into it, though I have seen it so
often."

"Yes," returned Lulu, her face lighting up with pleasure, "I think it so
myself. Our dear father is constantly adding pretty things here and
there to our room, and doing oh so much to make his children happy! Yet,
would you believe it, Eva? I am sometimes both ill-tempered and
disobedient to him."

"Not now! not lately?" Evelyn said half in assertion, half inquiringly
and with a look of surprise.

"Yes," Lulu replied in a low, remorseful tone, her eyes downcast, her
face flushing painfully; "only last month, one day Max was teasing me
and I was in very bad humor, so answered him very crossly. Papa happened
to be in the next room and overheard it all, and called to us both to
come to him. His voice sounded stern, and I felt angry and rebellious.
Max, never does feel so, I believe, anyway he's always obedient, and he
went at once, but I waited to be called a second time, and--O Eva, I'm
dreadfully, dreadfully ashamed! but I feel as if I must tell you because
I can't bear to have you think me so much better than I am."

"Dear Lu, don't tell it if it hurts you so. I'm sure if you were not a
good girl you wouldn't feel so very sorry and ashamed," Evelyn
interrupted, putting both arms round her friend and kissing her with
warmth of affection.

"No, indeed, I'm not!" said Lulu; "and I'll tell it, if only to punish
myself for my badness. Papa has never punished me for it, though I
really did wish he would and asked him to over and over again."

"That seems very odd," Eva said, half smiling. "Most people are only too
glad to escape punishment."

"Maybe I'm different from most folks," said Lulu, "but I always want to
beat myself when I've been so hateful, and so if papa punishes me I
always feel a good deal happier after it's over.

"But I must finish my story. Papa asked, 'Lulu, did you hear me bid you
come to me?' and I answered, 'Yes, sir'; then muttered, 'but I'll not
come a step till I get ready.'"

Evelyn seemed lost in astonishment. "Oh Lu! did you really say that?
could you venture to speak so to your father--a man whom everybody
respects so highly, and who is so dear and kind to you?"

"I did," acknowledged Lulu, her head hanging still lower and her cheek
flushing more hotly. "You see when I lived with Aunt Beulah I got into
the way of being very saucy to her, and I suppose that's how I came to
speak so to papa. Oh don't you think I ought to be dreadfully ashamed,
a