"Papa," she said, hiding her blushing face on his shoulder, and speaking in so low a tone that he scarcely caught the words, "I seem to have learned to love him since knowing of his love to me and that he had almost, if not quite, thrown away his own life to save mine. But you are not willing that he should tell his love?--not willing to give me to him, however much he may desire it?" "I am too grateful to him to refuse him anything he may ask for--even to the daughter who is so dear to me that I can scarcely bear the thought of resigning her to another." "Oh, father, how could I ever endure to be parted from you!" she cried, clinging more closely to him. "Dear child," he said, holding her close; "we will make it a condition that you shall not be taken away to any distance. And, in any event, you are still too young to leave your father; you must remain single and live with me for at least a year or two longer." "Oh, I am glad to hear you say that!" she said. "Papa, has Chester said anything to you?" she asked. "Yes; he has several times begged permission to tell you of his love and try to win yours. I have hitherto refused because of your youth, but shall now let him have his way." * * * * * "You are improving fast, and I hope will soon be able to be up and about again," the captain said to Chester, a few days later. "Yes," said the young man, "I begin to feel as if I had taken a new lease of life and--ah, captain, if I could at last find such favor in your eyes that you would consent to----" His sentence was left unfinished. "To letting you tell your tale of love?" Captain Raymond asked with a smile. "Just that, sir. I cannot help fearing it may prove useless, but--anything is better than suspense; which I feel that I have hardly strength to endure any longer." "Nor can I any longer ask that of you, since you have freely risked your life for hers," returned the captain with emotion. "Your nurse being out just now, this is a good opportunity, and I will bring my daughter to you and let you have it out," he concluded in a jesting tone, and left the room as he spoke. Lucilla happened to be near at hand, and almost immediately her father had brought her to Chester's bedside. She knew nothing of the talk that had been going on, yet, remembering her conversation with her father a few days before, came to the bedside blushing and slightly embarrassed. "I am very glad you are better, Chester," she said, laying her hand in his as he held it out to her. "What a hard, hard time you have had, and all because you risked your life to save mine." "I'm not sorry I did, and would do it again without a moment's hesitation," he said. "Oh, Lu, if I could but tell you how dear you are to me! Can you not give me a little love in return?" "Oh, Chester, how could I help it, when you have almost died for me?" she asked, bursting into tears.