Mr. Dinsmore came to her shortly after, heard the lesson, gave her a little serious talk and dismissed her.
Feeling that she owed an apology to Grandma Elsie, but still too stubborn and proud to make it, Lulu was ashamed to join the others, so went off alone into the grounds. She was not Grandma Elsie's pupil, she understood, until the morning's impertinence had been atoned for.
It was against rules to go beyond the boundary of the grounds without permission; yet after wandering through them for a while, she did so, and entering a shady, pleasant road, walked on without any settled purpose, till she reached a neighboring plantation where lived some little girls with whom she had a slight acquaintance.
They were playing croquet on the lawn, and espying Lulu at the gate, invited her to come in and join them.
She did so, became much interested in the sport, and forgot to go home until the lengthening shadows warned her that it must be very near the tea hour at Ion.
She then bade a hasty good-by and retraced her steps with great expedition and in no tranquil state of mind. In truth, she was a good deal alarmed as she thought of the possible consequences to herself of her bold disregard of rules.
She arrived at Ion heated and out of breach, and, as a glance at the hall clock told her, fully fifteen minutes late.
Hair and dress were in some disorder, but not thinking of that, in her haste and perturbation, she went directly to the supper-room, where the family were in the midst of their meal.
They all seemed busily engaged with it or in conversation, and she hoped to slip unobserved into her seat.
But to her consternation she perceived, as she drew near, that neither plate nor chair seemed to have been set for her; every place was occupied.