"I don't want to go downstairs, papa," she said, turning her face away from him. "I'd rather stay here. But I should think you'd feel mean to eat all sorts of good things and give me nothing but skim-milk and that black bread." "I give you that bread because it contains more nutriment than the white," he said. "As to the good things the rest of us may have to eat, you shall share them as soon as you are ready to submit to my authority, but not till then." He waited a moment for a reply, but receiving none, went out and locked the door. When he came again at tea-time, bringing a fresh supply of the same sort of fare, he found the first still untouched. Lulu was very hungry, and really for the last hour had quite longed to eat the bread and milk, but from sheer obstinacy would not touch it. She thought if she held out long enough in her refusal to eat it, something better would be furnished her. But now she fairly quailed before the glance of her father's eye as he set the second salver down and seating himself said, "Come here to me!" She obeyed, looking pale and frightened. He drew her in between his knees, put one arm round her, and taking the bowl he had just brought in the other hand, held it to her lips, with the command, "Drink this! every drop of it!" When that was done, he commanded, "Now break this bread into that other bowl of milk, take your spoon and eat it." Now thoroughly frightened, she did not dare disobey. He sat and watched her till the meal was finished, she feeling that his stern eye was upon her, but never once venturing to look at him. "Have you anything to say to me, Lucilla?" he asked as he rose to go. "No, sir," she answered, with her eyes upon the carpet. "My child, you are grieving me very much," he said, took up the salver and went out. Lulu did love her father--though not nearly so well as her own self-will--and his parting words brought a gush of tears from her eyes. She was half inclined to call to him to come back, and say she would obey. But no! her heart rose up in fierce rebellion at the thought of asking pardon of his "new wife." "I'll never do it!" she repeated half aloud, "and when I get sick and die from being kept shut up here papa will wish he hadn't tried to make me." So she hardened her heart day after day and refused to yield. Her fare continued the same, her father bringing it to her three times daily, now in silence, now asking if she were ready to obey. She saw no one else but the maid who came each morning to put her room in order; except as she caught sight of one or another from the window. She liked to look at the sea and watch the vessels sailing by, but was often seized with a great longing to get down close to the waves.