She made haste to wash and dress, thinking the while that their father’s marriage had brought a most delightful change to herself, brother and sister.

“What soft, sweet voices they all have in talking,” she mused.  “Grandma Rose, Grandma Elsie, and Mamma Vi.  I’ll call her that, if she’ll let me, it’s a pretty name.  I like it, and I believe I have given her a little place in my heart already.”

Just then Agnes knocked at the door to ask if she wanted anything.

“Yes,” Lulu said, admitting her, “I’m ready to put on my dress and would like you to button it for me.”

“An’ put dese on fo’ you too, Miss?” and Agnes held up to the child’s astonished and delighted eyes a set of pink coral, necklace, bracelets and pin, and a sash of broad, rich ribbon just matching in color.

“Oh,” cried Lulu half breathlessly, “where did they come from?”

“Miss Wilet sent ’em,” returned Agnes, beginning her work; “an’ she tole me to ax you to come in dar when I’se done fixin’ ob you, an’ let her see if eberyting’s right.  Humph! ’twon’t be, kase you oughter hab ribbon for yo’ hair to match wid de sash.”

CHAPTER XX.

GRANDMA ELSIE AND MAMMA VI.

Violet’s toilet was finished.  She wore a white silk trimmed with a great deal of very rich lace, white flowers in her hair and at her throat, and looked very bridelike and beautiful.

So Lulu thought as she came dancing in, full of joyous excitement over her own unusual adornment.  Catching sight of Violet standing in front of her toilet-table turning over a box of ribbons, “Oh, how beautiful you are!” she cried, “and how very kind to let me wear these,” glancing down at the ornaments on her own person.

“Let you wear them, dear child!  I have given them to you for your own, and am looking now for ribbon for your hair to match the sash.  I had forgotten it.  Ah, here is just the thing!”

“Given me these lovely, lovely bracelets and necklace! and this handsome sash too!” cried Lulu in wide-eyed astonishment.  “Oh, you are just too, too good to me!  May I kiss you? and may I call you Mamma Vi now?”

“Yes, indeed, if you can give me a little place in your heart,” Violet answered, taking the little girl in her arms.

“Oh, a great big place!” cried Lulu, returning Vi’s caresses with ardor.  “Mamma Vi! it’s a very pretty name, and you are my own sweet, pretty new mamma!  A great deal nicer than if you were old enough to be my real mother.”

“Ah, Lulu, it makes me very happy to hear all that!” said her father’s voice behind her, and she felt his hand laid affectionately upon her head.

She turned round quickly.  “Ah, papa! how nice you look too!  How is Gracie?”

“I left her sleeping comfortably a half hour ago, and have been making my toilet in another room.  Ah, my love!” gazing at Violet with proud, fondly-admiring eyes, “how very lovely you are!”