te impossible for me to let you slip. But you
may take your choice between that and being locked up in the bedroom
there for twenty-four hours, on bread and water. Which shall it be?"

"I'd rather take the first, papa," said Lulu, promptly, "because it will
be over in a few minutes, and nobody but ourselves need know anything
about it."

"I made sure you would choose the other," he said, in some surprise;
"yet I think your choice is wise. Come!"

"Oh, papa, I'm so frightened," she said, putting her trembling hand in
his; "you did hurt me so dreadfully the other time; must you be as
severe to-day?"

"My poor child, I am afraid I must," he said; "a slight punishment seems
to avail nothing in your case, and I must do all in my power to make you
a good, gentle, obedient child."

A few minutes later Captain Raymond joined the others on the beach, but
Lulu was not with him. She had been left behind in the bedroom, where
she must stay, he told her, until his return.

Everybody seemed glad to see him; but after greeting them all in turn,
he drew Violet to a seat a little apart from the others.

Grace followed, of course, keeping close to her father's side. "Where is
Lulu, papa?" she asked with a look of concern,

"Up at the house."

"Won't you let her come down here, papa? She loves so to be close down
by the waves."

"She may come after a little," he said, "but not just now." Then taking
two tiny notes from his pocket: "Here, Gracie," he said, "take this to
your Grandma Elsie and this to your Uncle Edward."

"Yes, sir; must I wait for an answer?"

"Oh, no," he replied, with a slight smile; "you may come right back to
your place by papa's side."

Elsie read the little missive handed her at a glance, rose up hastily,
and went to the captain with it in her hand, a troubled look on her
face.

"My dear captain," she said, in a tone of gentle remonstrance, "why did
you do this? The child's offence against me was not a grave one in my
esteem, and I know that to one of her temperament it would be extremely
galling to be made to apologize. I wish you had not required it of her."

"I thought it for her good, mother," he answered; "and I think so still;
she is so strongly inclined to impertinence and insubordination that I
must do all in my power to train her to proper submission to lawful
authority and respect for superiors."

Edward joined them at that moment. He looked disturbed and chagrined.

"Really, captain,"