CHAPTER XVI.
It wanted barely two weeks of Lulu’s birthday when by her misconduct she lost sight of her pony for a time.
Of course Max and Grace inquired for what reason she had been sent away, and it was a mortification to Lulu to have to own that papa had ordered it as a punishment to her for disobedience.
“Well, Lu,” said Max, “it does seem odd to me that you will disobey papa, every once in a while, though he never gives an unreasonable order and is always so kind and affectionate to us, yet sure to punish disobedience.”
“Have you never disobeyed him, Max?” she asked a little angrily.
“Yes, several times in the course of my life; but not of late.”
“I don’t believe Lu will any more,” said Grace.
“I hope not; I don’t mean to; it ’most broke my heart to see how hurt and sorry papa looked about it,” Lulu said, with a slight tremble in her voice. “It was worse than having Fairy sent away.”
Max and Grace offered the use of their ponies.
“Thank you,” said Lulu; “it’s ever so kind in you both; but I don’t know whether papa would let me ride either of them now while I can’t have my own.”
They had left the dinner-table shortly before, were now on the veranda, and Ajax was leading up Elf and Max’s pony, Rex.
The captain stepped out from the open hall door and Max asked, “Papa, may I lend Rex to Lu?”
“If you choose; but she is not to ride alone even about the grounds; or to go out of sight from the house by herself.”
“S’pose you ride on Elf, Lu, and have Maxie go along on Rex,” suggested Grace.
“And let you stay behind? No, indeed! You and Max go, and I’ll amuse myself at home. I had a ride this morning, and don’t need to go again,” Lulu answered.
“I propose that instead, you two little girls shall take a drive in the family carriage with your mamma and me, Max riding alongside on Rex,” their father said, and they accepted his invitation with joyful alacrity, running up at once to their rooms to get ready; for he told them he had already ordered the carriage and it would be at the door in a few minutes.
Lulu came down again a little ahead of Violetand Grace, and found her father waiting on the veranda alone.
Drawing near his side, and speaking in a low tone, “Papa,” she said, “I don’t deserve to go along, and you are very kind to let me.”
“I love to have you with me, dear child,” he answered, “and though I have sent Fairy away for a time, it is not my desire to make the week an unhappy one to you.”
Max’s birthday would occur a few days earlier than Lulu’s, and that evening, when they were all together, his father told him he might celebrate it by having a party, inviting as many of his boy friends as he chose to spend the day, or part of it, at Woodburn.
Max was greatly pleased and began at once to plan amusements for his expected guests, asking advice and assistance from both his father and Violet.
Lulu listened with interest to the talk, glad for Max, and hoping, too, that something would be said about the conditionally promised party for her birthday.
But it was not mentioned, and she concluded that probably papa did not intend to let her have one since she had behaved so ill. She was too sincerely penitent to feel at all rebellious or ill-used, though sadly disappointed; still, as it yet lacked nearly two weeks of the time, she did not entirely give up hope.
When she had gone up to her own room for the night, and was getting ready for bed, her thoughts went back to the interview held there that morning with her father, and she seemed to see again the pained expression in his eyes that had so distressed her then.
“Oh, how could I be so naughty and disobedient to him! Such a dear, good father!” she again sighed to herself, tears springing to her eyes. “I just hate you for it, Lulu Raymond, and I’d like to pound you well. I ’most wish your father would do it! I’ve a great mind to ask him to. And here he comes,” as she heard his step nearing the door.
As he came in she looked up at him with tearful, wistful eyes. He opened his arms and she ran into them, put hers about his neck and hid her face on his breast.
“What is it?” he asked, softly smoothing her hair; “why are there tears in my dear little daughter’s eyes; is it because of Fairy’s absence?”
“No, papa; but because I’m so sorry to have hurt you so to-day. Oh, have you got over it now?”
“Pretty nearly; the momentary doubt that my dear Lulu loved me more than just a little, has vanished. I am quite sure she does love me—better, perhaps, than any thing but her own self-will. But I shall never be quite satisfiedtill I can believe that she loves me even better than that.”
“Papa,” she pleaded, “please believe that I do’mostall the time.”
“Yes, I do believe it; and that you are really trying to overcome your faults. I want to talk a little with you about these besetting sins of yours, and how to battle with them. Then we will ask God together to help you in the struggle, for Jesus says:
“‘If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven!’”
“Papa,” she said, clinging lovingly to him as, a little later, he bade her good-night, “if your children don’t grow up good, Christian people, I’m sure it won’t be your fault.”
“It is what I desire for them more than wealth, or fame, or any thing this world can give,” he answered, holding her close in a tender embrace.
She had grown very fond of Fairy and missed the pretty creature woefully, but said never a word of complaint or entreaty for her restoration, but strove earnestly to be faithful in the performance of every duty that so she might please her dear father, and fully convince him of her devoted affection.
