Elsie’s heart swelled with emotion, and glad tears rained down her cheeks, as thus, for the first time, she heard her father’s voice in prayer.  It was the happiest hour she had ever known.

“Take me, papa, please,” she begged, holding out her hands to him, as he rose from his knees, and drawing his chair close to her couch sat down by her side.

He took her in his arms, and she laid her head on his breast again, saying, “I am so happy, so very happy!  Dear papa, it is worth all the sickness and everything else that I have suffered.”

He only answered with a kiss.

“Will you read and pray with me every morning, papa?” she asked,

“Yes, darling,” he said, “and when we get into our own home we will call in the servants morning and evening, and have family worship.  Shall you like that?”

“Very much, papa!  Oh, how nice it will be! and will we go soon to our own home, papa?” she asked eagerly.

“Just as soon as you are well enough to be moved, dearest.  But here is Aunt Chloe with your breakfast, so now we must stop talking, and let you eat.”

“May I talk a little more now, papa?” she asked, when she had done eating.

“Yes, a little, if it is anything of importance,” he answered smilingly.

“I wanted to say that I think our new home is very, very lovely, and that I think we shall be so happy there.  Dear papa, you were so very kind to furnish those pretty rooms for me! thank you very much,” she said, pressing his hand to her lips.  “I will try to be so good and obedient that you will never regret having spent so much money, and taken so much trouble for me.”

“I know you will, daughter; you have always been a dutiful child,” he said tenderly, “and I shall never regret anything that adds to your happiness.”

“And will you do all that you said in that letter, papa? will you teach me yourself?” she asked eagerly.

“If you wish it, my pet; but if you prefer a governess, I will try to get one who will be more kind and patient than Miss Day.  One thing is certain, she shall never teach you again.”

“Oh, no, papa, please teach me yourself.  I will try to be very good, and not give you much trouble,” she said coaxingly.

“I will,” he said with a smile.  “The doctor thinks that in a day or two you may be able to take a short ride, and I hope it will not be very long before we will be in our own home.  Now I am going to wrap you up, and carry you to my dressing-room to spend the day; for I know you are tired of this room.”

“How pleasant!” she exclaimed; “how kind you are to think of it, papa!  I feel as glad as I used to when I was going to take a long ride on my pony.”

He smiled on her a pleased, affectionate smile, and bade Chloe go and see if the room was in order for them.

Chloe returned almost immediately to say that all was in readiness; and Elsie was then raised in her father’s strong arms, and borne quickly through the hall and into the dressing-room, where she was laid upon a sofa, and propped up with pillows.  She looked very comfortable; and very glad she was to have a little change of scene, after her long confinement to one room.