“Write down the date and then—­Suppose you dictate to me, if that will be any easier.”

“Thank you, ma’am, I think it would till I get into the way of it,” Lulu said, handing over her paper and pencil with a sigh of relief.

“Now,” said Violet, encouragingly, “just imagine that you are sitting on your papa’s knee and answering the question, ’What have you been doing all day?’”

“As soon as I was dressed and ready for breakfast, I went to Grandma Elsie’s dressing-room, along with Rosie and the others, to say Bible verses, and hear Grandma Elsie talk about them and pray.  Will that do, Mamma Vi?”

“Very nicely, dear; it is just what your papa wants, I think.”

Lulu’s brow cleared, and she went on stating briefly the doings of the now closing day in the due order of their succession, Violet’s pen nearly keeping pace with her tongue.

“And here we are—­Max and Gracie and I—­sitting with Mamma Vi in her boudoir, and she is writing for me the words I tell her, and I’m to copy them off to-morrow,” was the concluding sentence of this first entry in the little girl’s diary.

“Will you hear mine, Mamma Vi, and tell me if it will do?” asked Max; and receiving permission read it aloud.

“It is very good indeed, Max,” Violet said; “a good and true report, and well expressed.  Now, if you and Lulu choose you may bring your books here and study your lessons for to-morrow, and if you need help from me I shall give it with pleasure.”

“But, Mamma Vi, it will be very dull for you to stay up here with us while the rest of the grown-up people are having a nice time together in the parlor,” said Max.

“You are very kindly thoughtful, Max,” returned Violet, with a pleased look, “but I don’t care to go down-stairs for some time yet; Gracie begins to look weary, so I shall help her to bed and then answer your father’s letter.  Can’t you imagine that I may prefer to talk to Mm for a little rather than to any one else, even if only with pen, ink and paper?” she added, with a charming blush and smile.

“Oh, yes, indeed! for I know you’re very fond of him.  And I don’t wonder, for I think he’s the very best and handsomest man in the world,” cried Max enthusiastically, and both Lulu and Gracie said, “So do I.”

“Then we are all agreed so far,” laughed Vi.  “Come, Gracie, darling, I will be your maid to-night.”

“No, no! not my maid, but my dear, sweet, pretty mamma!” returned the little one, throwing her arms around Violet’s neck and kissing her with ardent affection.

Lulu had risen to go for her books, but paused to say with a slight effort and heightened color, “Yes, Mamma Vi, you are sweet and pretty, and very, very kind to us.”

The child was by no means devoid of gratitude, though her pride and prejudice were hard to conquer.  Expressions of gratitude and affection toward their young stepmother were far less frequent from her than from her brother and sister, but were perhaps all the more valued because of their rarity.