“Then we will all go upstairs and make ourselves decent, and afterwards take the scolding as well as we can,” said Harold, leading the way.

Chloe was in Sophy’s room, waiting to attend to her child.  She did not fret the little girl with lamentations over her tardiness, but set about adjusting her hair and dress as quickly as possible.

Elsie looked troubled and anxious.

“Papa will be very much vexed, and ashamed of me, too, I am afraid,” she said with tears in her eyes.  “And, Sophy, what will your mamma say?  Oh! how I wish I had come in sooner!”

“Never mind,” replied Sophy; “mamma won’t be very angry, and we’ll tell her the sun wouldn’t shine, and so how were we to know the time.”

Elsie was ready first, but waited a moment for Sophy, and they went down together.  Her first sensation on entering the room and seeing that her father’s chair was empty, was certainly one of relief.  When her eye sought Mrs. Allison’s face, it was quite as pleasant as usual.

“You are rather late, little girls,” she said in a cheerful tone, “but as you are usually so punctual, we will have to excuse you this once.  Come, take your places.”

“It was cloudy, you know, mamma, and we couldn’t see the sun,” said Harold, who was already at the table.

“Very well, Harold, you must try to guess better next time.  Rose, help Elsie to some of that omelet and a bit of the cold tongue.”

“No, thank you, ma’am; papa does not allow me to eat meat at night,” said the little girl resolutely, turning her eyes away from the tempting dish.

“Ah!  I forgot, but you can eat the omelet, dear,” Mrs. Allison said; “and help her to the honey, and a piece of that cheese, Rose, and put some butter on her plate.”

It cost Elsie quite a struggle, for she was as fond of good things as other children, but she said firmly, “No, thank you, ma’am, I should like the omelet, and the honey and the cheese too, very much, but as I was late to-night, I can only have dry bread, because you know my papa said so.”

Harold spoke up earnestly.  “But, mamma, it wasn’t her fault; she wanted to come home in time, and Sophy and I wouldn’t.”

“No, mamma, it wasn’t her fault at all,” said Sophy, eagerly, “and so she needn’t have just bread, need she?”

“No, Elsie dear, I think not.  Do, dear child, let me help you to something; here’s a saucer of berries and cream; won’t you take it?  I feel quite sure your papa would not insist upon the bread and water if he were here, and I am sorry he and Edward happen to be away to tea.”

“As it was not your fault, Elsie dear, I think you might venture,” said Rose, kindly.  “I wouldn’t want you to disobey your papa, but under the circumstances, I don’t think that it would be disobedience.”

“You are very kind, Miss Rose, but you don’t know papa as well as I do,” Elsie replied, a little sadly.  “He told me I must always be in in time to be ready for tea, and he says nothing excuses disobedience; and you know I could have come in without the others; so I feel quite sure I should get nothing but bread for my supper if he were here.”