"Should you? Then I shall try to manage it for you. But it would not do
at all for you to go entirely alone."

"If you'll just let me be her escort, Grandma Elsie, I'll walk beside her
with pleasure and take the very best care of her," said Max, proudly and
assuming quite a manly air.

"I'd want a bigger and stronger man than you, Max," remarked Rosie,
teasingly.

"Then I won't offer my services to you, Rosie," he answered with dignity,
while Lulu gave Rosie a displeased glance which the latter did not seem
to notice.

"Never mind, Max; I appreciate your offered services, and shall not be
afraid to trust myself to your care," Evelyn said in a lively tone; and
putting an arm affectionately round Lulu's waist, "Come, Lu, let us go
out on the lawn; I saw some lovely flowers there that I want to gather
for Aunt Elsie's adornment this evening."

So the little group scattered, and Grace followed Violet to her
dressing-room.

"What is it, dear? is anything wrong with my little girl?" asked Vi,
noticing that the child was unusually quiet and wore a troubled look on
the face that was wont to be without a cloud.

"Not much, mamma--only--only I've never been to school, and--and
I'm--afraid of strange people."

A sob came with the last word, and the tears began to fall.

"Then you shall not go, darling; you shall stay at home and say your
little lessons to your mamma," Violet said, sitting down and drawing the
little girl to her with a tender caress.

"Oh, mamma, thank you! how good you are to me!" cried Grace, glad smiles
breaking suddenly through the rain of tears, as she threw her arms round
Violet's neck and held up her face for another kiss.

"But I will go if you think I ought," she added the next moment, "for you
know I want to do right and please Jesus."

"Yes, dear, I know you are trying all the time to please Him; I can see
it very plainly; but I shall be glad to keep my darling at home with me;
and that being the case, I do not think your conscience need trouble you
if you stay at home. The academy people will have no cause to complain,
because you were not promised positively to them."

"Dear mamma, you've made me so happy!" exclaimed Grace, hugging Violet
with all her little strength. "I'm so obliged to papa for giving me such
a dear, sweet, kind mother."

"And I am obliged to him for the dear little daughter he has given me,"
Violet responded with a low, pleased laugh.

Grandma Elsie sat alone up