he baby, Miss Rose?" she asked coaxingly.

Miss Rose said "Yes," and the nurse put it in her arms for a moment.

"Dear, pretty little thing!" she exclaimed, kissing it softly. "How old
is it, Miss Rose? and what is its name?"

"She is nearly a year old, and we call her Daisy."

"I'm sure your arms must be getting tired, miss, for she's quite heavy,"
remarked the nurse presently, taking the child again.

Miss Rose now said it was time to go down-stairs, and left the room,
followed by Elsie, Harold, and Sophy, the last-named putting her arm
around Elsie's waist, saying what a delightful time they would have
together, and that she hoped she would stay all summer.

They had not quite reached the end of the hall when Elsie saw her father
come out of the door of another room, and hastily releasing herself from
Sophy's arm, she ran to him, and catching hold of his hand, looked up
eagerly into his face, saying, "Oh, papa, do come into the nursery and
see the dear little children and the baby! it is so pretty."

He looked inquiringly at Miss Allison.

"If you care to see it, Mr. Dinsmore," she said, smiling, "there is no
objection; we are very proud of our baby."

"Then I should like to go," he replied, "both to gratify Elsie and
because I am fond of children."

Rose led the way and they all went back to the nursery, where Mr.
Dinsmore kissed the little folks all round, patted their heads and talked
kindly to them, then took the babe in his arms, praising its beauty, and
tossing it up till he made it laugh and crow right merrily.

"I often wish I had seen my baby," he remarked to Rose, as he returned
it to the nurse. Then laying his hand on Elsie's head, "Do you know, Miss
Allison," he asked, "that I never saw my little girl until she was nearly
eight years old?"

"Yes," she replied, "I knew her before you did, and sympathized strongly
in her longing for a father's love."

"Ah! we both lost a good deal in those years, and if I could live them
over again it should be very different," he said, with a loving glance
at his daughter's face; "nothing should keep me from my child. Though no
doubt it has all been for the best," he added, with a slight sigh, as he
thought of the worldly wisdom he would have taught her.

They all now went down to the parlor, where Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie were
introduced to Richard Allison, a wild boy full of fun and frolic, between
Rose and Harold in age.

Edward was the eldest of the fami