Lulu's faults are different from yours, but perhaps no worse; for while she is passionate and not sufficiently amenable to authority, you are showing yourself both uncharitable and Pharisaical." "Well, mamma," Rosie answered, blushing deeply at the reproof, "I cannot help feeling angry with her for giving poor Vi so much unnecessary worry and distress of mind.

And I am sure her father must have felt troubled and mortified by the way she behaved for two or three days while he was here." "But he loves her very dearly," said Violet; "so dearly that to lose her in this way would surely break his heart." "But I tell you he is not going to lose her in this way," said Betty in a lively tone; "don't you be a bit afraid of it." But Violet could not share the comfortable assurance; to her it seemed more than likely Lulu had been too venturesome, and that a swiftly incoming wave had carried her off her feet and swept her in its recoil into the boiling sea.
"I shall never see the dear child again!" was her anguished thought; "and oh, what news to write to her father! He will not blame me, I know, but oh, I cannot help blaming myself that I did not miss her sooner and send some one to search for and bring her back." Elsie read her daughter's distress in her speaking countenance, and sitting down by her side tried to cheer her with loving, hopeful words.
"Dear Vi," she said, "I have a strong impression that the child is not lost, and will be here presently.

But whatever has happened, or may happen, stay your heart, dear one, upon your God; trust Him for the child, for your husband, and for yourself.

You know that troubles do not spring out of the ground, and to His children He gives help and deliverance out of all He sends them.
"'God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.' 'He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee.'" There was perhaps not more than a half hour of this trying suspense between Edward's departure in search of the missing child and her sudden appearance in their midst: sudden it seemed because the roar of the sea and howling of the storm drowned all other sounds from without, and prevented any echo of approaching footsteps.
"Lulu!" they all cried in varied tones of surprise and relief, as they started up and gathered about her dripping figure.
"Where have you been ?" "How wet you are!" "Oh, dear child, I am so glad and thankful to see you; I have been terribly frightened about you!" This last from Violet.
"I--I didn't mean to be out so late or to go so far," stammered Lulu.
"And I didn't see the storm coming up in time, and it caught and hindered me.

Please, Mamma Vi, and Grandma Elsie, don't be angry about it.