"Well, children," the captain said at breakfast the next morning,
"remember, I expect every one of you to be in the schoolroom at five
minutes before nine, and to begin studying exactly at the hour."

"Every thing to be done with naval precision, I suppose," remarked
Violet, giving him a bright half-saucy smile; "that being, I understand,
about on a par with military."

"Yes," he said, smiling in return, "that is to be the rule in this house
for every one but my wife: she is to follow her own sweet will in all
things."

"Ah!" she responded gayly, "I fear you do not realize what a rash
promise you are making; or, rather, how rash you are in according such a
privilege."

"It is hardly that," he answered: "acknowledging a right, would be my
way of expressing it."

They had left the table and the breakfast-room, and were alone at the
moment, the children having scattered to their work or play.

"How good you are to me, my dear husband!" she said, looking up fondly
into his face as they stood together before the parlor fire.

"Not a whit better than I ought to be, my darling," he responded,
bending to kiss the sweet, upturned face. "I have taken you from a
tender mother and a most luxurious home, and it must be my care to see
that you lose nothing by the transplantation--sweet and delicate flower
that you are!"