But at last, coming to his side, she said, in a tone so low and tremulous as to be almost inaudible, “Papa.”

“Well, Elsie, what do you want?” he asked, with his eyes still on the paper.

“Dear papa, I do so want to see Miss Rose’s letter; won’t you please give it to me?”

She waited a moment for a reply; then asked again, “May I not have it, papa?”

“Yes, Elsie, you may have that, and everything else you want, just as soon as you show yourself a submissive, obedient child.”

Tears gathered in Elsie’s eyes, but she resolutely forced them back, and made one more appeal. “Dear papa,” she said, in pleading, tearful tones, “you don’t know how I have looked and longed for that letter; and I do want it so very much; won’t you let me see it just for a few moments?”

“You have your answer, Elsie,” he said coldly; “and it is the only one I have to give you.”

Elsie turned and walked away, silently crying as she went.

But ere she had reached the door he called her back, and looking sternly at her, as she again stood trembling and weeping at his side, “Remember,” he said, “that from this time forth, I forbid you to write or receive any letters which do not pass through my hands, and I shall not allow you to correspond with Miss Allison, or any one else, indeed, until you become a more dutiful child.”

“Oh, papa! what will Miss Allison think if I don’t answer her letter?” exclaimed Elsie, weeping bitterly.

“I shall wait a few weeks,” he said, “to see if you are going to be a better girl, and then, if you remain stubborn, I shall write to her myself, and tell her that I have stopped the correspondence, and my reasons for doing so.”

“Oh, papa! dear papa! please don’t do that!” cried the little girl in great distress.  “I am afraid if you do she will never love me any more, for she will think me such a very bad child.”

“If she does, she will only have a just opinion of you,” replied her father coldly; “and all your friends will soon cease to love you, if you continue to show such a wilful temper; my patience is almost worn out, Elsie, and I shall try some very severe measures before long, unless you see proper to submit.  Go now to your own room; I do not wish to see you again to-night.”

“Good-night, papa,” sobbed the little girl, as she turned to obey him.

“Elsie, my daughter,” he said, suddenly seizing her hand, and drawing her to his side, “why will you not give up this strange wilfulness, and let your papa have his own darling again?  I love you dearly, my child, and it pains me more than I can express to see you so unhappy,” he added, gently pushing back the curls from the little tear-stained face upturned to his.

His tone had all the old fondness, and Elsie’s heart thrilled at the very sound; his look, too, was tender and affectionate, and throwing down his paper he lifted her to his knee, and passed his arm around her waist.