She would never have dared to answer her grandfather in that manner.
"Take your book and learn it now," he said in his sternest tone.
Lulu did not venture to disobey, for she was really very much afraid of Mr.Dinsmore.
He heard Rosie's lesson, assigned her task for the next day, and both left the room.

The others had gone about the time Mr.Dinsmore came in, so Lulu was left alone.
She thought it best to give her mind to the lesson, and in half an hour felt that she was fully prepared with it.
But Mr.Dinsmore did not come back, and she dared not leave the room, though very impatient to do so.
The dinner bell rang, and still he had not come.
Lulu was hungry and began to fear that she was to be made to fast; but at length a servant brought her a good, substantial, though plain dinner, set it before her, and silently withdrew.
"It's not half as good as they've got," Lulu remarked half aloud to herself, discontentedly eying her fare, "but it's better than nothing." With that philosophical reflection she fell to work, and speedily emptied the dishes.
Mr.Dinsmore came to her shortly after, heard the lesson, gave her a little serious talk and dismissed her.
Feeling that she owed an apology to Grandma Elsie, but still too stubborn and proud to make it, Lulu was ashamed to join the others, so went off alone into the grounds.

She was not Grandma Elsie's pupil, she understood, until the morning's impertinence had been atoned for.
It was against rules to go beyond the boundary of the grounds without permission; yet after wandering through them for a while, she did so, and entering a shady, pleasant road, walked on without any settled purpose, till she reached a neighboring plantation where lived some little girls with whom she had a slight acquaintance.
They were playing croquet on the lawn, and espying Lulu at the gate, invited her to come in and join them.
She did so, became much interested in the sport, and forgot to go home until the lengthening shadows warned her that it must be very near the tea hour at Ion.
She then bade a hasty good-by and retraced her steps with great expedition and in no tranquil state of mind.

In truth, she was a good deal alarmed as she thought of the possible consequences to herself of her bold disregard of rules.
She arrived at Ion heated and out of breach, and, as a glance at the hall clock told her, fully fifteen minutes late.
Hair and dress were in some disorder, but not thinking of that, in her haste and perturbation, she went directly to the supper-room, where the family were in the midst of their meal.
They all seemed busily engaged with it or in conversation, and she hoped to slip unobserved into her seat.
But to her consternation she perceived, as she drew near, that neither plate nor chair seemed to have been set for her; every place was occupied.
At the same instant Mr.Dinsmore, turning a stern look upon her, remarked, "We have no place here for the rebellious and insubordinate, therefore I have ordered your plate removed; and while you continue to belong to that class, you will take your meals in your own room." He dismissed her with a wave of the hand as he spoke, and, filled with anger and chagrin, she turned and flew from the room, never stopping till she had gained her own and slammed the door behind her.
"Before Mr.Lilburn and everybody!" she exclaimed aloud, stamping her foot in impotent rage.
Then catching sight of her figure in the glass, she stood still and gazed, her cheeks reddening more and more with mortification.

Hair and dress were tumbled, the latter slightly soiled with the dust of the road, as were her boots also, and the frill about her neck was crushed and partly tucked in.
She set to work with energy to make herself neat, and had scarcely completed the task when her supper was brought in.