_dear_ papa, don't send me away from you! I should die!"
she cried in accents of terror and despair, throwing her arms around his
neck and clinging to him with a convulsive grasp. "Punish me in any other
way you choose; but oh! _don't_ send me where I cannot see you."

He gently disengaged her arms, and without returning her caress, said
gravely, and almost sadly, "Go now to your room. I have not yet decided
what course to take, but you have only to submit, to escape _all_
punishment."

Elsie retired, weeping bitterly, passing Adelaide as she went out.

"What is the matter now?" asked Adelaide of her brother, who was striding
impatiently up and down the room.

"Nothing but the old story," he replied; "she is the most stubborn child
I ever saw. Strange!" he added musingly, "I once thought her rather _too_
yielding. Adelaide," he said, sitting down by his sister, and leaning his
head upon his hand, with a deep-drawn sigh, "I am _terribly_ perplexed!
This estrangement is killing us both. Have you noticed how thin and pale
she is growing? It distresses me to see it; but what can I do?--give up
to her I cannot; it is not once to be thought of. I am sorry I ever began
the struggle, but since it _is_ begun she _must_ and _shall_ submit; and
it has really become a serious question with me, whether it would not be
the truest kindness just to conquer her thoroughly and at once, by an
appeal to the rod."

"Oh no, Horace, don't! don't think of such a thing, I beg of you!"
exclaimed Adelaide, with tears in her eyes; "such a delicate, sensitive
little creature as she is, I do believe it would quite break her heart to
be subjected to so ignominious a punishment; surely you could adopt some
other measure less revolting to one's feelings, and yet perhaps quite as
effectual. I couldn't _bear_ to have you do it. I would try everything
else first."

"I assure you, Adelaide, it would be _exceedingly_ painful to my
feelings," he said, "and yet so anxious am I to subdue Elsie, and end
this trying state of affairs, that were I certain of gaining my point,
even by great severity, I would not hesitate a moment, but I am very
doubtful whether she could be conquered in that way, and I would not
like to undertake it unless I could carry it through. I hinted at a
boarding-school, which seemed to alarm her very much; but I shall not
try it, at least not yet, for she is my only child, and I still love
her too well to give her up to the tender m