Even their loved invalid, Grandma Elsie, was looking wonderfully bright and well; yet, as she laughingly averred, everybody seemed determined to consider her as ill and unable to make any exertion.
"I shall have to let you continue to take the role of mistress of the establishment, Vi," she said, with a pleasant smile, as, resigning to her daughter her accustomed seat at the head of the table, she took possession of one at the side.
"Not that I am of so humble a spirit as to consider myself unfitted for the duties and responsibilities of the position, but because older and wiser people do." "I really think Vi makes as good a substitute as could well be found, mother," remarked the captain, with a proudly affectionate glance at his lovely young wife.
"In which I entirely agree with you, sir," said Mr.Dinsmore.
The meal was partaken of with appetite, and enlivened by cheery talk; a good deal of it in regard to pleasures and amusements attainable in that locality; riding, driving, boating, fishing; to say nothing of the pleasant rambles that could be taken on and beyond the estate.
There was no lack of carriages for driving, or horses to draw them, or for those to ride who might prefer that mode of locomotion.
The final decision was in favor of a drive, for Mrs.Dinsmore, Violet, her little ones, and Grace, accompanied by the rest of the party on horseback.
Breakfast and family prayers over, the young girls hastened to their rooms to prepare for the little excursion, all seemingly in the gayest spirits at the pleasing prospect; none more so than merry, excitable Lulu.
She and Grace were ready a little sooner than either of the other girls, and went down to the veranda to wait there for the rest.
As they did so a servant passed them with the bag containing the morning mail, which he had just brought from the nearest post-office.
He carried it to the library, where Mr.Dinsmore and the captain were seated, awaiting the appearance of the ladies, carriages, and horses.
As if struck by a sudden thought, Lulu ran after him.

She saw her father take the bag, open it, hand several letters to Mr.Dinsmore, select several others and give them to the servant (with directions to carry them up to the ladies), then lay a pretty large pile on the table, take up one, and open it.
"There, those are papa's own," she said to herself, "and what a number he has!--all to be answered, too.

I don't believe he'll take time to ride this morning; he's always so prompt about replying to a letter.

Oh, dear, I don't want to go without him, and I just wish they hadn't come till to-morrow." She walked slowly out to the veranda again.
Rosie and Evelyn had not yet made their appearance, and Grace was romping about with little Elsie and Ned.
Just then a servant man came round from the stables, leading the ponies the little girls were to ride, and at sight of them Lulu seemed to take a sudden resolution.
"Oh, Solon," she said, hurrying toward the man, "you can put my pony back into the stable; I'm not going to ride this morning; I've changed my mind; and if anybody asks about me, you can tell them so," and with that she ran away round the house and seated herself on the back veranda, where she had been when Professor Manton made his call upon the captain.
Presently she heard the ladies and young girls come down the stairs, her father and Mr.Dinsmore come out from the library and assist the older ones into the carriage, the younger to mount their ponies; then her father's voice asking, "Where is Lulu ?" and the servant's reply, "Miss Lu, she tole me, sah, to tell you she doan want fo' to ride dis heah mornin', sah"; then her father's surprised, "She did, Solon?
Why, that is a sudden change on her part.

I thought she was quite delighted at the prospect of going.
"Violet, my dear, I find I have so many letters calling for reply this morning, that I, too, must remain at home." Some exclamations of surprise and regret from the others followed; then the sound of hoofs and wheels told that the party had set out on their little excursion, and the captain's step was heard in the hall as he returned to the library.
But a thought seemed to strike him as he reached its door, and he paused, calling aloud, "Lulu! Lulu!" She ran to him at once, answering, "Here I am, papa." "Why, daughter, what is the meaning of this ?" he asked.