Alas! what a sorry exchange from their society to that of the Mantons, and from all the loving care that had been bestowed upon her and the many privileges accorded her at Ion and Viamede, to the neglect and indifference to be expected from strangers!  As she thought of all this she could not contemplate the carrying out of her sentence of banishment to Oakdale with anything like satisfaction.

Yet the idea of submitting to what she considered Mr. Dinsmore’s tyranny being still more repugnant to her, she resolved to abide by her decision, risking all consequences.

She rose early the next morning, and busied herself for some time in gathering together such book and toys as she wished to take with her; then seeking her young step-mother, “Mamma Vi,” she asked, “am I to pack my trunk myself?”

“You are quite resolved to leave us, then, Lulu?” Violet inquired.

“I am quite resolved never to take another lesson from Signor Foresti,” returned Lulu doggedly.

Violet sighed.  “I had hoped you would wake this morning in a better mood,” she said.  “No; you need not pack your trunk:  Agnes shall do it under my supervision.  But it shall not be sent till the return of the children from school this afternoon, as I still hope to see you with them.”

Grace, who was present, stood listening in wide-eyed astonishment.

“What is it all about?” she asked in alarm.  “Is Lulu going away?”

“Yes,” Lulu answered for herself; “Grandpa Dinsmore says if I won’t take lessons of Signor Foresti I must stay at Oakdale as a boarding-scholar.”

“O Lu, Lu! do give up and come back home,” entreated Grace, bursting into tears; “I can’t do without you, you know I can’t?”

Lulu drew her aside and whispered words of comfort.

“It can’t be for so very long, I think, Grace; because we’ll all be going back to Ion in two or three months.  Besides, we can see each other every day, if you keep on coming in the carriage as you’ve been doing.”

“But it will be only for a few minutes, and you won’t have a bit nice time there.”

“No, I suppose, not; but even if it’s pretty hard, I’d rather stay there than give up to that old tyrant.”

“Please don’t say that,” pleaded Grace; “I love Grandpa Dinsmore.”

When the carriage came to the door after breakfast, and the children trooped down ready for school, Grandma Elsie joined them on the veranda, wishing them a happy and profitable day at their studies; then putting an arm about Lulu she said to her in an undertone,

“Lulu, dear child, I want to see you here with the rest to-night; you are one of my little girls, and I would not have you so rebellious that you must be shut out from my house.  There! you need not answer, dear; only remember that Grandma Elsie loves you, and longs to see you good and happy.”

“Thank you, ma’am; you’re very good and kind,” Lulu said a little tremulously, then hurried into the carriage, Max giving her the help of his hand.