e taken."

"Papa, you are so much wiser and better than I," she said, with loving
admiration, "I'm afraid if you had not been here to advise me, I should
have sent him away at once, with never a thought of crops or anything
except securing my people from his cruelties."

"You should never allow yourself to act from mere impulse, except it be
unquestionably a right one, and the case admitting of no time for
deliberation. As to my superior wisdom," he added with a smile, "I have
lived some years longer than you, and had more experience in the
management of business matters."

"I am very sorry, my darling, that the pleasure of your return to the home
of your infancy should be so marred. But you have scarcely taken a look
yet at even this room. What do you think of it?"

She glanced about her with freshly aroused curiosity and interest. "Papa,
it is just to my taste!"

The firelight gleamed upon rare old cabinets, gems of art in painting and
statuary, and rich, massive, well-preserved, though old-fashioned sofas,
chairs, tables, etc. But it was already growing dark, deep shadows were
gathering in the more distant parts of the spacious apartment, and only
near the fire could objects be distinctly seen. Elsie was about to ring
for lights, when Sarah, the mulatto girl, appeared, bringing them, Chloe
following close in the rear.

"Have you fires and lights in the library, the dining-room, and your
master's rooms and mine?" inquired Elsie.

"De fires is lit, Miss Elsie."

"Then add the lights at once, and put them in all the principal rooms of
the house. We will have an illumination in honor of our arrival, papa,"
she said, in a sprightly tone, turning to him with one of her sweetest
smiles, "and besides, I want to see the whole house now."

"Are you not too much fatigued, daughter? and would it not be better to
defer it till to-morrow?"

"I don't think I'm too tired, papa; but if you forbid me----"

"No, I don't forbid or even advise, if you are sure you feel equal to the
exertion."

"Thank you, sir, I think I'll be better able to sleep if I've seen at
least the most of it; old memories are troubling me, and I want to see how
far they are correct You will go with me?"

"Certainly," he said, giving her his arm. "But while the servants are
obeying your order in regard to the lights, let us examine these paintings
more attentively. They will repay close scrutiny, for some of them are by
the first masters. Your Gran