aty."

"Filling up the whole day with repeated acts of disobedience," he said.

"Papa, you didn't say I mustn't go in to bathe, or that I shouldn't take
a walk."

"I told you to stay at home, and you disobeyed that order again and
again. And you have been behaving very badly ever since, showing a most
unamiable temper. I have overlooked it, hoping to see a change for the
better in your conduct without my resorting to punishment; but I think
the time has now come when I must try that with you."

He paused for some moments. Wondering at his silence, she at length
ventured a timid look up into his face.

It was so full of pain and distress that her heart smote her, and she
was seized with a sudden fury at herself as the guilty cause of his
suffering.

"Lulu," he said, with a sigh that was almost a groan, "what am I to do
with you?"

"Whip me, papa," she burst out; "I deserve it. You've never tried that
yet, and maybe it would make me a better girl, I almost wish you would,
papa," she went on in her vehement way; "I could beat myself for being
so bad and hurting you so."

He made no answer to that, but presently said in moved tones, "What if I
had come back that night to find the dear little daughter I had left a
few hours before in full health and strength, lying a crushed and
mangled corpse? killed without a moment's time to repent of her
disobedience to her father's known wishes and commands? Could I have
hoped to have you restored to me even in another world, my child?"

"No, papa," she said, half under her breath; "I know I wasn't fit to go
to heaven, and that I'm not fit now; but would you have been really very
sorry to lose such a bad, troublesome child?"

"Knowing that, as you yourself acknowledge, you were not fit for
heaven, it would have been the heaviest blow I have ever had," he said.
"My daughter, you are fully capable of understanding the way of
salvation, therefore are an accountable being, and, so long as you
neglect it, in danger of eternal death. I shall never be easy about you
till I have good reason to believe that you have given your heart to the
Lord Jesus, and devoted yourself entirely to His blessed service."

He ceased speaking, gave her a few moments for silent reflection, then
setting her on her feet, rose, took her hand, and led her back toward
the village.

"Are you going to punish me, papa?" she asked presently, in a
half-frightened tone.

"I shall take that matter into consid