he sat down and drew her to his
side.
"O papa! you know! Woodburn, I mean."
"I think I have secured it," he said, "and that it will make a very
delightful home for us all."
"Oh, I am so glad!" she cried, throwing her arms round his neck, and
giving him a vigorous hug. "When can we move in, papa?"
"In about two weeks, probably: can you stand having to wait for that
length of time?"
"I s'pose I'll have to," she said, laughing a little ruefully. "It'll
help very much that I'll have you here, and see you every day. Are you
going to keep me shut up in this room all the time?"
"No: did I not tell you, you were no longer a prisoner?"
"Oh, yes, sir! but I--I don't care very much to--to be with Rosie and
the rest."
"I prefer that you should not be, except when I am present," he returned
gravely. "I want to keep you with me as much as possible; and would
rather have you alone, or with Evelyn, Max, and Gracie only, when I am
not with you."
"I like that best, too, papa," she replied humbly; "for I can't trust
myself not to get into a passion with Rosie and her dog, and I suppose
you can't trust me either."
"Not yet, daughter," he said gently; "but I hope the time will come when
I can. Now we will attend to the lessons."
When the recitations were finished, "Papa," she said, with an
affectionate, admiring look up into his face, "I think you are a _very_
nice teacher: you make every thing so clear and plain, and so
interesting. I'm so glad you're the gentleman who is to have charge of
me," she added with a happy laugh.
"So am I," he said, caressing her. "I am very glad, very thankful, to be
able to take charge of all my own children; and whatever I may lack in
experience and ability as a teacher, I hope to make up in the deep
interest I shall always feel in the welfare and progress of my pupils."
She then told him of Evelyn's wish, concluding With, "Won't you, dear
papa? I'd like it so much, and Eva is such a good girl you wouldn't have
a bit of trouble managing her. She's just as different from me as
possible."
"Quite a recommendation; and if I were as sure of proving a competent
teacher, I should not hesitate to grant your request. But it is a new
business to me, and perhaps it would not be wise for me to undertake the
tuition of more than my own three at present. However," he added, seeing
her look of disappointment, "I will take the matter into consideration."
"Oh, thank you, sir! Papa, I've jus
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