Lulu, glancing timidly into his face, saw that it was pale and full of pain, but very stern and determined.
"Papa, are you—are you going to punish me?" she asked, tremulously. "I mean as you did the other day?"
"I think I must," he said, pausing beside her, "though it grieves me to the very heart to do it; but you have been disobedient, passionate, and very impertinent; it is quite impossible for me to let you slip. But you may take your choice between that and being locked up in the bedroom there for twenty-four hours, on bread and water. Which shall it be?"
"I'd rather take the first, papa," said Lulu, promptly, "because it will be over in a few minutes, and nobody but ourselves need know anything about it."
"I made sure you would choose the other," he said, in some surprise; "yet I think your choice is wise. Come!"
"Oh, papa, I'm so frightened," she said, putting her trembling hand in his; "you did hurt me so dreadfully the other time; must you be as severe to-day?"
"My poor child, I am afraid I must," he said; "a slight punishment seems to avail nothing in your case, and I must do all in my power to make you a good, gentle, obedient child."
A few minutes later Captain Raymond joined the others on the beach, but Lulu was not with him. She had been left behind in the bedroom, where she must stay, he told her, until his return.
Everybody seemed glad to see him; but after greeting them all in turn, he drew Violet to a seat a little apart from the others.
Grace followed, of course, keeping close to her father's side. "Where is
Lulu, papa?" she asked with a look of concern,