e,
"how kind you were to reason with me in that nice way, instead of saying
sternly, as you might have done, 'Now, Lulu, if you are naughty about
the choice of things for furnishing your rooms, you sha'n't have any
thing pretty for them, and when we get home I'll punish you severely!'"

"Certainly, I might have done that, and probably with the effect of
securing your good behavior," he said; "but I think neither of us would
have felt quite so happy as we do now."

"I am sure I should not," she said, lifting his hand to her lips.

That little talk had a most happy effect upon Lulu, so that throughout
the entire day she showed herself as docile and amiable as any one could
have desired.

Her father, on his part, was extremely indulgent toward all three of his
children, in every case in which he felt that it was right and wise to
be so, sparing no reasonable expense to gratify their tastes and wishes.
But in several matters they yielded readily to his or grandma Elsie's
better judgment; indeed, always, when asked to do so, seeming, too, well
satisfied with the final decision.

They returned home, a very happy set of children, except, in Lulu's
case, when memory recalled the passionate outburst of the early part of
the week with its dire consequences: that remembrance would be a sore
spot in her heart, and a bitter humiliation, for many a day, probably
for the rest of her life.

Rosie was on the veranda awaiting their arrival.

"Well, have you had a good time, and bought great quantities of pretty
things?" she asked, addressing the company in general.

It was Zoe who answered first.

"Yes: if these young Raymonds are not satisfied with the furnishing of
their apartments, I, for one, shall deem them the most unreasonable and
ungrateful of human kind."

"She won't have a chance to, though," said Max; "for we're delighted
with every thing papa has got us. Aren't we, Lu and Gracie?"

"Yes, indeed!" they both replied. "Oh, we have ever so many beautiful
things! Papa and grandma Elsie helped us to choose them; so, of course,
they are all just right," added Lulu, looking gratefully from one to the
other.

"She takes no account of _my_ very valuable assistance," laughed Zoe.

"Never mind: you are sure to be appreciated in one quarter," said
Edward, coming up at that moment, catching her round the waist, and
bestowing a hearty kiss upon each cheek. "I have been lost without my
wife all day."

"How good of you!" she