“Dress her very nicely, Aunt Chloe,” said Mr. Dinsmore, “for I think it is quite possible we may have visitors to-day; and besides, I want her to look her best for my own enjoyment,” he added, with a loving look and smile directed toward his little girl.

Chloe promised to do her best; and he seemed entirely satisfied with the result of her labors, as well he might, for Elsie looked very lovely in her simple white dress, and little embroidered pink sacque, which seemed to lend a faint tinge of color to her pale cheeks.  She was tired, though, with the dressing, and quite willing to give up her plan of walking to the dining-room, and let her father carry her.

After breakfast he sat with her on his knee for a little while, and then, laying her on the sofa and giving her a kiss, he told her he must leave her with Chloe for an hour or two, as he had some business matters to arrange with her grandfather, after which he would take her to ride.

“I wish you didn’t have to go, papa; but please come back as soon as you can,” she said coaxingly.

“I will, darling.  And now, Aunt Chloe, I leave her in your care; don’t let her do anything to tire herself,” he said as he went out.

Elsie listened until she heard the sound of his horse’s hoofs as he galloped down the avenue, and then turning to her nurse, she exclaimed eagerly,

“Now, mammy, please hand me my work-box and that unfinished slipper.”

“You’s not fit to sew, darlin’ chile,” objected the careful old woman, doing as she was asked, nevertheless.

“Well, mammy, I want to try, and I’ll stop directly if it tires me,” replied the little girl.  “Please put me in my rocking-chair.  They are for papa, you see, and I want to get them done before Christmas.”

“Dere’s plenty ob time yet ‘fore Christmas, darlin’, to do dat little bit,” Chloe said; “‘tain’t comin’ dis four or five weeks; better wait till you git stronger.”

Elsie was not to be dissuaded, however, from making the attempt; but a very few moments’ work satisfied her that she was still too weak for such an employment; and she readily consented to let Chloe put away her work-box and lay her on her sofa again, where she spent the rest of the time in reading her Bible until her father returned.  Then came her ride, and then a nap, which took up all the morning until near dinner-time.

She found Mr. Travilla sitting there, talking with her father, when she awoke.  She was very glad to see him, and to hear that he was going to stay to dinner; and they had quite a little chat together about the new home and its surroundings.

After dinner, her Aunt Adelaide, Lora, and Walter called to see them and the house; but both they and Mr. Travilla went away early—­he promising to bring his mother to see her very soon—­and then she was left alone with her father again.

“Would you like now to hear the remainder of the story we were reading yesterday, daughter?” he asked.