ibly coming upon some
hidden treasure forgotten by the owners in their hasty flight.

She wept bitterly, coaxed, pleaded, and made fair promises for the
future, but all in vain. Her mother was firm.

"You must stay at home, Meta," she said. "It grieves me to deprive you
of so great a pleasure, but I must do what I can to help you to overcome
this dreadful fault. You have chosen stolen pleasures at the expense of
disobedience to me, and most ungrateful, wicked behavior toward my kind
friend; and as a just and necessary punishment you must be deprived of
the share you were to have had in the innocent enjoyments planned for
to-morrow. You shall also make a full confession to your Aunt Elsie and
ask her forgiveness."

"I won't!" exclaimed Meta angrily; then catching the look of pained
surprise in her mother's face, she ran to her and throwing her arms
about her neck, "O mamma! mamma! forgive me!" she cried. "I can't bear
to see you look so grieved: I will never say that again; I will do
whatever you bid me."

Mrs. Carrington kissed her child in silence, then taking her by the
hand, "Come and let us have this painful business over," she said, and
led the way to Mrs. Travilla's boudoir.

Elsie had no reproaches for Meta, but kindly forgave her, and even
requested that she might be permitted to share in the morrow's
enjoyment, but Mrs. Carrington would not hear of it.

Chapter Twenty-eighth.

"Mature I'll court in her sequester'd haunts,
By mountain, meadow, streamlet grove or cell."
--SMOLLET.

Mr. Dinsmore was pacing the front veranda, enjoying the cool, fresh
morning air, when little feet came pattering through the hall and a
sweet child voice hailed him with, "Good morning, my dear grandpa."

"Ah, grandpa's little cricket, where were you last evening?" he asked,
sitting down and taking her on his knee.

It was his pet name for Vi, because she was so merry.

The fair face flushed, but putting her arms about his neck, her lips to
his ear, "I was in mamma's dressing-room, grandpa," she whispered. "I
was 'bliged to stay there, 'cause I'd been naughty and disobeyed mamma."

"Ah, I am sorry to hear that I but I hope you don't intend to disobey
any more."

"No, indeed, grandpa."

"Are you considered good enough to go with us to-day?"

"Yes, grandpa, mamma says I was punished yesterday, and I don't be
punished twice for the same thing."

"Mamma is quite right," he said, "and grandpa is very glad she al