“So it is,” said Zoe; “but I don’t think Rosie meant any harm; I sincerely believe she wants you to make it up with grandpa for your own sake—­that you may have a good time now and at Christmas.”

“If I can’t do it from a better motive than that, I won’t do it at all,” said Lulu.  “Aunt Zoe, I hope you have a little better opinion of me than Rosie seems to have?”

“Yes, Lulu, I’ve always liked you.  I think yours would be a splendid character if only you could learn to rule your own spirit, as the Bible says.  I’ve heard my father say that those who were naturally high-tempered and wilful made the noblest men and women if they once thoroughly learned the lesson of self-control.”

“I wish I could,” said Lulu, dejectedly.  “I’m always sorry for my failure when my passion is over, and think I will never indulge it again; but soon somebody does or says something very provoking, and before I have time to think of my good resolutions I’m in a passion and saying angry words in return.”

“I am sorry for you,” said Zoe; “I have temper enough of my own to be able to sympathize with you.  But you will try to make your peace with grandpa, won’t you?”

“No; I was intending to, if Rosie hadn’t interfered, but I sha’n’t now; because if I did he would think it was from that mean motive that Rosie suggested.”

“Oh no; grandpa is too noble himself to suspect others of such meanness,” asserted Zoe, defending him all the more warmly that she had sometimes talked a trifle hardly of him herself.

But she saw from Lulu’s countenance that to undo Rosie’s work was quite impossible, so presently gave up the attempt and left her to solitude and her book.

CHAPTER XIV.

“How poor are they that have not patience!”

Shakespeare.

The next morning’s mail brought a letter from Isadore Keith to her cousin, Mrs. Elsie Travilla.  It was dated “Viamede Parsonage,” and written in a cheerful strain; for Isa was very happy in her married life.

She wrote rejoicingly of the prospect of seeing the Ion family at Viamede; the relatives of her husband who were now staying with them also urged an early arrival.

“We long to have you all here for the whole season,” she said; “Molly and I are looking eagerly forward to your coming; and the old servants at the mansion beg for a Christmas with the family in the house.  Cannot Ion spare you to Viamede this year at that season?

“I know your and uncle’s kind hearts would make you both rejoice in adding to our happiness, and theirs also.  And I have an additional inducement to offer.  A fine school has been opened lately in the neighborhood, near enough to all our homes for our children to attend.  Mine, of course, are still far too young, but I rejoice in the prospect for the future.

“It is both a boarding and day school, principally for girls of all ages from six or eight to eighteen or twenty; but they take a few boys, brothers of the girls who attend.