“That is my own good little girl,” he said, putting an arm about her, drawing her close to his side, and kissing her several times.  “I am not willing to have you a young lady yet,—­as I think you know,—­but I want to keep you my own little girl for some time longer.”

“I am very glad that you do, papa,” she returned, laying her head against his breast and putting her arms about his neck, “and I hope you won’t ever, ever grow tired of keeping me for your own, altogether yours, with no partner in the concern,” she added with a low, gleeful laugh.

“You need have no fear that I will grow tired of it until you do,” he said with a smile, and repeating his caresses.  “But when that time comes do not hesitate to tell me:  for, rest assured, your happiness is very dear to your father’s heart.  And if you would like to accept this invitation, you may do so with my full consent.”

“Thank you, father dear, but I really do not care to go; I should much prefer to keep the engagement already made for that day.”

“Ah! what is that?”

“Now, papa, have you forgotten that you are to take Mamma Vi, Gracie, and me into the city to do some shopping?”

“Ah, yes; I had forgotten it for the moment.  But I dare say both your mamma and Grace would be willing to defer that for a day or two.”

“But I wouldn’t, because my father has taught me not to break engagements without very strong reasons; which I don’t think I have in this case.”

He laughed a little at that.  “Well, daughter,” he said, “you shall do as you please about it, and I am glad to see that you are so good at remembering your father’s instructions and so ready to obey them.”

“Thank you, sir.  And now must I answer Chester’s note—­or will you do it for me?”

“That shall be just as you please, daughter.  Perhaps it would be as well for you to write the answer; but, if you greatly prefer to have me do so, I shall not refuse.”

“May I do it on the typewriter?”

“If you prefer it, I see no objection.”

“I do prefer it; it is so much easier and quicker than working with a pen,” she said.

“Perhaps you would better wait until to-morrow morning, however,” he suggested; “for, on thinking the matter over, you may find that you prefer to accept the invitation after all.”

He was examining the rest of his mail, and she considered his proposition for a moment before replying to it.

“Yes, papa,” she said at length, “I will wait a little—­perhaps till to-morrow morning—­before writing my answer.  And now I will get ready to write replies to those letters at your dictation.”

“Yes, daughter; fortunately there are but few that call for a reply, and it need not be long in any case.”  He laid down the letters and took the cover from the machine as he spoke, then supplied her with paper and envelopes, put a sheet into the machine, and began dictating.  They made quick work of it, and had finished in about half an hour.