Just as she was fairly settled in her new quarters, the breakfast-bell rang, and her father left her in Chloe’s care for a few moments, while he went down to take his meal.

“I have brought you a visitor, Elsie,” he said when he returned.

She looked up, and, to her surprise, saw her grandfather standing near the door.

He came forward then, and taking the little, thin hand she held out to him, he stooped and kissed her cheek.

“I am sorry to see you looking so ill, my dear,” he said, not without a touch of feeling in his tone—­“but I hope you will get well very fast now.”

“Yes, grandpa, thank you; I am a great deal better than I was,” she answered, with a tear in her eye; for it was the first caress she ever remembered having received from him, and she felt quite touched.

“Have the others come, grandpa?” she asked.

“Yes, my dear, they are all at home now, and I think Lora will be coming to speak to you presently, she has been quite anxious to see you.”

“Don’t let her come until afternoon, father? if you please,” said his son, looking anxiously at his little girl.  “Elsie cannot bear much yet, and I see she is beginning to look exhausted already.”  And he laid his finger on her pulse.

“I shall caution her on the subject,” replied his father, turning to leave the room.  Then to Elsie, “You had better go to sleep now, child! sleep and eat all you can, and get strong fast.”

“Yes, sir,” she said faintly, closing her eyes with a weary look.

Her father placed her more comfortably on the pillows, smoothed the cover, closed the blinds to shut out the sunlight, and sat down to watch her while she slept.

It was a long, deep sleep, for she was quite worn out by the excitement of the morning; the dinner-hour had passed, and still she slumbered on, and he began to grow uneasy.  He was leaning over her, with his finger on her slender wrist, watching her breathing and counting her pulse, when she opened her eyes, and looking up lovingly into his face, said “Dear papa, I feel so much better.”

“I am very glad, daughter,” he replied; “you have had a long sleep; and now I will take you on my knee, and Aunt Chloe will bring up your dinner.”

Elsie’s appetite was poor, and her father spared neither trouble nor expense in procuring her every dainty that could be thought of which was at all suited to her state of health, and he was delighted when he could tempt her to eat with tolerable heartiness.  She seemed to enjoy her dinner, and he watched her with intense pleasure.

“Can I see Lora now, papa?” she asked, when Chloe had removed the dishes.

“Yes,” he said.  “Aunt Chloe, you may tell Miss Lora that we are ready to receive her now.”

Lora came in quite gay and full of spirits; but when she caught sight of Elsie, lying so pale and languid in her father’s arms, she had hard work to keep from bursting into tears, and could scarcely command her voice to speak.