He noticed her efforts, gave frequent, loving commendation, and was kind as kind could be.
Yet the week seemed a long one; but at last it did come to an end, and on being dismissed from morning lessons Lulu found her pony quietly feeding with Elf in the grassy plat in front of the school-room door.
She gave a joyous cry, but turned and ran back to hug, kiss and thank her father before bidding Fairy welcome.
“It pained me to take her from you, and now it gives me great pleasure to return her, my darling,” he said. “Go and enjoy yourself with her, Gracie and Elf, as much as you can, till dinner time. I am sure I need not remind you that you must keep within the grounds, unless Max or I should join you.”
“I hope not, papa, and I do thank you ever so much for trusting me again,” she answered, as she hurried away.
The absorbing topic of conversation now was Max’s approaching birthday and the party which was to celebrate it.
The little girls held many pleasant consultations with each other, and sometimes with papa and mamma too, about presents for him, desiring to give something that should prove both useful and acceptable.
Max’s satisfaction with what he received, when the day came, seemed to leave no room for doubt that they had succeeded. He was full of boyish delight and more than onceexpressed the belief that he was the most fortunate fellow in the world; for nobody could have a better father or kinder mother and sisters.
“And such a feast as papa has provided for us!” he went on. “How the fellows will enjoy it!”
“I think you must have been interviewing Christine and the cook, Max,” laughed his father.
“Yes, sir, so I have; you see I feel free to do pretty much as I please in my own father’s house; at least as regards going up and down, and in and out, from garret to cellar, looking at whatever’s going on and asking questions.”
“That’s right,” returned the captain heartily. “Where should a boy feel at home if not in his father’s house?”
“Nowhere, I should say,” answered Max. “And you’ve provided so many amusements for us that I don’t see how it’ll be possible for any one of us to have a dull moment.”
“And am I not to have an invitation to share them with you, Max?” asked the captain.
“Oh, will you, papa? will you really join in our games?” cried the boy, his eyes sparkling with pleasure. “Why, that’ll be perfectly splendid!”
“Possibly the ‘other fellows’ may be of a different opinion,” laughed his father.
“If they are at first, I’m sure they’ll changetheir minds when they find out what good company you are, sir,” returned Max. “And O, papa, won’t you tell us some of your sailor’s yarns, as you call them?”
“Perhaps, if other amusements fail.”
“Oh, thank you, sir! Mamma Vi, we’ll take our noisy games far enough away from the house not to disturb you.”
“I shall not mind the noise,” said Violet. “I have always been used to boys, and take great pleasure in seeing them enjoy themselves.”
This talk was at the breakfast table, and an hour or two later the guests began to arrive.
The sports were such as the little girls did not care to take part in, but they found much entertainment in looking on, and felt a sisterly delight in seeing how intensely Max enjoyed it all.
The visitors were a polite, good-humored set, the captain’s presence among them was a restraint as well as a pleasure, and nothing occurred to mar the harmony of their intercourse.
When the time came for the good-byes, there were warm hand-shakings and earnest asseverations that never in their lives had they had a better time.
Max’s party was now successfully over. Lulu’s birthday was near at hand, yet nothing was said about its celebration. She waited fromday to day, hoping that her father would mention the subject and say that she, too, should have a party; but kind as he was and thoughtful for her comfort and enjoyment in every other respect, he seemed to have forgotten that he had ever spoken of such an intention, and never to reflect that she might reasonably expect the same indulgence that had been shown her brother and sister; so at length she sorrowfully concluded that he thought her late misconduct had rendered her unworthy of such a treat.
She was quite sure of it when the very last evening before her birthday had come and still she had received no intimation that any notice whatever was to be taken of it.
She was unusually silent all the evening, seemed to keep a little apart from the others, and now and then sighed softly to herself.
Several times her father’s ears caught the sound, but he merely gave her a kindly inquiring glance and went on with his talk.
When he came to her room for a few goodnight words, as he almost always did, and found her shedding tears, he took her in his arms, asking tenderly:
“What is the matter, daughter? are you not feeling quite well?”
“I’m not sick, papa,” she answered in tremulous tones, and half averting her face.
“What then? tell your father what troubles you; he will help and comfort you if he can.”
“I’m ashamed to tell you, papa,” she faltered, hiding her face on his breast.
“Is it that you fear papa has forgotten what an important day to-morrow will be to his little Lulu? If so, you may dry your tears. I have thought of it a great deal and prepared a pleasure for you. Eva is to come directly after breakfast and stay a whole week with you, and it shall be a week of holidays.”
She lifted her head and looked up into his face, smiling through her tears.
“Oh, that is nice!” she cried joyfully, “thank you, my dear papa.”
