“It’s ever so good in you to say that, mamma Vi,” returned the little girl, furtively wiping her eyes; “and I’m determined to try with all my might.  I’d want to do it to please papa, even if I knew there wasn’t one bit of hope of his letting me stay.  I don’t think there is much, because, if he decides a thing positively, he’s very apt to stick to it.”

“Yes, I know; but he will doubtless take into account that circumstances alter cases,” Violet answered lightly, and with a pleasant smile.  “And at all events, you may be quite sure that whatever small influence I may possess will be exerted in your behalf.”

“I am sure you have a great deal, mamma Vi; and I thank you very much for that promise,” Lulu said, turning to go.

But at that instant a quick, boyish step sounded in the hall without; and Max’s voice at the door asked, “Mamma Vi, may I come in?”

“Yes,” she said; and in he rushed, with a face full of excitement.  “Lu, I’ve been looking everywhere for you!” he cried.  “What do you think? just see that!” and he held up a bit of paper, waving it triumphantly in the air, while he capered round the room in an ecstasy of delight.

“What is it?” asked Lulu.  “Nothing but a strip of paper, as far as I can see.”

“That’s because you haven’t had a chance to examine it,” he said, laughing with pleasure.  “It’s a check with papa’s name to it, and it’s good for fifty dollars.  Now, do you wonder I’m delighted?”

“No, not if it’s yours.  Did he give it to you?”

“Half of it; the other half’s to be divided between you and Gracie; and it’s just for pocket-money for this summer.”

“Oh, that is nice!” exclaimed Violet.  “I am very glad for you all.”

Lulu looked astounded for an instant; then the tears welled up into her eyes as she said falteringly, “I—­don’t deserve it; and—­I thought papa was so vexed with me, I should never have expected he’d give me a single cent.”

“He’s just a splendid father, that’s what he is!” cried Max, with another bound of exultant delight.  “He says that if we go to the mountains, and grandpa thinks I can be trusted with a gun, I’m to have one of the best that can be bought; and, if I’m a splendid boy all the time, when he comes home I shall have a fine pony of my own.”

Then sobering down, “I’m afraid, though, that he can’t afford all that; and I shall tell him so, and that I don’t want him to spend too much of his hard-earned pay on his only son.”

“Good boy!” Violet said with an approving smile; “but I know it gives your father far more pleasure to lay out money for his children than to spend it on himself.”

Still, she wondered within herself, for a moment, if her husband had in some way become a little richer than he was when last he described his circumstances to her.  Had he had a legacy from some lately deceased relative or friend? (surely no one could be more deserving of such remembrance) or an increase of pay?  But no, he would surely have told her if either of those things had happened; and with that thought, the subject was dismissed from her mind.