for me, but take Aunt Chloe
with you."

"Yes, papa," she replied, looking up from her book for an instant, and
then returning to it again as he left the room.

She had not the least intention of disobeying, but soon forgot everything
else in the interest of her story.

The stranger detained Mr. Dinsmore much longer than he had expected, and
the short winter day was drawing rapidly to a close when he returned to
his study, to find Elsie--much to his surprise and displeasure--precisely
where he had left her.

She was not aware of his entrance until he was close beside her; then,
looking up with a start, she colored violently.

He gently took the book from her hand and laid it away, then, lifting her
from the chair, led her across the room, where he seated himself upon the
sofa, and drawing her in between his knees, regarded her with a look of
grave, sad displeasure.

"Has my little daughter any idea how long it is since her father bade her
put up her book?" he asked in a gently reproving tone.

Elsie hung her head in silence, and a tear rolled quickly down her
burning cheek.

"It grieves me very much," he said, "to find that my little girl can be
so disobedient! it almost makes me fear that she does not love me very
much."

"Oh, papa, don't! oh, don't say that! I can't bear to hear it!" she
cried, bursting into an agony of tears and sobs, and hiding her face on
his breast. "I do love you _very_ much, papa, and I can't bear to think
I've grieved you," she sobbed. "I know I am very naughty, and deserve
to be punished--but I didn't mean to disobey, only the book was so
interesting I didn't know at all how the time went."

He sighed, but said nothing; only drew her closer to him, pulling his arm
around her, and stroking her hair in a gentle, caressing way.

There was no sound for some moments but Elsie's sobs.

Then she asked in a half whisper, "Are you going to punish me, papa?"

"I shall take the book from you for a few days; I hope that will be
punishment enough to make you pay better attention to my commands in
future," he said very gravely.

"Dear papa how kind you are! I am sure I deserve a great deal worse
punishment than that," she exclaimed, raising her head and looking up
gratefully and lovingly into his face, "but I am very, very sorry for
my disobedience; will you please forgive me?"

"I will, daughter," and he bent down and kissed her lips.

"Now go," he said, "and get your cloak and hood. I t