oncerned,"
sighed Violet. "And, grandpa, I dread the struggle you will certainly
have with her if you insist upon her continuance in his class. I never
saw a more determined look than she wore when she said that she would
never take another lesson of him."

"Do not trouble yourself," he said; "I think I am fully equal to the
contest. I should gladly avoid it if it seemed to me right to do so, but
it does not. It is high time Lulu was taught proper submission to lawful
authority."

Max, standing with averted face, a little apart from the speaker, heard
every word that was said.

The boy was sorely troubled. He turned and walked away, saying to
himself, "She will never do it; I don't believe any power on earth can
make her, and Grandpa Dinsmore is about as determined as she; so what is
to come of it I can't tell. Oh, if papa were only here! nobody else can
manage Lu when she gets into one of her stubborn fits, and I don't
believe he'd make her go back to that horrid savage of a music-teacher.
I've a notion to write and tell him all about it. But no, where would be
the use? I dare say the whole affair will be over before my letter could
reach him and an answer come back."

Very tenderly and carefully Elsie bound up the wounded fingers; then
taking the little girl in her arms she kissed her kindly, saying, "You
were treated very badly, my dear child, but it is not likely the man will
venture to act so again after my father has spoken to him and warned him
of the consequences of such behavior."

"I think he won't to me," Lulu answered, the stubborn, defiant look
returning to her face.

"Do the fingers feel better?" Elsie asked gently.

"Yes, ma'am; and I am very much obliged. Grandma Elsie, do you know where
Gracie is?"

"I think you will find her in the playroom."

Lulu immediately resorted thither, and found Grace playing happily with
her dolls.

"Oh, Lu, I'm so glad you have come!" she cried, glancing up at her sister
as she entered.

"I do miss you so all day long while you are at school! But what's the
matter with your hand?" she asked with concern.

"Nothing very serious," Lulu answered carelessly. "That villain of a
music-teacher snapped his pointer on my fingers and blistered them;
that's all."

"Oh, Lu, what a shame! Did it hurt you very much?"

"Quite a good deal; but of course it was the insult, not the pain, that I
cared for."

She went on to give the details of the occurrence to this new lis