“Why, Lu!” exclaimed her brother, “do you think papa grudges the money he spends on you, or any of us?”

“No, I know he doesn’t,” she returned vehemently, “but can’t you understand that I’d like him to have more to spend on himself?”

“Oh,” said Max.  “Well, that’s right, I’m sure, and very thoughtful for a little girl like you.  I do think you’re splendid in some ways, Lu.”

“And whether you make money by it or not, it will be a good thing to learn to do this work well.  Papa says, ‘knowledge is power,’ and the more things we know how to do, the more independent and useful we will be.”

Just then the door opened, and Zoe, in riding hat and habit, put in her head.

“Max, I’m going to ride into the village,” she said, “and Edward can’t go with me, as he intended.  Will you?”

“Yes, Aunt Zoe, of course, if you want me,” answered the boy promptly, stopping his saw and springing to his feet, for he was much gratified by the invitation.  “I’ll get ready as fast as I can; ’twon’t take over five minutes.”

“Thank you.  I’ll wait for you in the parlor,” said Zoe, “Lulu, would you like to go, too?”

“No, thank you, I had a ride this morning, and now I want to finish this.”

Max had left the room, and Zoe, drawing nearer to Lulu, exclaimed at the beauty of her work.

“Why, I never should have dreamed you could do it so well!” she said.  “I don’t believe I could.”

Lulu’s face flushed with pleasure, but she said modestly, “Perhaps you’d find, if you should try, that you could do it better; you do everything else better than I do.”

“Quite a mistake,” returned Zoe, “though I ought to, as I’m so much older.  But there, I dare say Max is ready and waiting for me, so good-by.”

They met in the lower hall.  “All ready, Max?” she asked.

“Yes—­no; I must ask leave,” and he ran into the parlor where the ladies of the family were sitting.

It was of Grandma Elsie he asked permission, and it was given at once.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he said.  “Can I do anything for you in the town, ladies?”

“Yes,” said Violet, “I have just broken a crochet needle.  You may get me one to replace it.”

She went on to give him directions about the size and where he would be likely to find it; then taking some money from her purse, “This is sure to be more than enough,” she said, “but you may keep the change.”

“Mamma Vi, I don’t want pay for doing an errand for you,” returned the boy coloring; “it is a great pleasure, it would be even if papa had not told me to wait on you and do all I could to fill his place.”

“I don’t mean it as pay, my dear boy,” Violet answered, with a pleased look, “but haven’t I a right to make a little present now and then to the children who call me mamma?”

Max’s face brightened.

“Yes, ma’am, I suppose so,” he said.  “Thank you; I’ll take it willingly enough if it isn’t pay, and I’m very proud to be trusted to buy something for you.”