CHAPTER VIII.
It was late when at last all the _Dolphin's_ passengers were gathered in.
The party to which the Raymonds belonged were the first, the young men who had accompanied them in the electric launch bidding good-night at the Peristyle, and all had retired to their respective state-rooms before the coming of the others; all except the captain, who was pacing the deck while awaiting their arrival.
His thoughts seemed not altogether agreeable, for he walked with drooping head and downcast eyes and sighed rather heavily once or twice.
"Papa dear, what is the matter?
Oh, have I done anything to vex or trouble you ?" asked Lucilla's voice close at his side.
"Why, daughter, are you there ?" he exclaimed, turning toward her with a fatherly smile, then taking her hand and drawing her into his arms, stroking her hair, patting her cheeks, and pressing a fond kiss upon her lips.

"No, I have no fault to find with my eldest daughter, and yet----" He paused, gazing searchingly and somewhat sadly into the bright young face.
"Oh, papa, what is it ?" she asked, putting her arms about his neck and gazing with ardent affection and questioning anxiety up into his eyes.
"You looked at me so strangely two or three times to-night, and I so feared you were displeased with me that I could not go to my bed without first coming to ask you about it, and get a kiss of forgiveness if I have displeased you in any way." "No, daughter, you have not displeased me, but--your father is so selfish," he sighed, "that he can scarce brook the thought that someone else may some day oust him from the first place in his dear child's heart." "Oh, papa!" she exclaimed in half reproachful tones, "how can you be troubled with any such idea as that?
don't you know that I love _you_ ten thousand times better than anybody else in the whole wide world?
I just _love_ to belong to you, and I always shall," she added, laying her head on his breast and gazing with ardent affection up into his eyes.

"Besides, I am only a little girl yet, as you've told me over and over again, and must not think about beaux and lovers for at least five or six years to come; and I'm sure I don't want to think of them at all so long as I have my own dear father to love and care for me." "That is right," he said, holding her close; "I think I can say with truth that I love my dear daughter much too well ever to intentionally stand in the way of her happiness, but I feel sure that the best place for her, for the next six or eight years at least, will be in her father's house, trusting in his love and care." "I haven't a doubt of it, father," she said, lifting loving, laughing eyes to his, "and really I don't believe Chester or anybody else cares half so much about me as you do, or wants to get me away from you.

I like right well to laugh and talk with him and the others just as I do with the girls, but I'm, oh, so glad I belong to you, and will for years to come, if not always.

Yes, I do hope it will be always, while we both live.