Chloe go and see
if the room was in order for them.

Chloe returned almost immediately to say that all was in readiness; and
Elsie was then raised in her father's strong arms, and borne quickly
through the hall and into the dressing-room, where she was laid upon a
sofa, and propped up with pillows. She looked very comfortable; and very
glad she was to have a little change of scene, after her long confinement
to one room.

Just as she was fairly settled in her new quarters, the breakfast-bell
rang, and her father left her in Chloe's care for a few moments, while he
went down to take his meal.

"I have brought you a visitor, Elsie," he said when he returned.

She looked up, and, to her surprise, saw her grandfather standing near
the door.

He came forward then, and taking the little, thin hand she held out to
him, he stooped and kissed her cheek.

"I am sorry to see you looking so ill, my dear," he said, not without a
touch of feeling in his tone--"but I hope you will get well very fast
now."

"Yes, grandpa, thank you; I am a great deal better than I was," she
answered, with a tear in her eye; for it was the first caress she ever
remembered having received from him, and she felt quite touched.

"Have the others come, grandpa?" she asked.

"Yes, my dear, they are all at home now, and I think Lora will be coming
to speak to you presently, she has been quite anxious to see you."

"Don't let her come until afternoon, father? if you please," said his
son, looking anxiously at his little girl. "Elsie cannot bear much yet,
and I see she is beginning to look exhausted already." And he laid his
finger on her pulse.

"I shall caution her on the subject," replied his father, turning to
leave the room. Then to Elsie, "You had better go to sleep now, child!
sleep and eat all you can, and get strong fast."

"Yes, sir," she said faintly, closing her eyes with a weary look.

Her father placed her more comfortably on the pillows, smoothed the
cover, closed the blinds to shut out the sunlight, and sat down to
watch her while she slept.

It was a long, deep sleep, for she was quite worn out by the excitement
of the morning; the dinner-hour had passed, and still she slumbered on,
and he began to grow uneasy. He was leaning over her, with his finger on
her slender wrist, watching her breathing and counting her pulse, when
she opened her eyes, and looking up lovingly into his face, said "Dear
papa, I feel so much better."