But he held her fast.

“No, daughter, you are not able to kneel to-night,” he said, “and therefore it is not required; the posture makes but little difference, since God looks not at it, but at your heart.”

“I know that, papa, but I ought to kneel if I can; and if I may, I would much rather try.”

“No, I shall not allow you to do so; it would not be right,” he replied decidedly; “you may say them here, while I have you in my arms, or after I have put you in bed.”

“Then I will say them in my bed, papa,” she answered submissively.

She was very patient and quiet while her father and nurse dressed her ankle, and prepared her for bed, and when he had laid her in and covered her up, he sat down beside her and listened to the low, murmured words of her prayer.

“I think you prayed for me as well as for Arthur,” he remarked when she had done; “what did you request for me?”

“I asked, as I always do, that you might love Jesus, papa, and be very happy, indeed, both in this world and the next.”

“Thank you,” he said, “but why are you so anxious that I should love him?  It would not trouble me if you did not, so long as you loved and obeyed me.”

A tear trickled down her cheek and fell upon the pillow as she answered, in a half tremulous tone:  “Because I know, papa, that no one can go to heaven who does not love Jesus, nor ever be really happy anywhere, for the Bible says so.  Papa, you always punish me when I am disobedient to you, and the Bible says God is our Father and will punish us if we do not obey him; and one of his commands is:  Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; and in another place it says:  Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.”

He did not reply, and his countenance was almost stern in its deep gravity.

Elsie feared she had displeased him.

“Dear papa,” she said, stretching out her little hand to him, “I am afraid I have said things to you that I ought not; are you angry with me?”

“No, daughter,” he replied, as he bent down and kissed her cheek; “but you must not talk any more to-night.  I want you to shut your eyes and go to sleep.”

She threw her arm around his neck and returned his caress, saying, “Good-night, dear, dear papa; I do love you so much;” then turned away her face, shut her eyes, and in a few moments was sleeping sweetly.

The next morning quite a number of the little folks begged leave to go in after breakfast to see Elsie, and as she seemed much better—­indeed, quite well, except that she could not put her foot to the floor—­Mr. Dinsmore gave a ready consent.

They found Elsie dressed and lying upon a sofa, with the lame foot on a pillow.  She seemed very glad to see them, looked as smiling and cheerful as if nothing ailed her; and to all their condolences replied that she did not mind it very much; she was doing nicely—­papa and everybody else was so kind—­and the doctor said he hoped she would be able to run about again in a few weeks.