“Well, dear, I am very sorry, but if you think it is really your duty to sup on dry bread, we will all honor you for doing it,” Mrs. Allison said.

And then the matter dropped, and Elsie quietly ate her slice of bread and drank a little cold water, then went out to play on the lawn with the others.

“Did you ever see such a perfectly conscientious child?” said Mrs. Allison to Rose.  “Dear little thing!  I could hardly stand it to see her eating that dry bread, when the rest were enjoying all the luxuries of the table.”

“No, mamma, it fairly made my heart ache.  I shall tell her father all about it when he comes in.  Don’t you think, mamma, he is rather too strict and particular with her?”

“I don’t know, Rose, dear; I’m afraid she is much better trained than mine; and he certainly is very fond of her, and quite indulgent in some respects.”

“Fond of her! yes, indeed he is, and she loves him with her whole heart.  Ah! mamma, you don’t know how glad it makes me to see it.  The poor little thing seemed to be literally famishing for love when I first knew her.”

When Elsie had done anything which she knew would displease her father, she never could rest satisfied until she had confessed it and been forgiven.  Through all her play that evening she was conscious of a burden on her heart; and every now and then her eyes were turned wistfully in the direction from which she expected him to come.  But the clock struck eight, and there were no signs of his approach, and soon it was half-past, and she found she must go to bed without seeing him.  She sighed several times while Chloe was undressing her, and just as she was about leaving her, said, “If papa comes home before I go to sleep, mammy, please ask him to let me come to him for one minute.”

“I will, darlin’; but don’t you try for to stay awake; kase maybe massa ain’t gwine be home till berry late, an’ den he might be vexed wid you.”

It was nearly ten o’clock when Mr. Dinsmore returned, and he was talking on the piazza with Mr. and Miss Allison for nearly half an hour afterwards; but Chloe was patiently waiting for him, and meeting him in the hall on the way to his room, presented Elsie’s request.

“Yes,” he said, “see if she is awake, but don’t disturb her if she is not.”

Chloe softly opened the door, and the little girl started up, asking in an eager whisper, “Did he say I might come, mammy?”

“Yes, darlin’,” said Chloe, lifting her in her arms and setting her down on the floor.  And then the little fairy-like figure in its white night-dress stole softly out into the hall, and ran with swift, noiseless steps across it, and into the open door of Mr. Dinsmore’s room.

He caught her in his arms and kissed her several times with passionate fondness.  Then sitting down with her on his knee, he asked tenderly, “What does my darling want with papa to-night?”

“I wanted to tell you that I was very naughty this afternoon, and didn’t get home until just as the tea-bell rang.”