favorite plan exceedingly beneficial in her
own case; therefore she was sure so delicate a child as Gracie ought to
conform to the same regimen.

She seemed fond of the little girl, petted and caressed her, calling her
by many an endearing name, and telling her very often that she was "a
good, biddable child; far better than fiery-tempered, headstrong Lulu."

Lulu would hear the remark with a scornful smile and toss of the head,
sometimes saying proudly, "I wouldn't let anybody call you names to me,
Gracie; and I wouldn't be such a little goose as to be wheedled and
flattered into putting up with being half-starved."

There had been a time when Mrs. Scrimp tried to prevent and punish such
daring words, but she had given it up long since, and contented herself
with sighing sadly over the "depravity of that irrepressible child."

She had once or twice threatened to write to Captain Raymond and tell him
that Lulu was unmanageable, but the child coolly replied, "I wish you
would; for then papa would send Gracie and me somewhere else to stay."

"Where you would, perhaps, fare a great deal worse," returned Mrs. Scrimp
wrathfully.

"I am willing to risk it," Lulu said; and that was the end of it, for Mrs.
Scrimp would have been very loath to lose the children's board.

One pleasant October morning Lulu came down a trifle late to her
breakfast. Mrs. Scrimp and Gracie were already seated at the table and
had began their meal.

"Lulu," said Mrs. Scrimp with a portentous frown, "you were in the pantry
last night, helping yourself."

"Of course I was," returned the child as she took her seat at the table.
"I told you I wouldn't go without my supper, and you didn't have Ann get
any for me; so what could I do but go and help myself?"

"You have no right to go to my pantry and take the food that belongs to
me. It's neither more nor less than stealing, Miss Lulu Raymond."

"Well, Aunt Beulah, what do you call it when you take the money my father
pays you for feeding Gracie and me, and don't give us the food he has paid
for?"

Mrs. Scrimp colored violently at that, but quickly answered, "He doesn't
pay for any particular kind or quantity, and doesn't want you overfed; and
I don't consider it at all good for you to eat after three o'clock, as
I've told you fifty times."

"Oftener than that, I dare say," returned Lulu with indifference, "but you
might say it five hundred times and I shouldn't believe it a bit the more.
Pap