Part 4 (2/2)
”Ess; fro it down,” he said, holding up both hands to catch it. ”Me will tate it to papa.”
It fell on the gra.s.s at his feet, he stooped and picked it up, then trotted away with it in his hand.
Again Lulu took up her book and tried to study, but with no better success than before. ”What will papa do and say to me?” she was asking herself. ”Oh, I hope he won't keep me long in suspense! I don't believe he will; he never does, and--ah, yes, I hear his step.”
She rose hastily, hurried to the door and opened it. He stood on the threshold. ”Papa,” she said humbly, ”I am very, very sorry I was pa.s.sionate and cross to dear little Ned.”
”As I am,” he replied, stepping in, securing the door, then taking her hand, leading her to the side of an easy chair and seating himself therein. ”I was deeply grieved to hear my eldest daughter speak in such angry words and pa.s.sionate tones to her baby brother. It not only gave the dear little fellow pain, but set him a very bad example which I greatly fear he will follow one of these days, so giving me the pain of punis.h.i.+ng him and you that of seeing him punished!”
”Papa, I am the one who ought to be punished,” she burst out in her vehement way, ”and I just hope you will punish me well. But oh, please don't say I shall not go to Cousin Betty's wedding, or not be one of her bridesmaids or maids of honor.”
He made no reply at first. There was a moment's silence, then she exclaimed, ”Oh, papa, I just can't bear it! I'd even rather have the severest whipping you could give me.”
”You are a little too old for that now,” he said in moved tones, drawing her to a seat upon his knee. ”It has always been to me a hard trial to feel called upon to punish my dear child in that way; a sad task to have to do so in any way; and if you are a good girl from now on to the time of the wedding, you may accept Betty's kind invitation.”
”Oh, thank you, sir! thank you very much indeed!” she exclaimed. ”I don't deserve to be allowed to, but oh, I do fully intend to rule my temper better in future!”
”I hope so indeed; but you will not succeed if you try merely in your own strength. Our sufficiency is of G.o.d, and to Him alone must we look for strength to resist temptation and be steadfast in fighting the good fight of faith. Try, my dear child, to be always on your guard! 'Watch and pray,' is the Master's command, repeated again and again. 'Take ye heed, watch and pray.' ... 'Watch ye, therefore.' ... 'And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.' ... 'Watch ye and pray lest ye enter into temptation.'”
”Papa, I do really mean to try very hard to rule my own spirit,” she said humbly; ”I have been trying.”
”Yes, dear child, I have not been blind to your efforts,” he returned in tender tones. ”I know you have tried, and I believe you will try still harder, and will at length come off conqueror. I fear I have not been so patient and forbearing with you to-day as I ought. I think now I should have let you speak when you came to me in the library a while ago. Your father is by no means perfect, and therefore has no right to expect perfection in his children.”
”But I had indulged my temper, papa, and did deserve to be punished for it.”
”Yes, that is true. But it is all forgiven now, and your father and his eldest daughter are at peace again,” he added, giving her a loving embrace.
”And that makes me so happy,” she said, lifting her dewy eyes to his. ”I am always very far from happy when I know that my dear father is displeased with me.”
”You love him, then?”
”Oh, yes, yes, indeed! dearly! dearly!” she exclaimed, putting her arms about his neck and laying her cheek to his.
He held her close for a moment, then saying, ”Now I want you to spend an hour over your lessons for to-morrow, after which you and I will have a walk together,” he left her.
By tea time the family were all at home again, and their talk at the table was almost exclusively of the preparations for the approaching wedding.
”Mamma,” said Rosie at length, ”I for one would dearly like to go to New Orleans and select dress and ornaments for myself; also a present for Betty.”
”I see no objection, if a proper escort can be provided,” was the smiling rejoinder.
”Suppose we make up a party to go there, do the necessary shopping, and visit the battle fields and everything of interest connected with them,”
suggested Captain Raymond. ”We can stay a day or two if necessary, and I think we'll all feel repaid.”
The proposal was received with enthusiasm by the younger portion of the family, and even the older ones had nothing to say against it. Lulu was silent, but sent a very wistful, pleading look in her father's direction. It was answered with a nod and smile, and her face grew radiant, for she knew that meant that she would be permitted to take the little trip with the others.
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