at was well. Do you know any thing about housework,--sweeping,
dusting, and keeping things neat and tidy?"

"Not very much, papa."

"That is to be a part of your education," he said. "I want my daughters
to become thorough housekeepers, conversant with all the details of
every branch of the business. Gracie is not old enough or strong enough
to begin that part of her training yet, but you are; so you must take
care of your rooms yourself, except when something more than sweeping,
dusting, and bed-making is needed."

"I'd like well enough to do it sometimes, papa," she said, looking a
little crestfallen; "but I don't like to be tied down to doing it every
day, because some days I shall want to be busy at something else; and
besides, it is so much like being a servant."

"My little girl, that isn't a right kind of pride; honest labor is no
disgrace; and 'Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work,' is as
much a command of God as the 'In it (the sabbath) thou shalt not do any
work.'"

"Yes, papa: and I don't think I'm lazy; I like to be busy, and sometimes
work for hours together at my fret-sawing."

"No, I have never thought you an indolent child," he said, smoothing her
hair caressingly; "but I am afraid you are wilful, and inclined to think
yourself wiser than your elders, even your father."

"Please, papa, don't think that," she said, blushing, and hanging her
head: "I know you are much wiser than I am."

"Is it, then, that you doubt my affection for you?" he asked seriously.

"Why, papa, how could I, when you are so good to me, and often tell me
that you love me dearly?"

"What, then, is the trouble? if you believe your father to be both wise
and loving, and if you love him, and want to please him, how can you
object to his plans and wishes for you?"

"But, papa, who is to teach me how to take care of my rooms? Not mamma
Vi, I suppose? I never saw her do any such work; and--would you want me
taught by one of the servants?" she queried, blushing vividly.

"No," he said: "I have a better plan than that. I have engaged Christine
to be housekeeper here, and she will instruct you in all housewifely
arts. She is a lady in education and manners, and you need feel it no
degradation to be instructed by her."

"Oh, that will be nice! and I'll try to learn to do the work well, and
to like it, too, to please you, my own, dear papa," she said, looking up
lovingly into his face, her own growing very bright again.