the door, sat down, and lifted her to his knee. His
face was very pale and sad, too, but withal wore an expression of firm
determination.

Elsie laid her head on his shoulder, and sobbed out her tears and
entreaties that he would not leave her.

"It depends entirely upon yourself, Elsie," he said presently. "I gave
you warning some time since that I would not keep a rebellious child in
my sight; and while you continue such, either you or I must be banished
from home, and I prefer to exile myself rather than you; but a submissive
child I will not leave. It is not yet too late; you have only to yield
to my requirements, and I will stay at home, or delay my journey for a
few days, and take you with me. But if you prefer separation from me to
giving up your own self-will, you have no one to blame but yourself."

He waited a moment, then said: "Once more I ask you, Elsie, will you obey
me?"

"Oh, papa, always, if--"

"Hush!" he said sternly; "you _know_ that will not do;" and setting her
down, he rose to go.

But she clung to him with desperate energy. "Oh, papa," she sobbed, "when
will you come back?"

"That depends upon _you_, Elsie," he said. "Whenever my little daughter
writes to me the words I have so vainly endeavored to induce her to
speak, that _very day_, if possible, I will start for home."

He laid his hand on the handle of the door as he spoke.

But clinging to him, and looking up beseechingly into his face, she
pleaded, in piteous tones, amid her bitter sobs and tears, "Papa, dear,
_dear_ papa, kiss me once before you go; just _once_, papa; perhaps you
may never come back--perhaps I may die. Oh, papa, papa! will you go away
without kissing me?--me, your own little daughter, that you used to love
so dearly? Oh, papa, my heart will break!"

His own eyes filled with tears, and he stooped as if to give her the
coveted caress, but hastily drawing back again, said with much of his
accustomed sternness--

"No, Elsie, I cannot break my word; and if you are determined to break
your own heart and mine by your stubbornness, on your own head be the
consequences,"

And putting her forcibly aside, he opened the door and went out, while,
with a cry of despair, she sank half-fainting upon the floor.

She was roused ere long by the sound of a carriage driving up to the
door, and the thought flashed upon her, "He is not gone yet, and I may
see him once more;" and springing to her feet, she ran downstairs, to
fin