st.

There would be a two hours' detention there while they waited for the
train that was to carry them to their final destination, which would allow
time for an interview between the captain and herself.

The news was entirely unexpected and very unwelcome to Mrs. Scrimp. She
would have much preferred to keep the little girls, for the sake of the
gain they were to her and a real affection for Gracie; also because of
having neglected to follow out the captain's directions in regard to
them--Gracie in particular--she felt no small perturbation at the prospect
of meeting and being questioned by him.

As was not unusual she vented her displeasure upon Lulu, scolding because
her school-books and hat had not been put in their proper places, her hair
and dress made neat.

"I'll put them away presently, Aunt Beulah. You'll not be bothered with me
much longer," remarked the delinquent nonchalantly, her eyes still upon
the photograph Gracie was holding.

"What's that?" asked Mrs. Scrimp, catching sight of it for the first time.

"Our new mamma," the children answered in a breath, Gracie's tones full of
gentle joyousness, Lulu's of a sort of defiant exultation, especially as
she added, "Papa's coming next week to take us away to live at home with
him."

"On shipboard?"

"No, in a cottage by the sea."

"Humph! he'll soon sail away again and leave you with your step-mother,
just as I told you."

"Well, I don't care, she looks enough kinder and sweeter than you do."

"Indeed! I pity her, poor young thing!" sighed Mrs. Scrimp, scanning the
photograph with keen curiosity. "She's very young--a mere child I should
say--and to think of the trouble she'll have with you and Max!"

"We're not going to be a trouble to her," said Lulu, "we're never a
trouble to people that treat us decently."

"I think your father might have given me an earlier warning of these
changes," grumbled Mrs. Scrimp. "I'll have to work myself sick to get you
two ready in time."

"Oh, no, Aunt Beulah, you needn't," said little Gracie, "the new mamma can
get somebody to make our clothes for us. Papa will pay for it."

"Of course he will," said Lulu. "You needn't do anything but have those we
have now all washed and ironed and packed up ready to go."

"That's all you know about it!" returned Mrs. Scrimp sharply. "You haven't
either of you a suitable dress for travelling in, especially in company
with your father's rich wife. I'll have to go right out