"Ah! so you are up, Gracie dear," Lucilla said, looking in the next morning at the communicating door between their rooms.

"I have been down in the grounds with papa for the last half hour, and he bade me come and tell you to dress for a drive; for we are to go on our shopping expedition to-day instead of to-morrow." "Are we ?" exclaimed Grace.

"To-day will suit me as well as to-morrow; but why have papa and mamma changed their plans ?" "It is all for my benefit," laughed Lucilla.

"You must know that Chester Dinsmore has been so good as to invite me to attend a boat ride and picnic with him to-morrow, and, to my surprise, papa gave me full permission to go." "That was very kind of him," remarked Grace, "and I hope you will have a delightful time." "I don't know," Lulu returned, with doubtful tone and look.

"I think I shall not half enjoy it without you; and papa says you are too feeble to go on such an expedition without him; you would need him to take care of you and see that you did not overexert yourself." "Yes; and, of course, papa is right; he always knows what is best for me and all of us." "So I think, and I did not at all expect him to say I could go.