could he say that!" and the fair face flushed with momentary
excitement and anger towards the father of her child, whom she so
thoroughly respected ind so dearly loved.

"Ah, don't be angry with him," said Mr. Dinsmore; "I was the culprit. You
cannot have forgotten your fall from the piano-stool which came so near
making me childless? It was he who ran in first, lifted you, and laid you
on the sofa with the blood streaming from the wounded temple over your
curls and your white dress. Ah, I can never forget the sad sight, or the
pang that shot through my heart with the thought that you were dead. It
was as he laid you down that Travilla turned to me with those indignant
words, and I felt that I fully deserved them. And yet I was even more
cruel afterwards, when next you refused to obey when I bade you offend
against your conscience."

"Don't let us think or talk of it any more, dear father; I love far better
to dwell upon the long years that followed, full of the tenderest care and
kindness. You certainly can find nothing to blame yourself with in them."

"Yes; I governed you too much. It would probably have ruined a less
amiable temper, a less loving heart, than yours. It is well for parents to
be sometimes a little blind to trivial faults. And I was so strict, so
stern, so arbitrary, so severe. My dear, be more lenient to your child.
But of course she will never find sternness in either you or her father."

"I think not, papa; unless she proves very head-strong; but you surely
cannot mean to advise us not to require the prompt, cheerful, implicit
obedience you have always exacted from all your children?"

"No, daughter; though you might sometimes excuse or pardon a little
forgetfulness when the order has not been of vital importance," he
answered, with a smile.

There was a moment's silence: then looking affectionately into her
father's face, Elsie said, "I am so glad, papa, that we have had this
talk. Edward and I have had several on the same subject (for we are very,
very anxious to train our little one aright); and I find that we all
agree. But you must be tired acting the part of nurse. Please lay her in
my arms."

"I am not tired, but I see you want her," he answered with a smile, doing
as she requested.

"Ah, you precious wee pet! you lovely, lovely little darling!" the young
mother said, clasping her child to her bosom, and softly kissing the
velvet cheek. "Papa, is she really beautiful? or is it only th