he cheese too, very much, but as I was
late to-night, I can only have dry bread, because you know my papa said
so."

Harold spoke up earnestly. "But, mamma, it wasn't her fault; she wanted
to come home in time, and Sophy and I wouldn't."

"No, mamma, it wasn't her fault at all," said Sophy, eagerly, "and so she
needn't have just bread, need she?"

"No, Elsie dear, I think not. Do, dear child, let me help you to
something; here's a saucer of berries and cream; won't you take it?
I feel quite sure your papa would not insist upon the bread and water
if he were here, and I am sorry he and Edward happen to be away to tea."

"As it was not your fault, Elsie dear, I think you might venture," said
Rose, kindly. "I wouldn't want you to disobey your papa, but under the
circumstances, I don't think that it would be disobedience."

"You are very kind, Miss Rose, but you don't know papa as well as I do,"
Elsie replied, a little sadly. "He told me I must always be in in time to
be ready for tea, and he says nothing excuses disobedience; and you know
I could have come in without the others; so I feel quite sure I should
get nothing but bread for my supper if he were here."

"Well, dear, I am very sorry, but if you think it is really your duty to
sup on dry bread, we will all honor you for doing it," Mrs. Allison said.

And then the matter dropped, and Elsie quietly ate her slice of bread and
drank a little cold water, then went out to play on the lawn with the
others.

"Did you ever see such a perfectly conscientious child?" said Mrs.
Allison to Rose. "Dear little thing! I could hardly stand it to see her
eating that dry bread, when the rest were enjoying all the luxuries of
the table."

"No, mamma, it fairly made my heart ache. I shall tell her father all
about it when he comes in. Don't you think, mamma, he is rather too
strict and particular with her?"

"I don't know, Rose, dear; I'm afraid she is much better trained than
mine; and he certainly is very fond of her, and quite indulgent in some
respects."

"Fond of her! yes, indeed he is, and she loves him with her whole heart.
Ah! mamma, you don't know how glad it makes me to see it. The poor little
thing seemed to be literally famishing for love when I first knew her."

When Elsie had done anything which she knew would displease her father,
she never could rest satisfied until she had confessed it and been
forgiven. Through all her play that evening she was conscious