er," he said; "I want you."

She obeyed promptly, though evidently a trifle unwillingly.

He took her hand and led her out into the hall, and on into a small
reception room, bright and cheery with light and fire, but quite
deserted.

"What do you want me for, papa?" she asked. "Please don't keep me long;
because we were just going to begin a new game."

He took possession of an easy chair, and drawing her into his arms, and
touching his lips to her cheek, "Can you not spare a few minutes to your
father when your mates have had you all day?" he asked.

"Why, yes, indeed, you dear papa!" she exclaimed with a sudden change of
tone, putting her arms about his neck and looking up into his face with
eyes full of ardent filial affection. "How nice in you to love me well
enough to want to leave the company in the parlors to give a little time
to petting me!"

"I love you full well enough for that, my darling," he said, repeating
his caresses, "but my call to you was because a tone in my little girl's
voice told me she needed her father just at that moment."

She looked up inquiringly, then with sudden comprehension, "Oh! you
thought I was in danger of getting into a passion, and I'm afraid I was.
Papa, you are my good guardian angel, always on the watch to help me in
my hard fight with my dreadful temper. Thank you very, very much!"

"You are entirely welcome, daughter," he said, softly smoothing her
hair; "it could hardly be a sadder thing to you than to me, should that
enemy of yours succeed in overcoming you again. Try, dear child, to be
constantly on the watch against it.

"'Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation,' Jesus said. The
moment that you feel the rising of anger in your breast lift up your
heart to him for strength to resist."

"I do intend to always, papa," she sighed, tightening her clasp of his
neck and laying her cheek to his, "but oh it is so, so easy to forget!"

"I know it, dear child, but I can only encourage you to continue the
fight with your evil nature, looking ever unto Jesus for help. Press
forward in the heavenly way, and if you fall, get up again and go on
with redoubled energy and determination; and you will win the victory at
last; for 'in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us.'

"Now, if you feel that you are safe in doing so, you may go back to your
mates."

There was a very sweet expression on Lulu's face as she rejoined her
mates, and