relative and friend of the family, never thinking of him as a lover or
admirer of herself, or likely to become one.

"She is still satisfied with her father's affection," was his pleasing
thought. "She evidently cares little or nothing for other men, and I may
hope to keep her altogether my own for years to come; though there are
some half dozen or more young fellows who, as I plainly perceive, are
looking upon her with longing eyes."

That fact was evident to Violet, also, and she jestingly referred to it
at one time when, for a few moments, they were alone together.

"My dear," she said, "be watchful if you would not be robbed of Lu,
perhaps of Gracie, also; for the dear girls are entirely too charming
for you to hope to escape an effort from somebody to take them from
you."

"I agree with you in that idea, but am not alarmed," he said with a look
of quiet confidence, "believing that my daughters still love their
father better than any other man, and are satisfied that he seeks their
best good in refusing to consider them as yet old enough to leave his
care and protection for that of anyone else."

"I am sure you are right," returned Violet, "and very glad I am to think
I shall not lose their sweet companionship for years, if ever. I feel,
though, that it would be very selfish in me to want them to miss
entirely the great happiness I have found in wedded life," she added
with a look of ardent affection into his eyes. "But I fear there are
not many husbands equal to mine."