t Chloe coming in with a silver waiter filled with
oranges prepared for eating in the manner usual in the tropics.

She had gathered them the night before, taken off the peel, leaving the
thick white skin underneath except on the top of each, where she cut it
away from a spot about the size of a silver quarter of a dollar. She then
placed them on a waiter, with the cut part uppermost, and set them where
the dew would fall on them all night. Morning found them with the skin
hard and leathery, but filled with delicious juice, which could be readily
withdrawn from it.

At that sight, a sudden memory seemed to flash upon Elsie, and starting up
in the bed, "Mammy!" she cried, "didn't you do that very thing when I was
a child?"

"What, honey? bring de oranges in de mornin'?"

"Yes, I seem to remember your coming in at that door, with just such a
waiterful."

"Yes, darlin', de folks allus eats dem 'foah breakfast. Deys jes' lubly,
Miss Elsie; massa say so, lubly and delicious." And she brought the waiter
to her bedside, holding it out for her young mistress to help herself.

"Yes, mammy dear, they look very tempting, but I won't eat with unwashed
hands and face," said Elsie gayly. "And so papa has stolen a march upon me
and risen first?"

"Yes, darlin', massa out on the veranda, but he say 'Let your missus sleep
long as she will.'"

"My always kind and indulgent father! Mammy, I'll take a bath; and then
while you arrange my hair, I'll try the oranges. Go now and ask papa when
he will have his breakfast, and tell Aunt Phillis to see that it is ready
at the hour he names."

Chloe obeyed, and an hour later Elsie met her father in the breakfast-room
so glad, so gay, so bright, that his heart swelled with joy and pleasure
in his child, and all fears that she had overfatigued herself vanished
from his mind.

She was full of plans for the comfort and profit of her people, but all to
be subject to his approval "Papa dear," she said as soon as their morning
greetings had been exchanged, "I think of sending for a physician to
examine Suse and tell us whether there is reason for her complaints. She
must not be forced to work if she is really ill."

"I think it would be well," he replied. "There is an excellent physician
living about three miles from here."

Elsie was prompt in action by both nature and training, and instantly
summoning a servant, despatched him at once on the proposed errand.

"And now what next?" smiling