"'Tis easier for the generous to forgive
Than for offence to ask it."
In passing through the hall on his way from Lulu's room to the nursery,
Capt. Raymond met "grandma Elsie."
She stopped him, and asked, in a tone of kindly concern, if Lulu was
ill, adding, that something she had accidentally overheard him saying to
the doctor had made her fear the child was not well.
"Thank you, mother," he said: "you are very kind to take any interest in
Lulu after what has occurred. No, she is not quite well: the mental
distress of the last two days has been very great, and has exhausted her
physically. It could not, of course, be otherwise, unless she were quite
heartless. She is full of remorse for her passion and its consequences,
and my only consolation is the hope that this terrible lesson may prove
a lasting one to her."
"I hope so, indeed," Elsie said, with emotion. "Yes, she must have
suffered greatly; for she is a warm-hearted, affectionate child, and
would not, I am sure, have intentionally done her baby sister an
injury."
"No, it was not intentional; yet, as the result of allowing herself to
get into a passion, she is responsible for it, as she feels and
acknowledges.
"And so deeply ashamed is she, that she knows not how to face the
family, or any one of them, and therefore entreats me to allow her to
seclude herself in her own room till I can take her to the home I hope
to make for my wife and children ere long."
"Poor child!" sighed Elsie. "Tell her, Levis, that she need not shrink
from us as if we were not sinners, as well as herself. Shall I go in
to-morrow morning, and have a talk with her before breakfast?"
"It will be a great kindness," he said, flushing with pleasure, "and
make it much easier for her to show herself afterwards at the table. But
I ought to ask if you are willing to see her there in her accustomed
seat?"
"I shall be glad to do so," Elsie answered, with earnest kindliness of
look and tone. "She was not banished by any edict of mine or papa's."
"No: I forbade her to leave her room while the baby was in a critical
condition. Yet I think she had no disposition to leave it,--shame and
remorse causing a desire to hide herself from everybody."
"It strikes me as a hopeful sign," Elsie said; "and I do not despair of
one day seeing Lulu a noble woman, the joy and pride of her father's
heart."
She held out her hand as she spoke.
The captain grasped it warmly. "Thank you, mother, for those kind and
hopeful words," he said with emotion. "For the last year or two, she has
been alternately my joy and my despair; and I am resolved to leave no
effort untried to rescue her from the dominion of her fierce temper.
"The task would doubtless have been far easier could I have undertaken
it years ago, in her early infancy. But I trust it is not yet too late
to accomplish it, with the help and the wisdom I may have in answer to
prayer.
"No, I am sure it is by no means a hopeless undertaking, looking where
you do for needed strength and wisdom; and I rejoice almost as much for
Lulu's sake as for Vi's, that you have now come among us to stay. I will
try to see her in the morning, and do what I can to make it easy for her
to join the family circle again.
"And now good-night. I must not keep you longer from the wife who
grudges every moment that you are absent from her side," she concluded,
with a smile as sweet and beautiful as that of her girlhood's days.
While the captain and his mother-in-law held this little conversation in
the upper hall, Zoe and Rosie were promenading the veranda, arm in arm.
They had been talking of Violet and her baby, rejoicing together over
its improved condition.
"How dreadful the last two days have been to poor Vi!" exclaimed Rosie,
"even in spite of the home-coming of her husband, which has always
before this made her so happy. In fact, it has been a dreadful time to
all of us; and nobody to blame except that bad-tempered Lulu.
"At least, so _I_ think," she added, conscience giving her a twinge;
"though mamma says I ought to have let her have my pony, and taken my
own ride later in the day, if I wanted one."
"It would have been more polite and unselfish, wouldn't it?" queried
Zoe, in a teasing tone. "I dare say it is what mamma herself would have
done under the same circumstances."
"I have no doubt of that," returned Rosie; "but mamma and I are two very
different people. I can never hope to be as good and unselfish as she
is, and always has been so far as I can learn."
"Ah! but there's nothing like trying," laughed Zoe.
"Suppose you tell Lulu that, advising her to undertake the task of
controlling her temper."
"She was quite a good while without an outbreak," said Zoe; "and really,
Rosie, that dog of yours is extremely trying at times."
"It's quite trying to me, that I've had to send him away, and can't have
him about any more till Lulu's gone. I'll be sorry to have Vi leave Ion,
but rejoiced to be rid of Lulu. I wonder if the captain still intends to
send her away? I sincerely hope so, for Vi's sake. Poor little Elsie may
be killed outright the next time Lulu has an opportunity to vent her
spite upon her."
"O Rosie! how can you talk so?" exclaimed Zoe. "haven't you heard that
Lulu says she thought it was your dog she was kicking at? and that she
has been really sick with distress about the baby? As to sending her
away to be trained and taught by strangers--her father has no idea of
doing it: in fact,--so Vi told Ned,--the conviction that Lulu needed his
constant oversight and control had a great deal to do in leading him to
resign from the service and come home to live."
"Then, he's a very good father,--a great deal better one than she
deserves. But I'm sorry for Vi and her baby."
