She was not there or in the dressing-room. He took up a lamp and went on into the adjoining bedroom. Shading the light with his hand, he drew near the bed with noiseless step. She lay there sleeping, tears on her eyelashes and her pillow wet with them. His heart smote him at the sight. She looked such a mere child and so sweet and innocent that he could hardly refrain from imprinting a kiss upon the round rosy cheek and the full red lips. And he longed for a reconciliation, but it seemed cruel to wake her, so it should be the first thing in the morning, he said to himself. He set the lamp down in a distant part of the room, and prepared for rest. * * * * * Max had spent the evening over his books and diary. His entry in that was a brief statement of his delinquency, its punishment, and his resolve to be more obedient in future. He had just wiped his pen and put it away, when Grandma Elsie came for a little motherly talk with him, as she often did at bedtime. He received her with a mortified, embarrassed air, but her kind, gentle manner quickly restored his self-possession. "I was sorry, indeed," she said, "to hear that our boy Max had become a breaker of rules, and so caused us the loss of his society at the table and in the parlor." "I thought the loss was all on my side. Grandma Elsie," he returned with a bright, pleased look. "I didn't suppose anybody would miss me unpleasantly." "Ah, you were quite mistaken in that; we are all fond of you, Max." "Not Grandpa Dinsmore, I'm sure," he said, dropping his eyes and frowning. "Why, Max, what else could induce him to give you a home here and be at the trouble of teaching you every day?" "I thought it was you who gave me a home, Grandma Elsie," Max said in a softened tone, and with an affectionate look at her. "This is my house," she said, "but my father is the head of the family, and without his approval I should never have asked you and your sisters here, much as I desire your happiness, and fond of you as I certainly am." "You are very, very good to us!" he exclaimed with warmth; "you do so much for us! I wish I could do something for you!" "Do you, my dear boy?" she said, smiling and softly patting his hand, which she had taken in hers; "then be respectful and obedient to my father. And to your mamma--my dear daughter. Nothing else could give me so much pleasure." "I love Mamma Vi!" exclaimed Max. 'I'm sure there couldn't be a sweeter lady. And I like Grandpa Dinsmore, too, but--don't you think now he's very strict and ready to punish a fellow for a mere trifle, Grandma Elsie?"