So the game commenced, and very soon every disappointment seemed to be forgotten, and they were all in the wildest spirits.

But after a while, as one romping game succeeded another, Elsie began to grow weary, and seeing that her father was sitting alone upon the piazza, she stole softly to his side, and putting her arm round his neck, laid her cheek to his.

He passed his arm around her waist and drew her to his knee.

“Which was my little daughter doubting this afternoon,” he asked gently, as he laid her head against his breast; “papa’s wisdom or his love?”

“I don’t know, papa; please don’t ask me.  I’m very sorry and ashamed,” she said, hanging her head and blushing deeply.

“I should be very happy,” he said, “if my little girl could learn to trust me so entirely that she would always be satisfied with my decisions—­always believe that my reasons for refusing to gratify her are good and sufficient, even without having them explained.”

“I do believe it, papa, and I am quite satisfied now,” she murmured.  “I don’t want to go at all.  Please forgive me, dear papa.”

“I will, daughter; and now listen to me.  I know that you are not very strong, and I think that a walk of two miles or more in this hot June sun, to say nothing of stooping for hours afterwards picking berries, exposed to its rays, would be more than you could bear without injury; and if you want strawberries to eat, you may buy just as many as you please, and indeed you can get much finer ones in that way than you could find in any field.  You need not tell me it is the fun you want, and not the berries,” he said, as she seemed about to interrupt him, “I understand that perfectly; but I know it would not be enough to pay you for the trouble and fatigue.

“And now to show you that your father does not take pleasure in thwarting you, but really loves to see you happy, I will tell you what we have been planning.  Miss Rose and her brothers tell me there is a very pretty place a few miles from here where strawberries and cream can be had; and we are going to make up a family party to-morrow, if the weather is favorable, and set out quite early in the morning in carriages.  Mrs. Allison will provide a collation for us to carry along—­to which we will add the berries and cream after we get there—­and we will take books to read, and the ladies will have their work, and the little girls their dolls, and we will spend the day in the woods.  Will not that be quite as pleasant as going with the school-children?”

The little arm had been stealing round his neck again while he was telling her all this, and now hugging him tighter and tighter, she whispered:  “Dear papa, you are very kind to me, and it makes me feel so ashamed of my naughtiness.  I always find in the end that your way is best, and then I think I will never want my own way again, but the very next time it is just the same thing over.  Oh, papa, you will not get out of patience with me, and quit loving me, and doing what is best for me, because I am foolish enough to wish for what is not?”