“As nice as a party?” he asked, with a smile.
“Almost,” she said, hesitatingly. “It’s better than I deserve, because I was sosoveryverynaughty only a little while ago.”
“Dear child, do you think your father could have the heart to keep on punishing you for wrong-doing so sincerely repented of?” he asked, in half reproachful tones and caressing her with great tenderness.
“I—I thought I—I deserved it, papa.”
“Ido not think so,” he said. “But did you want a party?”
“Yes, papa, and I thought you meant to give me one if I’d been good.”
“You shall have one some time before the summer is over,” he promised, “and I hope tomorrow will be a very happy day to you in spite of your disappointment.”
Then he kissed her good night and left her.
She was much comforted and her troubles were soon forgotten in sleep.
When she woke the sun was shining, and she started up with an exclamation of surprise.
Beside her bed stood a small table, and on it were a number of things she had never seen before:
A pretty work-basket, a beautiful little clock, a lovely pair of vases, several handsomely bound books, and a box of kid gloves.
“Oh, how nice!” she cried. “They didn’t forget me; no, not one of them! I’m so glad! it’s so pleasant to be remembered!”
She examined each gift, noting its beauties, and from whom it came—for they were all labelled—then sprang out of bed and began dressing in haste.
She had scarcely finished when her father entered noiselessly, stepped softly up behind her and caught her in his arms before she was aware of his presence.
“Good morning, my darling, and many happy returns of the day,” he said, kissing her fondly.
“Good morning, my dearest papa,” shereturned, twining her arms about his neck, “and thank you for that lovely little clock, it is just what I wanted for my mantel.”
“I am glad it pleases you,” he said.
Grace had followed him in.
“Oh, Lu, I’m glad you’ve got a birthday!” she exclaimed. “But weren’t you surprised?”
“At having a birthday, Gracie?” asked their father, laughing a little, and hugging them both at once.
“No, papa; at the things on the table.”
“Yes,” said Lulu; “I didn’t expect any presents at all.”
“Here is another surprise for you,” said the captain; and something glittering went over her head, and a small round object was laid in her hand.
She looked down at it and gave a cry of delight. It was a beautiful gold locket set with brilliants and attached to a gold chain, which her father had put round her neck.
She turned it over and found her initials on the other side.
“How very pretty, papa!” she cried.
He touched a spring and the locket flew open, disclosing a pictured face.
Lulu gazed on it in silence for a moment, then lifting her eyes inquiringly to her father’s face.
“Mamma, our own mamma; isn’t it?” sheasked, in tones half tremulous with emotion.
“Yes,” he said, “an excellent likeness, I think. She was very sweet and lovely in both looks and character. I hope her children will resemble her in that last, as Gracie does in looks.”
“Yes, papa; I do believe Gracie will look just like this when she’s grown up,” Lulu said, glancing from the miniature to her sister, then handing it to her. “And oh, but I am glad,gladto have it. You couldn’t have given me anything else that would have pleased me so much, dear papa!” hugging him again as she spoke.
Grace gazed fixedly at the picture for several minutes, then lifting tear-dimmed eyes to her father’s face, “How dear and sweet she does look, papa!” she said. “I can remember her only just a little, and this helps me to do it more. I’ll always know now how sweet and pretty my first mamma was.”
“Our veryownmamma,” corrected Lulu emphatically.
“Yes, she was that,” the captain said; “and I would not have her children forget her. Neither would your Mamma Vi; she so wishes you to remember this dear mother of yours, that she has spent many hours in painting from a photograph, this likeness for you, Lulu, andanother like it for Gracie; also she intends to paint one for Max.”
“Where is mine, papa?” queried Gracie eagerly.
“Here,” he said, taking from his pocket another locket, thefac-simileof Lulu’s except that the initials upon it were Grace’s own.
She received it with a transport of delight unusual with her; for hers was a much quieter temperament than that of her older sister.
“How good in Mamma Vi!” exclaimed Lulu; “especially,” she added, her cheeks growing hot with blushes, “considering the many times I’ve behaved badly to her.”
“So I think; and I trust, my dear child, that you will never again treat her with unkindness or disrespect,” said the captain gravely.
“Oh, I hope not! I’m sure I don’t intend to!” cried Lulu.
“Let’s go and thank her,” proposed Grace. “Mine’s every bit as sweet and lovely as yours, Lu.”
“Will you take us to her, papa?” asked Lulu.
“Willingly,” he said, rising and taking a hand of each.
The breakfast bell rang just at that moment, and as they stepped into the hall they met Violet coming from her room in answer to it.
Very sweetly she received the thanks of the little girls, and congratulated Lulu, saying, truly, that it had been a great pleasure to her to paint for them the lovely face of their mother.