e to every command, or even _wish_ of yours,
unless it was contrary to the word of God."

"There! that is just it!" said he, interrupting her with a frown; "she
and Mrs. Murray have brought you up to believe that you and they are
wiser and more capable of interpreting the Bible, and deciding questions
of right and wrong, than your father; and that is precisely the notion
that I am determined to get out of your head."

She opened her lips to reply, but bidding her be silent, he turned to
leave her; but she clung to him, looking beseechingly up into his face.

"Well," he said, "what is it--what do you want?"

She struggled for utterance.

"Oh, papa!" she sobbed, "I feel so sad and lonely to-night--will you not
sit down a little while and take me on your knee?--my heart aches so to
lay my head against you just for one moment. Oh, papa, dear papa, will
you not let me--will you not kiss me once, _just once_? You know I am all
alone!--_all alone_!"

He could not resist her pleading looks and piteous accents. A tear
trembled in his eye, and hastily seating himself, he drew her to his
knee, folded her for an instant in his arms, laid her head against his
breast, kissed her lips, her brow, her cheek; and then putting her from
him, without speaking a word, walked quickly away.

Elsie stood for a moment where he had left her, then sinking on her knees
before the sofa, whence he had just risen, she laid her head down upon
it, weeping and sobbing most bitterly, "Oh! papa, papa! oh, mammy, mammy,
dear, dear mammy! you are all gone, all gone! and I am alone! alone! all
alone!--nobody to love me--nobody to speak to me. Oh, mammy! Oh, papa!
come back, come back to me--to your poor little Elsie, for my heart is
breaking."

Alas! that caress, so earnestly pleaded for, had only by contrast
increased her sense of loneliness and desolation. But in the midst of
her bitter grief a loving, gentle voice came to her ear, whispering in
sweetest tones, "_I_ will _never_ leave thee, nor forsake thee." "When
thy father and thy mother forsake thee, I, the Lord, will take thee up."
"I will deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven there shall no evil
touch thee." And the sobs were hushed--the tears flowed more quietly,
until at length they ceased altogether, and the little sorrowing one
fell asleep.

"As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall
be comforted."

CHAPTER VIII.

"No future hour can rend my h