May He who neither slumbers nor sleeps have you and yours in his safe keeping through the silent watches of the night," responded her mother, returning the embrace.
The captain had lingered on the deck as usual, to give his orders for the night, and Lucilla waited about for the bit of petting as she termed it, of which she was so fond.
"Ah, so you are still here, daughter!" he said in his usual kind, fatherly tones as he turned and found her at his side.

"Have you something to say to your father ?" putting his arm about her and holding her close as something precious.
"Only the usual story--that I love my father dearly, dearly, and don't like to go to bed without telling him so and getting a caress that nobody else will know anything about." "A great secret that doubtless the whole world would be glad to discover!" he laughed, bestowing them without stint.

"Is my little girl unhappy, about--anything?
and wanting her father to comfort her ?" he asked, looking keenly into her face.
"Unhappy, father?
here in your arms and perfectly certain of your dear love ?" she exclaimed, lifting to his eyes full of joy and love.

"No, indeed! I don't believe there is a happier girl in the land or in the whole world for that matter.

Oh, you are so good to me and all your children! How very generous you were to-day to Grace and me in letting us buy so many lovely presents to carry home with us! I am often afraid, papa, that you do without things yourself to give the more to us.