h him even a sight of which must be
allowed to no third person; besides, he might have said something that
would touch her feelings, and she could not bear to have any of "these
people" see her cry.

It was not a long letter, but tenderly affectionate. He called her his
dear child, his darling little daughter, and told her he was very often
thinking of and praying for her; asking that God would bless her in time
and eternity; that He would help her to conquer her faults and grow up to
good and useful womanhood; and that when her life on earth was done He
would receive her to glory and immortality in the better land.

He spoke of having received flattering accounts of her studiousness and
general good behavior since last he parted from her, and said that until
she should become a parent herself she could never know the joy of heart
it had given him. He knew that she must have fought many a hard battle
with her besetting sins, and while he hoped that a desire to please God
had been among her motives, he rejoiced in believing that love for
himself had influenced her also.

"And it makes me very happy to think so, my precious little daughter;
very glad to be able to bestow praise upon you rather than reproof," he
added.

Lulu's cheeks grew hot with shame as she read these words of
commendation--now so undeserved--and tears started to her eyes as, in
imagination, she saw the look of deep pain and distress that would come
over her father's face when he learned of her late misconduct.

"Oh, why am I not a better girl?" she sighed to herself; "how could I
behave so when I know it grieves my dear papa like that!"

CHAPTER XVI.

LULU'S PROTEST.

Lulu's self-upbraidings were broken in upon by a gentle tap at her door,
followed by Grace's voice saying in glad, eager tones, "Come, Lulu, mamma
is going to read us some of her letter from papa. And you shall see mine
too, if you want to."

"Yes, I'll be there in a minute," Lulu replied, jumping up, hastily
folding her letter, slipping it into its envelope, and that into her
pocket.

This done, she hurried into Violet's dressing-room and joined Max and
Grace as listeners to the reading of her father's letter to his wife.

At its conclusion Max offered the one he had received, saying, "Now
please read mine aloud, Mamma Vi; I'm sure you would all like to hear
it."

"Mine too," Grace said, laying hers in Violet's lap.

When these had been read, both Max and Grace t