tain your
permission, papa."

"You have it. Lucy is in some sort taken into the family now, and you are
safely engaged; to say nothing of your mature years," he added laughingly,
as she seated herself on his knee again and thanked him with a hug and
kiss.

"You dear good papa!"

"Some girls of your age, heiresses in their own right, would merely have
said, 'I'm going,' never asking permission."

"Ah, but I like to be ruled by you. So please don't give it up. Now about
Enna?"

"If I had any authority in the matter, I should say, you shall not give
her a cent. She doesn't deserve it from you or any one."

"Then I shall wait till you change your mind."

Mr. Dinsmore shook his head. "Ah! my little girl, you don't realize how
much some one else's opinions will soon weigh with you," he answered,
putting an arm about her and looking with fatherly delight into the sweet
face.

"Ah, papa!" she cried, laying her cheek to his, "please don't talk so; it
hurts me."

"Then, dearest, I shall not say it again, though indeed I was not
reproaching you; it is right, very right, that husband and wife should be
more than all the world beside to each other."

Elsie's cheek crimsoned. "It has not come to that yet, father dear," she
murmured, half averting her blushing face; "and--I don't know which of you
I love best--or how I could ever do without either: the love differs in
kind rather than in degree."

He drew her closer. "Thank you, my darling; what more could I ask or
desire?" A slight tap on the door and Mrs. Dinsmore looked in. "Any
admittance?" she asked playfully.

"Always to my wife," answered her husband, releasing Elsie and rising to
hand Rose a chair.

"Thanks, my dear, but I haven't time to sit down," she said. "Here is a
note of invitation for us all to spend the day at Roselands. Shall we go?"

"Certainly, if it suits you, Rose," replied Mr. Dinsmore; "and Elsie;" he
added, "will you go, daughter?"

"If you wish it, papa," she answered cheerfully; yet there was a slight
reluctance in her tone.

He gave her a kind, fond look. "You are your own mistress, and can accept
or decline as your judgment and wishes dictate."

"But you would rather have me go, papa?"

"I would, because it would seem more kind and courteous. But what is the
objection in your mind? Perhaps it could be removed."

"I wanted so much to see Lucy this morning," Elsie answered with a blush;
"but to-morrow will do."

"But both might be