Grace, who was present, stood listening in wide-eyed astonishment.
"What is it all about?" she asked in alarm. "Is Lulu going away?"
"Yes," Lulu answered for herself; "Grandpa Dinsmore says if I won't take lessons of Signor Foresti I must stay at Oakdale as a boarding-scholar."
"O Lu, Lu! do give up and come back home," entreated Grace, bursting into tears; "I can't do without you, you know I can't?"
Lulu drew her aside and whispered words of comfort.
"It can't be for so very long, I think, Grace; because we'll all be going back to Ion in two or three months. Besides, we can see each other every day, if you keep on coming in the carriage as you've been doing."
"But it will be only for a few minutes, and you won't have a bit nice time there."
"No, I suppose, not; but even if it's pretty hard, I'd rather stay there than give up to that old tyrant."
"Please don't say that," pleaded Grace; "I love Grandpa Dinsmore."
When the carriage came to the door after breakfast, and the children trooped down ready for school, Grandma Elsie joined them on the veranda, wishing them a happy and profitable day at their studies; then putting an arm about Lulu she said to her in an undertone,