gravely.

"I do believe you, papa; I know you always speak the truth and mean just
what you say," she replied in half-tearful tones, "but I know I don't
deserve a place on your knee to-night."

"What you _deserve_ is not the question at present; we are talking about
what you can _have_, whether you _deserve_ it or not.

"Ah!" he continued in a low, musing tone, more as if thinking aloud than
speaking to her, "just so it is with us all in reference to our Heavenly
Father's forgiveness; when he offers us a full and free pardon of all our
offences, and adoption into his family, we don't more than half believe
him, but still go about groaning under the burden of our sins, and afraid
to claim the privileges of children.

"It hurts and displeases me when my child doubts my word, and yet how
often I dishonor my Father by doubting his. 'He that believeth not God,
maketh him a liar.' 'Without faith it is impossible to please him.'"

He relapsed into silence, and for some moments neither of them spoke.

He was passing his hand caressingly over her hair, and she resting in his
arms and gazing thoughtfully into the fire.

"What is my little one thinking of?" he asked at last.

"I was thinking what a very naughty girl I have been this afternoon,
and what a dear, kind papa I have," she said, looking up lovingly into
his face. "You were so kind, papa, not to punish me as I deserved. I was
afraid you would send me directly to bed, and I should miss my pleasant
evening with you."

"I hope, my darling," he answered gently, "that you do not think, when
I punish you, it is from anything like a feeling of revenge, or because
I take pleasure in giving you pain? Not at all. I do it for your own
good--and in this instance, as I thought you were sorry enough for having
grieved and displeased me to keep you from repeating the offence, I
did not consider any further punishment necessary. But perhaps I was
mistaken, and it was only fear of punishment that caused your tears,"
he added, looking keenly at her.

"Oh, no, papa! no indeed!" she exclaimed earnestly, the tears rushing
into her eyes again; "it is worse than any punishment to know that I have
grieved and displeased you, because I love you so very, _very_ dearly!"
and the little arm crept round his neck again, and the soft cheek was
laid to his.

"I know it, darling," he said, "I fully believe that you would prefer any
physical suffering to the pain of my displeasure."

"Papa,