The material of the dresses was fine, they were neatly fitting and prettily trimmed, but rather dark in color and with high necks and long sleeves; altogether suitable for the occasion, and far from unbecoming; indeed, as the captain glanced at the two neat little figures, seated one on each side of him, he felt the risings of fatherly pride in their attractiveness of appearance.

And even exacting, discontented Lulu was well enough pleased with her mamma’s choice for her till, upon leaving the table and running out for a moment into the street to see if the carriages were in sight, she came upon a girl about her own age, who was to be of the company, very gayly apparelled in thin white tarletan and pink ribbons,

“Good-morning, Sadie,” said Lulu.  “What a nice day for the ‘squantum,’ isn’t it?”

“Yes; and it’s most time to start, and you’re not dressed yet, are you?” glancing a trifle scornfully from her own gay plumage to Lulu’s plainer attire.

The latter flushed hotly but made no reply.  “I don’t see anything of the carriages yet,” was all she said; then darting into the cottage occupied by their family, she rushed to her trunk, and throwing it open, hastily took from it a white muslin, coral ribbons and sash, and with headlong speed tore off her plain colored dress and arrayed herself in them.

She would not have had time but for an unexpected delay in the arrival of the carriage which was to convey her parents, brother and sister and herself to the “squantum” ground.

As it was, she came rushing out at almost the last moment, just as the captain was handing his wife into the vehicle.

Max met her before she had reached the outer door.  “Lu, Mamma Vi says you will need a wrap before we get back; probably even going, and you’re to bring one along.”

“I sha’n’t need any such thing! and I’m not going to be bothered with it!” cried Lulu, in a tone of angry impatience, hurrying on toward the entrance as she spoke.

“Whew! what have you been doing to yourself?” exclaimed Max, suddenly noting the change of attire, while Grace, standing in the doorway, turned toward them with a simultaneous exclamation, “Why, Lulu—­” then broke off, lost in astonishment at her sister’s audacity.

“Hush, both of you! can’t you keep quiet?” snapped Lulu, turning from one to the other; then as her father’s tall form darkened the doorway, and a glance up into his face showed her that it was very grave and stern, she shrank back abashed, frightened by the sudden conviction that he had overheard her impertinent reply to her mamma’s message, and perhaps noticed the change in her dress.

He regarded her for a moment in silence, while she hung her head in shame and affright; then he spoke in tones of grave displeasure, “You will stay at home to-day, Lulu; we have no room for disrespectful, disobedient children—­”

“Papa,” she interrupted, half pleadingly, half angrily, “I haven’t been disobedient or disrespectful to you.”