While the Dinsmores, Travillas, and Raymonds spend the summer in
Nantucket, Lester and Elsie Leland are called to the bedside of Lester's
dying brother. His only child, Evelyn, is left in their care. Upon the
Lelands' return to Ion from Nantucket, Elsie's dear old mammy, Aunt
Chloe, passes away.
Lulu and Evelyn become close friends, and the four families decide to
spend the Christmas holidays and winter at Viamede. All the children are
enrolled in Oakdale Academy as day students. Lulu, however, gets into
trouble when she strikes her teacher with a book, and her stubborn
refusal to submit to Mr. Dinsmore's authority is eclipsed only by the
news that her father is lost at sea.