"I mean, you like it; and so it's never hard for you as it is for me ?" "No, daughter, it is sometimes very far from being easy and pleasant for me to do what I feel to be my duty; for instance, when it is to inflict pain upon you, or another of my dear children, or deny you some indulgence that you crave.

I should like to grant your request of to-night, if I could feel that it would be right; but I cannot, and therefore must deny it." Lulu acquiesced in the decision with a deep sigh, and half hoped that something--a storm, or even a fit of sickness--might come to prevent her from having to go to church.
But Sunday morning was as bright and clear as the one before it, and she in perfect health; so there was no escape from the dreaded ordeal.
She ventured upon no further entreaty, knowing it would be altogether useless, and quite as much from love to her father, and a real desire to please him, as from fear of punishment, behaved herself as well as possible.
But she kept as entirely in the background as she could, not looking at or speaking to any one unless directly addressed.
No one, however, gave her any reason to suppose her agency in the baby's accident was known; and she returned to Ion with a lighter heart than she had carried with her when she went.
She had not seen the baby yet, since its fall, and though longing to do so, having an ardent affection for the winsome little creature, did not dare to ask that she might.
But as she was about to go into her own room, on reaching home, her father said, "Would you like to go with me to the nursery, Lulu, and see your little sister ?" "Oh, so much, papa, if I may!" she cried eagerly.

"But," half drawing back, "perhaps she--will be afraid of me." "I trust not," he said, with emotion.

"I hope she does not know that you had any thing to do with her fall.

Come and see." He took her hand, and led her to the nursery.