"How nice! how very kind you are to us all!" exclaimed Evelyn. "But I think I should enjoy the walk some days, with pleasant company and time enough to take it leisurely."
"Should you? Then I shall try to manage it for you. But it would not do at all for you to go entirely alone."
"If you'll just let me be her escort, Grandma Elsie, I'll walk beside her with pleasure and take the very best care of her," said Max, proudly and assuming quite a manly air.
"I'd want a bigger and stronger man than you, Max," remarked Rosie, teasingly.
"Then I won't offer my services to you, Rosie," he answered with dignity, while Lulu gave Rosie a displeased glance which the latter did not seem to notice.
"Never mind, Max; I appreciate your offered services, and shall not be afraid to trust myself to your care," Evelyn said in a lively tone; and putting an arm affectionately round Lulu's waist, "Come, Lu, let us go out on the lawn; I saw some lovely flowers there that I want to gather for Aunt Elsie's adornment this evening."
So the little group scattered, and Grace followed Violet to her dressing-room.
"What is it, dear? is anything wrong with my little girl?" asked Vi, noticing that the child was unusually quiet and wore a troubled look on the face that was wont to be without a cloud.
"Not much, mamma—only—only I've never been to school, and—and
I'm—afraid of strange people."
A sob came with the last word, and the tears began to fall.