"Max and Lulu may stay up later than usual if they will do likewise." They all accepted the condition with thanks, and at the conclusion of the meal retired to their respective rooms to fulfil it.
Violet also, having not yet entirely recovered from the ill effects of anxiety and nursing, consequent upon the baby's injury, retired to her apartments to rest and sleep.
Capt.

Raymond went to the library to busy himself with some correspondence first, afterwards with books and papers.

He had one of these last in his hand, a pile of them on the table before him, when, from the open doorway into the hall, Lulu's voice asked,-- "Papa, may I come in?
are you very busy ?" "Not too busy to be glad of my little girl's company," he said, glancing up from his paper with a pleasant smile.

"Come and sit on my knee." She availed herself of the invitation with joyful haste.
"I thought you were taking a nap," he remarked, as he put his arm round her, and kissed the ruby lips she held up in mute request.
"So I was, papa; but you didn't intend me to sleep all the afternoon, did you ?" she asked, with a gleeful laugh, and nestling closer to him.
"No, hardly," he returned, joining in her mirth: "so much sleep in the daytime would be apt to interfere with your night's rest.

I want you all to have sufficient sleep in the twenty-four hours to keep you in health of body and mind, but should be very sorry to have you become sluggards,--so fond of your beds as to waste time in drowsing there, that should be spent in the exercise and training of body or mind.