“No, Lu; you’re having such a nice time; and papa and Agnes will ’tend to me,” Grace answered, giving her sister a sweet, affectionate smile.
So Lulu went on with her game; but it was finished presently, and then she stole quietly from the room and up-stairs to Grace’s bedroom.
“So you did come!” said Grace, who had just laid her head on her pillow. “I like to have you, but oughtn’t you to stay with your company?”
“I just want to speak to papa, and then I’ll go back to them,” answered Lulu, going to his side.
He had seated himself by the bed, meaning to have a little loving chat with Grace before leaving her for the night.
“Well, daughter, what is it?” he asked, putting an arm about Lulu and stroking her hair caressingly with the other hand.
“I was thinking, papa, that I won’t have a chance for the least little bit of a good-night-talk with you, because there’ll be company down stairs to see and hear every thing, and you won’t want to come into my room to say good-night as you most always do when we’re alone, because of Lena and Eva being with me there.”
“But you are going to occupy the couch in your sitting-room, and when you hear me coming you can shut the door between that and your bedroom. So what is to hinder us from having a bit of private chat as usual?”
“Oh, yes; that will do nicely!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up with pleasure, “but will you come, papa?”
“Yes,” he said, giving her a kiss. “Now run back to your mates and enjoy yourself as much as you can till your bedtime comes.”