“I have no need of nursing now,” replied Mr. Dinsmore, with a sad sort of smile.  “I am able to ride, and even to walk out, and shall, I hope, soon be quite myself again.”

He then introduced another topic of conversation, and they chatted for some time.

At length Mr. Travilla drew out his watch.

“I see it is past school-hours,” he said; “might I see my little friend?  I have brought a little gift for her, and should like to present it in person.”

Mr. Dinsmore had become quite animated and cheerful during their previous conversation, but a great change came over his face while Mr. Travilla was making his request, and the expression of his countenance was very cold and stern, as he replied, “I thank you, Travilla, on her behalf; but, if you please, I would much prefer your not giving her anything at present, for, I am sorry to say, Elsie has been very stubborn and rebellious of late, and is quite undeserving of any indulgence.”

Mr. Travilla looked exceedingly astonished.  “Is it possible!” he exclaimed.  “Really, I have had such an exalted opinion of Elsie’s goodness, that I could not have credited such a charge from any one but her father.”

“No, nor could I,” replied Mr. Dinsmore, leaning his head upon his hand with a heavy sigh; “but it is as I tell you, and you see now that I have some cause for the depression of spirits upon which you have been rallying me.  Travilla, I love that child as I have never loved another earthly thing except her mother, and it cuts me to the quick to have her rebel as she has been doing for the last five weeks; it is almost more than I can bear in my present weak state.  I thought she loved me devotedly, but it seems I was mistaken, for surely obedience is the best test of love, and she refuses me that.”

He paused for a moment, apparently quite overcome by his feelings, then went on; “I have been compelled to banish her from my presence, but, alas!  I find I cannot tear her from my heart, and I miss her every moment.”

Mr. Travilla looked very much concerned.  “I am sorry, indeed,” he said, “to hear such an account of my little friend; but her love for you I cannot doubt, and we will hope that she will soon return to her duty.”

“Thank you, Travilla; I am always sure of your sympathy in any kind of trouble,” replied Mr. Dinsmore, trying to speak cheerfully; “but we will leave this disagreeable subject, and talk of something else.”

In a few moments Mr. Travilla rose to take leave, declining Mr. Dinsmore’s urgent invitation to remain to dinner, but promising to come again before long and stay a day or two.  His kind heart was really pained to learn that there was again a misunderstanding between his little friend—­as he had been in the habit of calling Elsie—­and her father; and as he rode home silently pondering the matter, he determined that he would very soon fulfil his promise of paying a longer visit, for he could not refrain from indulging a faint hope that he might be able to accomplish something as mediator between them.