to herself, with a great pain at her heart; and as
soon as she found herself alone in her own room that night she wrote a
little penitent note to him all blistered with tears.

Shortly after breakfast the next morning she went to "Grandma Elsie" with
a request for permission to walk over to Fairview and spend an hour with
Evelyn.

"You may, my dear, if you can get Max or some older person to walk with
you," was Elsie's kind reply; "otherwise I will send you in the carriage,
because it is not safe for you to walk that distance alone. I think you
and Evelyn are going to be friends, and I am very glad of it," she added
with a pleasant smile. "If she will come, you may bring her back with you
to spend the day at Ion."

"Oh, thank you, Grandma Elsie; that will be so nice!" cried Lulu,
joyously; then bounded away in search of her brother.

Max, having nothing else to do just then, readily consented to be her
escort, and they set out at once.

"A brother is of some use sometimes, isn't he?" queried Max,
complacently, as they walked briskly down the avenue together.

"Yes; and isn't a sister, too?" asked Lulu.

"Yes, indeed," he said; "you are almost always ready to do me a good
turn, Lu. But, in fact, I'm taking this walk quite as much to please
myself as you. It's a very pleasant one on a morning like this, and Uncle
Lester and Aunt Elsie are pleasant folks to visit."

"I think they are," returned Lulu; "but I am going more to see Evelyn
than anybody else. Oh, Max, I do hope, I do believe, it's going to be as
I told you I wished."

"What?"

"That we'll be intimate friends and very fond of each other. Weren't you
pleased with her, Max? I was."

"She's nice-looking," he replied; "but that's all I can say till we've
had time to get acquainted."

"I feel quite well acquainted with her now; we had such a nice long talk
together last night," said Lulu.

Evelyn was strolling about the grounds at Fairview, and came to the gate
to meet them. She shook hands with Max, kissed Lulu affectionately, and
invited them into the house.

They settled themselves in the veranda, where Mrs. Leland presently
joined them. Then Lulu gave "Grandma Elsie's" invitation.

"May I go, Aunt Elsie?" asked Evelyn.

"Certainly, dear, if you wish to," Mrs. Leland answered kindly. "Your
uncle and I will drive over early in the evening and bring you home."

"By moonlight!" Evelyn said; "that will be very nice. Auntie, you and
uncle are very