lu had been busy all the morning attending to her studies, her
practice on the piano, the demands of the dressmaker, and taking her
usual exercise about the grounds. She was out in them now, watching for
the coming of her father, eager to see him and to hear how it was with
dear Grandma Elsie.

Presently she heard the sound of carriage-wheels on the road, then in
another minute the vehicle turned in at the great gates and came rapidly
up the drive, little Elsie calling out from it, "Lu, Lu, we've come!"

"Have you, Elsie? Oh, I'm so glad!" she called in reply.

The carriage had stopped, Lulu bounded toward it, and her father,
throwing open the door, helped her in. Hugs and kisses and laughter
followed; so glad were the happy children to meet again after even so
short a separation.

In another minute the carriage drew up before the entrance to the
mansion, and the captain and his joyous little troop alighted. Dinner
was ready to be served, and as soon as hats and other outer garments had
been disposed of the merry little party gathered about the table. Mamma
was missed but it was very pleasant to all to find themselves there with
their fond father and each other. Lulu's fears for dear Grandma Elsie
had been much relieved by the report of the success of the surgeons, so
that she was light-hearted and gay as well as the younger ones.

Immediately after dinner, while the little ones took their accustomed
afternoon nap, she recited her lessons, doing so in a manner that drew
hearty commendation from her father, who was always glad to be able to
bestow it; then, knowing it would be a joy to her to do them, he called
upon her for some of the little services she was accustomed to render
him.

These attended to, "Now, daughter," he said, "you may dress yourself
nicely for a drive. I am going to take you and your little brother and
sisters for a pretty long one. Then I will drop them at Ion, and you and
I, after a call of a few minutes to hear how Grandma Elsie is, will
drive home together."

"Oh, how pleasant that will be, papa! How good you always are to every
one of us children!" she exclaimed, giving him an ardent kiss, then
running away to do his bidding.

A merry, happy time the children had, and on reaching Ion the little
ones were ready for their supper and bed. The older ones were full of
joy on learning that their loved Grandma Elsie was as comfortable and
doing as well as possible under the circumstances. The