He deliberated a moment. “Do you want to stay, daughter?” he asked in a kindly tone, and looking searchingly into Lulu’s face. Her reply came promptly, “I think it would be very pleasant, papa, only I want to be at home to help get ready for my party—ours, I mean, because, Max, it’s just as much yours and Gracie’s as mine. Papa said so.”
“And I think it’s splendid that we are going to have it,” said Max. “How good and kind you are to us, papa!”
CHAPTER VII.
Grace was very tired when they reached home, and her father carried her immediately to her own room, saying she must be undressed and put to bed at once, and her supper should be brought up to her.
“May Lulu have hers up here with me, papa, if she’s willing?” asked the little girl.
“I have no objection,” he said; “Lulu may do exactly as she pleases about it.”
“Then I will, Gracie,” Lulu said, leaning over her sister and patting her cheek affectionately; “we’ll have a nice time together, just as we have so often since you’ve been sick. I’m sure papa will send us a good supper. He never starves us, or wants us to go to bed hungry as Mrs. Scrimp used to, does he?”
“No,” he said; “I should far rather go hungry myself, and it pains me to the heart to think that ever my darlings were treated so.”
His tone and the expression of his countenance said even more than his words.
“Don’t be troubled about it now, dear papa,” said Lulu, putting an arm around his neck and laying her cheek to his, for he was seated, with Grace on his knee, while he busied himself in relieving her of her outdoor wrappings, “it’s all over, you know, and we don t mind it. I do believe we enjoy this dear, sweet home all the more for having had such a hard time at first.”