“I trust it may be so,” said Mr. Dinsmore.  “But now the question is, what is to be done with him?  I wish his father were here to prescribe the course to be taken.”

“Oh, he has already done so!” cried Violet, bursting into tears again.  “He said if Max should ever be guilty of profanity he was to be confined to his own room for a week, and forbidden all intercourse with the rest of the family as unworthy to associate with them.  I begged him not to compel us to be so severe, but he was inexorable.”

“Then we have no discretionary power, no choice but to carry out his directions,” Mr. Dinsmore said, feeling rather relieved that the decision was not left with him.  “I shall go now and tell Max what his sentence is, and from whom it comes.

“And, unfortunately, it will be necessary, in order to carry it out, to inform the other members of the family, who might otherwise hold communication with him.

“That task I leave to you, Elsie and Violet.”

He left the room, and Violet, after a little sorrowful converse with her mother, went to her own, and with many tears told Lulu and Gracie what had occurred, and what was, by their father’s direction, to be Max’s punishment.

Both little sisters were shocked and grieved, very sorry for Max, for it seemed to them quite terrible to be shut up in one room for a whole week, while to be out of doors was so delightful; but even Lulu had nothing to say against their father’s decree, especially after Violet had explained that he had made it in his great love for Max, wanting to cure him of vices that would make him wretched in this life and the next.

Rosie was still more shocked and scarcely less sorry than Lulu and Gracie, for she had been taught to look upon swearing and gambling as very great sins, and yet she liked Max very much indeed, and pitied him for the disgrace and punishment he had brought upon himself.

It was she who told Zoe, seeking her in her dressing-room, where she was making her toilet for the evening.

“Oh, Rosie, how dreadful!” exclaimed Zoe.  “I never could have believed it of Max! but it is all because of the bad influence of that wicked Ralph.  I see now why Edward disapproves of him so thoroughly that he didn’t like me to ride with him.  But I do think Captain Raymond is a very severe father.  A whole week in the house this lovely weather!  How can the poor boy ever stand it!

“And nobody to speak a kind word to him, either.  I don’t think they ought to be so hard on him, for I dare say he is grieving himself sick over it now, for he isn’t a bad boy.”

“No,” said Rosie, “I don’t think he is; I like Max very much, but of course his father’s orders have to be carried out, and for that reason we are all forbidden to go near him, and we have no choice but to obey.”

“Forbidden, indeed!” thought Zoe to herself.  “I for one shall do as I please about it.”