e, with her arms
about her sister's neck, sobbed, "O Lu how could you make dear papa so
sorry for so many days?"

"Was he so sorry?" sobbed Lulu.

"Yes, indeed; sometimes he hardly ate anything, and looked so sad that the
tears came in my eyes, and in Mamma Vi's too."

"Oh, I hope that wasn't what made him sick!" cried Lulu, the tears
streaming down her face. "I'll never, never behave so to him again."

Lulu was still more remorseful as time went on and everybody was so kind
to her, seeming never to remember her naughtiness and disgrace, but giving
her a share in all the pleasures devised for themselves which were
suitable to her age.

She was especially touched and subdued by the interest Violet took in
seeing her provided with new dresses made and trimmed in the fashion
(which, to her extreme vexation, Mrs. Scrimp had always disregarded), and
with many other pretty things.

When she thanked her new mamma, she was told, "Your father pays for them
all, dear."

Then she went to him with tears in her eyes, and putting her arms round
his neck, thanked him for all his goodness, confessing that she did not
deserve it.

"You are very welcome nevertheless, daughter," he said, "and all I ask in
return is that you will be good and obedient."

Vi wished to return to Lulu the pink coral ornaments, but that he would
not allow.

It was a great disappointment to Lulu, for she admired them extremely, but
she showed herself entirely submissive under it.

CHAPTER XXIII

MAX.

"Papa," said Max one morning, as they rose from the breakfast-table, "I
feel as if a long walk would do me good. I'd like to go farther down the
beach than I ever have yet."

"Very well, my son, you may go, only keep out of danger and come home in
time for dinner," was the indulgent rejoinder, and the lad set off at
once.

He presently fell in with two other lads a little older than himself,
boarders in one of the near hotels, and casual acquaintances of his. They
joined him and the three rambled on together, whistling, talking, and
occasionally stooping to pick up a shell, pebble, or bit of seaweed or
sponge.

At length they reached an inlet that seemed to bar their farther progress,
but looking about they spied an old boat stranded by yesterday's tide a
little higher up the inlet, and were of course instantly seized with a
great desire to get her into the water and set sail in her.

"Wouldn't it be jolly fun?" cried Bob Masters, th