"You needn't be: surely the captain should be able to protect them from
Lulu," laughed Zoe.
Rosie laughed too, remarked that it must be getting late; and they went
into the house.
* * * * *
"I do wish papa would come for me. I can't bear to go down alone to
breakfast," Lulu was saying to herself the next morning, when a light
step in the hall without caught her ear: then there was a tap at the
door; and, opening it, she found the lady of the house standing on the
threshold.
"Good-morning, my child," she said in pleasant, cheery tones, and
smiling sweetly as she spoke; then, bending clown, she gave the little
girl a kiss.
"Good-morning, grandma Elsie," murmured Lulu, blushing deeply, and
casting down her eyes: "you are very kind to come to see me, and to
kiss me too, when I have been so bad. Please take a chair," she added,
drawing one forward.
"Thank you, dear; but I would rather sit on the sofa yonder, with you by
my side," Elsie said, taking Lulu's hand, and leading her to it, then,
when they had seated themselves, putting the other arm about the child's
waist, and drawing her close to her side. "I feel that I have been
neglecting you," she went on; "but my thoughts have been much taken up
with other things, and"--
"O grandma Elsie!" cried Lulu, bursting into tears. "I didn't deserve
that you should show me the least kindness, or think of me at all except
as a very bad, disagreeable girl. I should think you'd want to turn me
out of your house, and say I should never come into it again."
"No, dear child, I have no such feeling toward you: if I had, should I
not be very much like that wicked servant to whom his lord had forgiven
a debt of ten thousand talents, yet who refused to have compassion on
his fellow-servant who owed him a hundred pence? I should, indeed; for
my sins against God have been far greater, and more heinous, than yours
against me or mine."
"But you were always such a good child when you were a little girl, and
I am such a bad one."
"No, my dear; that is quite a mistake; I was not always good as a
child, and I am very far from being perfect as a woman."
"You seem so to me, grandma Elsie: I never know of your doing and saying
any thing the least bit wrong."
"But you, my child, see only the outward appearance, while God looks at
the heart; and he knows that, though I am truly his servant, trying
earnestly to do his will, I fall lamentably short of it."
"Grandma Elsie, I didn't know it was the baby: I didn't mean to hurt
her."
"No, my dear, I know you didn't."
"But papa said he must punish me all the same, because it was being in a
passion that made me do it. Grandma Elsie, if you had such a dreadful
temper as mine, wouldn't you be discouraged about ever conquering it?"
"No, my child, not while I could find such words as these in the Bible:
'O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself: but in Me is thine help.' 'Thou
shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their
sins.' 'He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God
by him.' 'God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above
that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to
escape, that ye may be able to bear it.'"
"'His people,'" repeated Lulu; then with a sigh, "But I am not one of
them, grandma Elsie; so those promises are not for me."
"He invites you to become one of his people, and then they will be for
you.
"'Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden,' Jesus says, 'and
I will give you rest.'
"You feel yourself heavy laden with that unconquerable temper, do you
not?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then, that invitation is for you; and it will not be unconquerable with
the Lord to help you.
"'The God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his
people.' 'And they that stumbled are girded with strength.' You cannot
doubt that you are included in the invitation, for it is, 'Whosoever
will, let him take the water of life freely.' And the time to come is
now: 'Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.'"
The breakfast-bell rang at that moment; and grandma Elsie, rising, took
Lulu's hand, saying, "Come, my dear, you need not shrink from joining us
at the table: no one will be disposed to treat you unkindly."
As she spoke, the door opened, and Capt. Raymond and Violet came in.
They exchanged morning greetings with their mother; while Lulu, with
eyes cast down, and cheeks aflame, half shrank behind her, ashamed and
afraid to meet Violet's gaze.
But Violet bent down and kissed her affectionately, saying in a kindly
tone, "I hope you are feeling better than you did yesterday?"
"O mamma Vi!" Lulu cried, throwing her arm round her young step-mother's
neck, and bursting into tears, "is baby still getting better? and will
you forgive me? I am, oh, so sorry!"
"Yes, dear, baby is improving fast; and it is all forgiven, so far as I
am concerned," was the gentle reply.
Then the captain kissed his little girl good-morning, and they all went
down to the breakfast-room together.
The worst was over to Lulu in having seen Violet, yet it was quite an
ordeal to her to face the rest of the large family; but each one spoke
pleasantly to her. Rosie alone bestowed so much an unkind look upon her,
and that was wasted; for Lulu, expecting it from that quarter more than
any other, constantly averted her gaze from Rosie, keeping her eyes
down, or turned in another direction.
Dr. Conly had joined them as they sat down, and presently he addressed
the captain:--
"I hear, Raymond, that you would like to buy in this neighborhood."
"Yes, if I can find a suitable place,--one that will satisfy my wife as
well as myself," the captain answered with a smiling glance at Violet.
"Well, Vi, how would Woodburn answer, so far as you are concerned?"
queried Arthur.
"Woodburn! is it for sale?" she cried delightedly. "O Levis!" turning to
her husband, "it is a lovely old place! A visit there was always a great
treat to me as a child."
