ico, with Enna on his knees.

Elsie was watching her fathers movements, and was not sorry to see him,
after the departure of his guests, return to the drawing-room, and take
up the evening paper.

No one else was at that end of the room, so now, at last, she might speak
to him without fear of being overheard. She was glad, too, that his back
was towards her, for she had grown very timid about approaching him of
late. She stole softly up to the back of his chair, and stood there for
some moments without speaking; her heart beat so fast with mingled hope
and fear, that it seemed impossible to command her voice.

But at last, coming to his side, she said, in a tone so low and tremulous
as to be almost inaudible, "Papa."

"Well, Elsie, what do you want?" he asked, with his eyes still on the
paper.

"Dear papa, I do so want to see Miss Rose's letter; won't you please give
it to me?"

She waited a moment for a reply; then asked again, "May I not have it,
papa?"

"Yes, Elsie, you may have _that_, and _everything_ else you want, just as
soon as you show yourself a submissive, obedient child."

Tears gathered in Elsie's eyes, but she resolutely forced them back,
and made one more appeal. "_Dear_ papa," she said, in pleading, tearful
tones, "you don't know how I have looked and longed for that letter; and
I _do want_ it so _very_ much; won't you let me see it just for a few
moments?"

"You have your answer, Elsie," he said coldly; "and it is the only one I
have to give you."

Elsie turned and walked away, silently crying as she went.

But ere she had reached the door he called her back, and looking sternly
at her, as she again stood trembling and weeping at his side, "Remember,"
he said, "that from this time forth, I forbid you to write or receive any
letters which do not pass through my hands, and I shall not allow you to
correspond with Miss Allison, or any one else, indeed, until you become a
more dutiful child."

"Oh, papa! what will Miss Allison think if I don't answer her letter?"
exclaimed Elsie, weeping bitterly.

"I shall wait a few weeks," he said, "to see if you are going to be a
better girl, and then, if you remain stubborn, I shall write to her
myself, and tell her that I have stopped the correspondence, and my
reasons for doing so."

"Oh, papa! _dear_ papa! _please_ don't do that!" cried the little girl
in great distress. "I am afraid if you do she will never love me any
more, for she will think m