Feeling somewhat ashamed of herself, yet far from prepared to submit, Lulu rose and hastened from the room.

She knew nothing of what had passed between Mr. Dinsmore and Professor Manton after her dismissal the night before, and it was with a quaking heart she entered the schoolroom at Oakdale that morning.

Yet though in fear and dread, she had not the slightest intention of abandoning her position in regard to the music-lessons.

Nothing, however, was said to her on the subject till the hour for meeting the signor.  Then Miss Diana directed her to go and finish her lesson of the previous day; but on receiving a refusal, merely remarked that it should be reported to her guardians and her punishment left to them.

Evelyn gave her friend an entreating look, but Lulu shook her head, then fixed her eyes upon her book.

As they drove home to Viamede in the afternoon, Grace was waiting for them on the veranda there.

“Oh, Lulu,” she cried, as the latter came up the steps, “mamma has been helping me to fix up my baby-house, and it is so pretty!  Do come right up to the play-room and see it.”

“I can’t, Gracie,” Lulu answered, coloring and looking vexed and mortified.

“Why not?” asked Grace in a tone of surprise and keen disappointment.

But before Lulu could reply, Mr. Dinsmore stepped from the door and inquired, “What report have you to give me, Lulu?”

“I have not taken a music-lesson to-day,” she answered.

“Were you not told to do so?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And did not choose to obey?  You know the consequence; you must go immediately to your room and stay there alone during the hours spent at home, until you are ready to obey.”

Lulu assumed an air of indifference as she walked slowly away, but Grace burst into tears, crying, “Oh, Grandpa Dinsmore! you won’t keep me, her own sister, away from her, will you? oh, please don’t.  I can’t do without her.”

“My dear little girl,” he said soothingly, and taking her hand in his, “I am truly sorry to distress you so, but Lulu must be made obedient.  She is now in a very rebellious mood, and I should do wrong to indulge her in it.”

“Grandpa Dinsmore,” she said, looking up pleadingly into his face; with the tears streaming over her own, I’d be frightened ’most to death if I had to take lessons of that cross, bad man.  How can you want to make poor Lulu do it?”

“Lulu is not the timid little creature you are,” he said, bending down to kiss her forehead, “and I am sure is not really afraid of the man; nor need she be after what I have said to him about striking her or any of the pupils I send him.”

“It’ll be a long, long while before she’ll give up,” said Grace; “maybe she never will.  Mayn’t I go and talk to her a little and bid her good-by?  You know it’s ’most as if she’s going far away from us all.”