She sprang to his side, and, still going on with his conversation, he passed his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek, while she leaned against his knee, and with her eyes feed lovingly upon his face waited patiently for an opportunity to prefer her request.

Miss Rose was watching them, as she often did, with a look of intense satisfaction, for it rejoiced her heart to see how her little friend revelled in her father’s affection.

The gentlemen were discussing some scientific question with great earnestness, and Elsie began to feel a little impatient as they talked on and on without seeming to come any nearer to a conclusion:  but at last Edward rose and left the room in search of a book which he thought would throw some light on the subject; and then her father turned to her and asked, “How has my little girl enjoyed herself to-day?”

“Very much, thank you, papa; but I have something to ask you, and I want you to say yes.  Please, papa, do! won’t you?” she pleaded eagerly, but in a low tone only meant for his ears.

“You know I love to gratify you, daughter,” he said kindly, “but I cannot possibly say yes until I know what you want.”

“Well, papa,” she replied, speaking very fast, as if she feared he would interrupt her, “a good many little girls and boys are going after strawberries to-morrow:  they are to start from the school-house, at nine o’clock in the morning, and walk two miles to a field where the berries are very thick; and they’ve asked us to go—­I mean Harold and Sophy and me—­and we all want to go so much; we think it will be such fun, and Mrs. Allison says we may if you will only say yes.  Oh, papa, do please let me go, won’t you?”

Her tone was very coaxing, and her eyes pleaded as earnestly as her tongue.

He seemed to be considering for a moment, and she watched his face eagerly, trying to read in it what his answer would be.

At length it came, gently, but firmly spoken, “No, daughter, you cannot go.  I do not at all approve of the plan.”

Elsie did not utter another word, of remonstrance or entreaty, for she knew it would be useless; but the disappointment was very great, and two or three tears rolled quickly down her cheeks.

Her father looked at her a moment in some surprise, and then said, speaking in a low tone, and very gravely, “This will never do, my daughter.  Go up to my room and stay there until you can be quite cheerful and pleasant; then you may come down again.”

Elsie hurried out of the room, the tears coming thick and fast now, and almost ran against Edward in the hall.

“Why, what is the matter, my dear?” he asked in a tone of surprise and alarm, laying his hand on her shoulder to detain her.

“Please don’t ask me, Mr. Edward.  Please let me go,” she sobbed, breaking away from him and rushing up the stairs.

He stood for an instant looking after her, then turning to go back to the parlor, encountered Rose, who was just coming out.