tener,
who heard them with tears of sympathy and indignation.

"I think somebody ought to whip him," she said; "and I hope he'll never
have a chance to strike you again."

"I don't intend he shall. I've said I won't take another lesson from him,
and I don't intend to. But Grandpa Dinsmore says I must; so there'll be
another fight."

"Oh, Lu, don't!" cried Grace, in terror; "don't try to fight _him_. Don't
you remember how he 'most made Grandma Elsie die when she was a little
girl, 'cause she wouldn't do what he told her to?"

Lulu nodded. "But I'm another kind of girl," she said; "and I'm not his
child, so I think he wouldn't dare be quite so cruel to me."

"How brave you are, Lulu!" Grace exclaimed in admiration. "But, oh, I am
so sorry for you! I'd be frightened 'most to death, I think; frightened
to think of going back to that signor, and dreadfully afraid to refuse if
Grandpa Dinsmore said I must."

"Yes, you poor little thing! but I'm not so timid, you know. Grandpa
Dinsmore can't frighten me into breaking my word."

"But, you know, Lu," said Max, coming in at that moment, "that papa has
ordered us to obey Grandpa Dinsmore, and if we refuse we are disobeying
our father too."

"I am sure papa never thought he would want me to go on taking lessons of
a man that struck me," cried Lulu, indignantly. "Besides, I've said I
won't, and nothing on earth shall make me break my word."

"I wish papa was here," sighed Max, looking sorely troubled.

"So do I," responded Lulu. "I'm sure he wouldn't make me go back to that
hateful old Signor Foresti."

That evening Max, Lulu, Rosie, and Evelyn were in the schoolroom at
Viamede, preparing their lessons for the morrow, when a servant came up
with a message for Lulu; she was wanted in the library.

Flushing hotly, and looking a good deal disturbed, Lulu pushed aside her
books and rose to obey the summons.

"Only Miss Lulu? nobody else, Jim?" asked Rosie.

"I 'spects so, Miss Rosie; dat's all Massa Dinsmore say."

"Oh, Lu, I'm sorry for you!" whispered Evelyn, catching Lulu's hand and
pressing it affectionately in hers.

"You're very kind, but I'm not afraid," Lulu answered, drawing herself up
with dignity; then she hurried to the library, not giving herself time to
think what might be in store for her there.

She started with surprise, and paused for an instant on the threshold, as
she perceived that Professor Manton was there with Mr. Dinsmore, who was
the only