"Please understand that I would have enjoyed going with you very much indeed, but I saw that papa had a good many letters to answer and I wanted to help him a great deal more than I did to take a ride.
"He lets me write some on the typewriter--those, you see, that don't require a very particular answer--and he says it shortens his work very much.

And," she added with a sigh, "I have given my dear father so much trouble in past days by my bad temper and wilfulness, that I feel I can never do enough to make up to him for it." "Dear Lu, I just love you for feeling and acting so," said Evelyn softly, giving Lulu's hand an affectionate squeeze as she spoke; "and I am sure your father must." "Yes, he does love me dearly, and you can't think how happy that makes me," returned Lulu, glad tears shining in her eyes.
"I don't know about that, but I think we can," said Rosie, a slight tremble in her voice; for she had not forgotten altogether the dear father who had fondled and caressed her in her babyhood, but had so long since passed away to the better land.
But just at that moment Violet drew near with a light, quick step.
"The boat is at the landing, little girls," she said, "and we older folks want to be off.

Please put on your hats, coats too,--or carry some kind of wrap,--for the captain says it may be quite cool on the water before we return." "A summons we're delighted to receive," returned Rosie, springing to her feet and hurrying toward the hall door, the others following, all of them in gay good humor.
No one was missing from that boating excursion, and on their return, a little before tea time, all spoke of having had a most enjoyable afternoon..