"And it is really for sale?" exclaimed several voices in chorus, all
eyes turning inquiringly upon Dr. Conly.
"Yes, so Miss Elliott told me yesterday," replied Arthur. "She was
slightly indisposed, and sent for me, and, while telling of her
ailments, remarked that she was very lonely since her sister Margaret
had married and gone, leaving her sole occupant--not taking servants
into account--of that large house, with its extensive grounds. So she
had at last decided, she said, to comply with her sister's urgent
request to sell the place, and take up her abode with them.
"She had thought of advertising, and asked my advice about it. Of
course, I thought at once of you and Vi, captain, told her I knew of a
gentleman who might like to become a purchaser, and that I would promise
her a call from him to-day to look at the place. Will you redeem my
promise?"
"Gladly," responded the captain, "especially as Vi expresses so strong a
liking for the place. Will you go with me, my dear?"
"I hardly like to leave my baby yet," she answered dubiously. "But if
you should feel entirely satisfied with the house, the grounds, and the
price asked for them, you could not please me better than by making the
purchase."
"There! if Miss Elliott only knew it, she might consider the estate as
good as sold," remarked Zoe.
"If she is willing to take a reasonable price, I presume she might,"
said Arthur. "Captain, I will go there directly from here: will you
drive over with me, and take a look at the place?"
"Yes, thank you; and have a talk with the lady, if you will give me an
introduction."
Max and Lulu, sitting side by side at the table, exchanged
glances,--Lulu's full of delight, Max's only interested. He shook his
head in response to her's.
"What do you mean? wouldn't you like it?" she asked in an undertone.
"Yes, indeed! but I'm pretty sure papa couldn't afford such a place as
that: it must be worth a good many thousands."
Lulu's look lost much of its brightness; still, she did not quite give
up hope, as the conversation went on among their elders, Woodburn and
the Elliotts continuing to be the theme.
"Will it be near enough to Ion?" Capt. Raymond asked, addressing Violet
more particularly. "What is the distance?"
"Something over a mile, they call it," said Mr. Dinsmore.
"That is as near as we can expect to be, I suppose," said Violet.
"And with carriages and horses, bicycles, tricycles, and telephones, we
may feel ourselves very near neighbors indeed," remarked Edward. "When
the weather is too inclement for mamma or Vi to venture out, they can
talk together by the hour through the telephone, if they wish."
"And it won't often be too inclement to go back and forth," said Zoe;
"almost always good enough for a close carriage, if for nothing else."
"We are talking as if the place were already secured," remarked Violet,
with a smiling glance at her husband.
"I think you may feel pretty sure of it if you want it, love; unless
Miss Elliott should change her mind about selling," he responded, in a
tone too low to reach any ear but hers.
She gave him a bright, glad look, that quite settled the matter so far
as he was concerned; he would, if necessary, give even an exorbitant
price for the place, to please her.
"Have you never seen Woodburn, captain?" asked Mrs. Dinsmore.
"I have some recollection of driving past it," he replied meditatively;
"but--is not the house nearly concealed from view from the road, by a
thick growth of trees and shrubbery?"
"Yes: you will thin them out a little, I hope, for the mansion is well
worth looking at; it is a very aristocratic-looking dwelling,--large,
substantial, and handsome architecturally."
"Papa, are you going to buy it?" asked Grace.
"It is too soon to answer that question, daughter," he said pleasantly;
and Max and Lulu again exchanged glances, which said this time, "Maybe
he will, after all."
Both ardently wished their father would propose taking them along; he
did not: but when Dr. Conly said, with a kindly glance at Grace, "There
will be room in my carriage for a little friend of mine, if papa is
willing to let her go with us," he at once said,--
"Certainly, Gracie may go, if she will be ready in season, and not keep
the doctor waiting."
"Indeed I will, papa," she cried delightedly, and ran away to don hat
and coat; for the meal was concluded, and everybody leaving the table.
Lulu followed her father, till, in the hall, she found an opportunity to
speak to him without being overheard.
"Papa," she asked, "what am I to do with myself to-day?"
"Stay in your room, and learn your lessons, beginning just where you
left off the other day. You will recite to me after I come back; then we
will consider what you shall do for the rest of the day."
"Yes, sir: may I see Evelyn when she comes?"
"If she chooses to go to you in your room."
"Must I stay in my room all the time?" she asked dejectedly.
"While I am away. I will take you out after I return." Then, noticing
her downcast look, "You shall have more liberty when we get into our own
home," he said kindly.
At that she looked up with a bright, glad smile. "Papa, it will be _so
nice_!"
Max had drawn near.
"Papa," he said, "won't you let Lu take a walk with me? Mayn't we run
over to Fairview, and bring Evelyn back with us? I know she'd be glad to
have company coming over to school."
"Yes, you may go, both of you, if you like. But, Lulu, when you get
home, go at once to your room: don't stop in the grounds or on the
veranda."
"I won't, papa," she said: "I'll go straight to my room, and, oh, thank
you for letting me go!"