Elsie's Vacation and After Events

f their loved native land, and Lulu and Grace, who had at first missed their older brother sorely from th

ther, and took daily walks and rides on their ponies, varied by

busy had all been, taking up familiar cares and duties, and making needed preparations fo

r breakfast, that the captain had read Ma

look over your lessons for the day," he

me in with a note from Violet's mother, which he handed to hi

ed to her husband as she took the no

all well?" he retur

nd that she wants me to come and spend a few days with her, bringing all the children if I choose; they will not disturb her. And you also will be

le ones, at least; we will consider about the older ones, and I shall spend my time between the two places, not being will

ry day?" returned Violet, with a wistf

out inflicting my presence upon her for some small part of it," he concluded in a half jesting to

le up at him. "I should like to take all the children," she went on, "but Alma is here to make

and fair start with them," said the captain; "so of course she will have to stay at home. Grace also,

n her lessons there and still have a good deal of time to play with her little sister,

that arrangement if you wis

oubled look coming over her face. "I wish we could

not do to have her studies so interfered with now when she has but just well settled down to th

ll not enjoy," remarked Vio

he captain found his two little girls

for little Elsie's sake,-having found you very successful in entertaining her and baby Ned. We are all invited, indeed; but I must be here the greater part of the time, a

at her sister, over whose face had come a look of keen disappointment, succeeding o

re going to let you attend to them

same for me too, papa?" asked

is the dressmaking, and I couldn't think of such

troubled look; then, with a little hesitation, "Papa," she

u to stay. It will probably be for only a few days; and I think she may trust her father not to allow her to be very lonely in the meanw

ther up your books and whatever else you may wish to take with you. I have already

ok at her sister. "Oh, I wish papa had said you were to

on't want to go where I'm not wan

to have you there," returned Grace, running to

me, then?" queried L

invitation; and, oh, yes! don't you remember papa did say we were all invited? But

uld hear t

nted to. But then there's

ways when people want to do a thing-plenty of excuses to be thought of when they don't. Alma has numer

exclaimed Grace joyously; "and I'd so much

ne. "If I'm not wanted, I'm sure I don't wish to go. But you'll have to hurry, Gra

books and other things I must take along, and now I'll go upstairs and get dressed and put up the th

n. I'm glad papa said I might. Oh, but it will be lonely here

nd in hand they left the room together, "but you know, Lu de

more cheerful tone than she had used since learning that the res

s, and just then they heard their father call to h

aying, "Oh, Lu, good-by, I do wish you were goin

never keep papa waiting, you know. Here's Agnes to carry down your satchel. I hope you won't stay long enough away from

own the stairs befor

folks off, Miss Lulu?" queried A

"I'm going back to the school

ver known Miss Lu fail to be at the door when any of the other members of t

little girl into the carriage. "I hadn't time to hunt her up, and

for her sister. "You see she stopped to help me get ready, and I suppose she'

er time," the captain remarked, with

aps this afternoon or to-morrow, for a call, L

e carriage when a servant came hurrying up to ask dire

better for you and the children to drive on without waiting

d Violet, and the carriage drove on, while Captain Raymond walked a

ime," muttered Lulu angrily, as she seated herself at her desk again and opened a book. "Papa could hear my lessons

ng in her head, "Miss Alma tole me for to tell yo

go up there to have it tried on," re

, and I must drop it and go back again. I'd better take my book with me, for there's no knowing how long she may keep me while she alters something that she has got wr

rom the school room and ups

the girl came in she received an angry glance, accompanied by the remark, in no very pleas

o have inconvenienced you, Miss Lu," she said

u haven't," snapped Lulu. "I think you are just about

work, making no rejoinder, while Lulu-the reproaches of conscience rendering her uneas

one, "if you can't keep stiller, it is not poss

re of your ability to fit it right under any circums

led to her from his dressing-room, in sterner accents than she had heard from him in a long while. "Lucilla,

d,-snatching up a dressing-sack and putting it on as sh

aughter than to suppose she would ever show herself so heartless. You surely must have forgotten that poor Alma is a str

tood before him in sullen silence an

nt obedience to my order, or go immediately to your own room, and not

an she had ever been since that dreadful time at Ion when her indu

poor woman, who has to support herself with her needle,-or rather with a sewing machine, and cutting and fitting,-and I think it's just outrageous for papa to tell me I must ask her pardon. I'll not do it, and papa needn't

in all the wide world; and-and-it would just kill me to have to go without his love and his caresses; never to have him hug and kiss me, and c

think of Alma more kindly and pityingly than ever b

ask her pardon; not only because papa has ordered me to do so, but because I a

ying, in a hesitating, deprecating way, "Miss Lu, please, I need to try the dress once m

I'm sorry and ashamed of having been so rude and unkind to you when you were in here before," she added, holding out her hand

and with tears in her eyes. "I could never ask

dylike to-day," sighed Lulu; "and papa

pathizing tone. "But the captain will not st

ought to be the best girl in the world.

his love for you is so very great," returned Alma. "There, Mi

herself in the mirror; "I cou

remarked the girl, gazing upon it with admiring eyes. "It is good, Miss Lu, to hav

," sighed Lulu. "It is a very great shame

er had been when he called to her. But a glance within showed her that he was not there now

how sorry I am for my naughtiness. I can't have one minute of

as she went, she ran out and round the porches

kin' fo' de cap'n? He's done gone to Ion, I 'spects

back?" asked Lulu, steadying

on de plantation," was the reply, as the man turned to his employment

or me here all by mysel

back to her tasks, trying to forget her troubles in study;