Hastening back to her own apartments, she found Lulu still in high good-humor, laughing and romping with the babe, allowing it to pat her cheeks and pull her hair with perfect impunity.

“Mamma Vi,” she said, “isn’t she a darling?”

“I think so,” replied Violet; “but I fear she is hurting you, for I know from experience that she can pull hair very hard.”

“Oh,” said Lulu, “I don’t mind such a trifling hurt, as it amuses her.”

Still she seemed quite ready to resign baby to her mother.

“What more can I do, Mamma Vi?” she asked.

“Don’t you want to finish that pretty bracket you were at yesterday?” asked Violet.

“Yes, ma’am; unless there is something I can do to help you.”

“Nothing at present, thank you, dear,” Violet answered; and giving a parting kiss to the baby, Lulu hastened away to the work-room.

She toiled on industriously, much interested in her carving, cheerful and happy, but watching the clock on the mantel as the time drew near for Mr. Dinsmore’s pupils to be dismissed from their tasks.

She had not seen Evelyn since early the day before, and was longing to have a talk with her, particularly about the delightful prospect of going to Viamede to spend some months there together; and when at last the sound of child voices and laughter, coming up from below, told her that lessons were over, she sprang up and ran hastily down the stairs, looking eagerly for her friend.

She did not see Evelyn, but met Rosie face to face.

They exchanged glances:  Lulu’s proud and disdainful, Rosie’s merry and careless; insultingly, so Lulu thought, considering what had passed between them the previous day; and drawing herself up to her full height, she said, her eyes flashing with anger, “You owe me an apology!”

“Do I, indeed?  Then I’m quite able to owe it,” laughed Rosie, dancing away, but pausing presently to throw back a parting word over her shoulder:  “I’m afraid that’s a very bad debt, Miss Raymond; don’t you wish you could collect it?”

Lulu’s face crimsoned with anger, and she was opening her lips for a cutting retort, when Evelyn, who had just stepped out of the schoolroom, where she had lingered a moment to arrange the contents of her desk, hastily threw an arm round her waist and drew her away.

“Don’t mind what Rosie says; it’s not worth caring for,” she whispered.  “She’s full of her fun, don’t you see? and doesn’t mean any harm.  Come, let us go up to the work-room and have a good talk.”

Lulu yielded in silence, struggling hard to be mistress of herself.

Evelyn tried to help her.  “Oh, Lulu, is it not delightful that we are to go so soon to that lovely Viamede?” she asked as the work-room door closed behind them.

“Yes; if only one could leave temper and tormenting people behind!” sighed Lulu.  “Oh, Eva, Rosie is so tormenting!  I’d be glad to be friends with her, but she won’t let me.”