smilingly, into his face.

"Displeased with you, dear child? I am only too glad to have you by my
side; except that I feel sorry on your own account that you should miss
the pleasant, healthful trip along with the others," he said, bestowing
upon her a fond caress.

"But how did you know that I was going to stay at home?" he asked, as he
led her in and sat down, drawing her to a seat upon his knee.

"Because I'm enough of a Yankee to be good at guessing, I suppose,
papa," she answered, with a merry laugh, putting an arm round his neck
and gazing into his eyes with her own full of ardent filial love. "I saw
that big pile of letters," pointing to them as they lay on the table,
"and I thought, 'Now, if I stay at home with papa, maybe he will let me
help him as I did the other day.' So now as I have stayed, won't you be
so very good as to let me, you dear, dearest papa?"

"I shall be very glad of both your company and your help, darling,
though I am sorry to have you miss your ride in order to give them to
me."

"But you needn't be sorry, papa, because I'm ever so glad. I was almost
afraid you might be displeased with me for taking the liberty of staying
at home without consulting you; but I don't believe you are a bit,"
stroking his face with her little soft white hand, then kissing him with
warmth of affection.

"I am so much displeased, that as a punishment you will have to write
several letters on your machine at my dictation," he replied, with
playful look and tone. "We will set to work at once," he added, putting
her off his knee, taking the cover from her typewriter, and placing a
chair before it for her to sit upon, then laying a pile of paper and
envelopes within easy reach of her hand.

"Ah, papa, I don't care how often you punish me in this way!" she
exclaimed, with a merry laugh, as she took her seat.

"Tut! tut! don't talk as if my punishment were nothing," he replied, in
pretended displeasure. "You may get more of this kind some of these days
than you will like."

"Not while it's a help to my dear father," she returned, smiling up at
him.

"You find that a pleasure, do you?" he asked, with tender look and tone,
laying a hand caressingly on her head and gazing fondly down into her
eyes.

"Yes, indeed, sir! O papa, I just long to be a real help and comfort and
blessing to you; and I do hope that some day I may be."

"My own dear little daughter, you are already all three to me," he said
with em