At last she tore open the envelope, spread out the sheet, and with burning cheeks and fast beating heart, read: 

“My dear little daughter; my heart misgives me that there is something very much amiss with you.  Not sickness, for your mamma, Max, and Gracie all make casual mention of you, and say directly that you are well; yet I have not seen a stroke of your pen for three months or more.

“Your little letters, so full of ‘love to papa,’ have been very sweet to me, so that I am loath to have them discontinued; but in addition to that, daughter, I have, as you know, directed you to constantly report to me your progress in your studies, your conduct, etc., and in failing to do so you have been guilty of positive disobedience.  What excuse have you to offer for such disregard of your father’s commands?

“I cannot think there is any that will at all exonerate you from blame.  Now I bid you write at once, giving me as full and detailed a report of the past three months as you possibly can.

“My child, I love you very dearly; there is never a day, I believe never a waking hour, in which my heart does not go out in love to my darling Lulu, and send up a petition to a throne of grace on her behalf.  I think there is no sacrifice I would not willingly make for the good of any one of my dear children, and my requirements are all meant to promote their welfare and happiness in this world and the next.

“My child, my dear, dear child, your father’s heart bleeds for you when he thinks what a hard battle you have to fight with the evil nature inherited from him!

“But the battle must be fought, the victory won, if you would reach heaven at last.

“’The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.’

“You have a strong will, my Lulu:  make good use of it by determining that you will in spite of every hindrance, fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life; that you will win the victory over your besetting sins, and come off more than conqueror through Him that loved us.

“I can hardly hope to hear that you have not been again in sad trouble and disgrace through the indulgence of your wilful, passionate temper, and you will dislike very much to confess it all to me; you will be sorry to pain me by the story of your wrong-doing; and certainly it will give me much pain:  yet I am more than willing to bear that for my dear child’s sake; and as I have given you the order to tell me all, to refrain from so doing would be but a fresh act of disobedience.

“How glad I am to know that my little daughter is open and honest as the day!  I repeat, write at once, a full report, to your loving father, LEVIS RAYMOND.”

“Oh,” cried Lulu, speaking aloud in the excitement of feeling, “I do wish papa wouldn’t make me confess everything to him!  I think it’s dreadfully hard!  And what’s the use when it hurts him so to hear it?