wanted to," Lulu said with an evident effort, and blushing
again.

Then she sprang up and ran toward her father, who was seen at some
little distance, coming from the orange orchard toward the house.

"I do believe she's going to tell on herself!" exclaimed Rosie, in
astonishment.

"Oh, dear, I wonder what papa will do to her!" exclaimed Grace, just
ready to burst into tears.

"It is very noble in her to go and confess at once, when he needn't have
ever known anything about it," cried Eva admiringly.

They were all three watching Lulu and her father with intense interest,
though too far away to hear anything that either one might say.

Lulu drew near him, hanging her head shamefacedly. "Papa," she said, in
a low, remorseful tone, "I have just been disobeying you."

"Ah! I am sorry, very sorry, to hear it, daughter," he returned a little
sadly; then, taking her hand, led her away further from the house and
seated her and himself on a bench beneath a group of trees that entirely
hid them from view.

"Tell me the whole story, my child," he said, not unkindly, and still
keeping her hand in his.

"I cracked a nut with my teeth, papa," she replied, with her eyes upon
the ground, her cheek hot with blushes.

"You forgot that I had forbidden it?"

"No, papa, I haven't even that poor excuse. I remembered all the time
that you had forbidden me, but just did it because I wanted to."

"Though I had given you my reason for the prohibition--that you would
risk serious damage to your teeth, and probably suffer both pain and the
loss of those useful members in consequence. It gives me pain to find
that my dear eldest daughter cares so little for her father's wishes or
commands."

At that Lulu burst into tears and sobs. "Oh, I hope you'll punish me
well for it, papa!" she said. "I deserve it, and I think it would do me
good."

"I must indeed punish you for conduct so decidedly rebellious," he
replied. "I will either forbid nuts for a week, or refrain from giving
you a caress for the same length of time. Which shall it be?"

"O papa, I'd rather do without nuts for the rest of the winter than a
whole week without a caress from you!" she exclaimed.

"Very well, then," he said, bending down and touching his lips to her
cheek. "I forbid the nuts, and I think I can trust my daughter to obey
me by not touching one till she has her father's permission."

"I feel sure I will, papa," she said; "but if I should be so very bad