dma 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 a