enjoyed it if you had been with us," she said, embracing her. "But we
are going to have a drive this morning. We're to start as soon as
breakfast is over, and only come back in time for the bath; and papa
says you can go too if you want to, and are a good girl; and you--"

"I don't want to," said Lulu, with a cold, offended air. "I like to be
by myself on the beach; I enjoyed it very much yesterday, and shall
enjoy it to-day; I don't need anybody's company."

Her conscience gave her a twinge as she spoke, reminding her that she
had passed but little of her day alone on the beach.

Grace gazed at her with wide-open eyes, lost in astonishment at her
strange mood; but hearing their father's step within the house, turned
about and ran to meet him and claim her morning kiss.

"Where is your sister?" he asked when he had given it.

"The little one is asleep, papa," she answered gayly; "the other one is
at the door there."

He smiled. "Tell her to come in," he said; "we are going to have
prayers."

Lulu obeyed the summons, but took a seat near the door, without so much
as glancing toward her father.

When the short service was over Grace seated herself upon his knee, and
Max stood close beside him, both laughing and talking right merrily; but
Lulu sat where she was, gazing in moody silence into the street.