here till you come down again, papa ?" asked Max.
"No; you and Lulu may go to bed now." "Then good-night, papa." "No, you need not bid me good-night yet," the captain said.

"I shall see you both in your rooms before you are asleep." "Well, Lu, are you sorry now that papa made you come home so soon ?" asked Max, as they went up-stairs together.
"No, indeed! Haven't we had a nice time, Max?
Oh, if only we could keep papa all the time!" "I wish we could," said Max.

"But we won't have so hard a time as we've had for the last two years whenever he was away." They had reached the door of Lulu's room.

"Max," she said, turning to him as with a sudden thought, "what do you suppose papa is coming to our rooms for ?" "What do _you_ suppose?
have you done anything you ought to be punished for ?" asked Max, a little mischievously.