"I hope there are," he said with a smile that was very loving and
tender, "and I am sure it could not fail to be the case if there were
many wives as worthy of love and entire devotion as is mine."

"Thank you," she said with a pleased smile. "I cannot tell you how often
I rejoice in the thought of my husband's blindness to my many faults."

"If there is any such blindness, my dear, I am quite sure it is mutual,"
he returned with a look of amusement, adding, "and we will try to keep
it up; won't we?"

"Yes, indeed," was her laughing rejoinder, "and I hope Rosie and her
Will may be led to follow our good example in that respect."

"As I do," he rejoined; "and, knowing them both as I do know them, I
think there is every prospect of it."

This talk was upon a side veranda where they sat watching their two
little ones at play together in the grounds.

"Papa!" cried Ned at this moment, running toward them, "didn't you hear
the telephone bell? I thought I did."

"No, my son," returned the captain; "and if it is ringing, one of your
sisters will answer it, no doubt. They are both upstairs."

"It did ring, papa, and I answered it," said Lucilla, stepping from the
open doorway and coming swiftly toward him. "Rosie was calling to me
that there is to be a rehearsal of to-morrow's wedding ceremony, this
evening, and asking if we can come over and take our parts. May we? Will