y Duncan had shown
him the previous afternoon.

"It's Mr. Duncan's dog," he said; "he must have broken his chain and
come in unobserved before the house was closed for the night. Here,
Nero, good fellow, this way! You've done mischief enough for one night,
and we'll send you home."

He led the way to the outer door, the dog following quite peaceably,
while Elsie, hearing sobs coming from the other room, hastened in to
comfort and relieve the frightened children.

Grace still slept on in blessed unconsciousness; but she found Lulu
crying hysterically, quite unable to continue her efforts at
self-control, now that the necessity for it was past.

"Poor child!" Elsie said, folding her in her kind arms, "you have had a
terrible fright, have you not?"

"Yes, Grandma Elsie; oh, I've been lying here so long, _so long_,
thinking a murderer or crazy man was under the bed, just ready to jump
out and kill Gracie and me!" she sobbed, clinging convulsively about
Elsie's neck.

"And did not scream for help! What a brave little girl you are!"

"I wanted to, and, oh, I could hardly keep from it! But I thought if I
did it would wake Gracie and scare her to death, and the man would be
sure to jump out and kill us at once."

"Dear child," Elsie said, "you have shown yourself thoughtful, brave,
and unselfish; how proud your father will be of his eldest daughter
when he hears it!"

"O Grandma Elsie, do you think he will? How glad that would make me! It
would pay for all the dreadful fright I have had," Lulu said, her tones
tremulous with joy, as, but a moment ago, they had been with nervousness
and fright.

"I am quite sure of it," Elsie answered, smoothing the little girl's
hair with caressing hand, "quite sure; because I know he loves you very
dearly, and that he admires such courage, unselfishness, and presence of
mind as you have shown to-night."

These kind words did much to turn Lulu's thoughts into a new channel and
thus relieve the bad effects of her fright. But Elsie continued for some
time longer her efforts to soothe her into calmness and forgetfulness,
using tender, caressing words and endearments; then she left her, with
an injunction to try to go immediately to sleep.

Lulu promised compliance, and, attempting it, succeeded far sooner than
she had thought possible.

The whole occurrence seemed like a troubled dream when she awoke in the
morning. It was a delicious day in early October, and as soon as dressed
s