ELSIE DINSMORE Complete Series: 28 Books in One Edition. Martha Finley

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

      "And you were very glad to find that papa was not here to make you sup upon bread and water, eh?"

      "No, papa, I didn't eat anything else," she said in a hurt tone; "I wouldn't take such a mean advantage of your absence."

      "No, dearest, I know you would not. I know my little girl is the soul of honor," he said, soothingly, pressing another kiss on her cheek; "and besides, I have just heard the whole story from Miss Rose and her mother."

      "And you wouldn't have let me have anything but bread, papa, would you?" she asked, raising her head to look up in his face.

      "No, dear, nothing else, for you know I must keep my word, however trying it may be to my feelings."

      "Yes, papa; and I am so glad you do, because then I always know just what to expect. You are not angry with me now, papa?"

      "No, darling, not in the very least; you are entirely forgiven. And now I want you to go back to your bed, and try to get a good night's sleep, and be ready to come to me in the morning. So good-night, my pet, my precious one. God bless and keep my darling. May He ever cause His face to shine upon you, and give you peace."

      He held her to his heart a moment, then let her go: and she glided back to her room, and laid her head on her pillow to sleep sweetly, and dream happy dreams of her father's love and tenderness.

      She was with him again the next morning, an hour before it was time for the breakfast-bell to ring, sitting on his knee beside the open window, chatting and laughing as gleefully as the birds were singing on the trees outside.

      "What do you think of this?" he asked, laying an open jewel-case in her lap.

      She looked down, and there, contrasting so prettily with the dark blue velvet lining, lay a beautiful gold chain and a tiny gold watch set with pearls all around its edge.

      "Oh, papa!" she cried, "is it for me?"

      "Yes, my pet. Do you like it?"

      "Indeed I do, papa! it is just as lovely as it can be!" she said, taking it up and turning it about in her hands. "It looks like mamma's, only brighter, and newer; and this is a different kind of chain from hers."

      "Yes, that is entirely new; but the watch is the one she wore. It is an excellent one, and I have had it put in order for her daughter to wear. I think you are old enough to need it now, and to take proper care of it."

      "I shall try to, indeed. Dear, darling mamma! I would rather have her watch than any other," she murmured, a shade of tender sadness coming over her face for a moment. Then, looking up brightly, "Thank you, papa," she said, giving him a hug and a kiss; "it was so kind in you to do it. Was that what you went to the city for yesterday?"

      "It was my principal errand there."

      "And now how sorry and ashamed I should be if I had taken advantage of your absence to eat all sorts of good things."

      "I think we are never sorry for doing our duty," her father said, softly stroking her hair, "and I think, too, that my little girl quite deserves the watch."

      "And I'm so glad to have it!" she cried, holding it up, and gazing at it with a face full of delight. "I must run and show it to Sophy!"

      She was getting down from his knee; but he drew her back. "Wait a little, daughter; I have something to tell you."

      "What, papa?"

      "We have paid our friends a very long visit, and I think it is time for us to go, if we would not have them grow weary of us: so I have decided to leave Elmgrove to-morrow."

      "Have you, papa? I like to travel, but I shall be so sorry to leave Sophy, and Miss Rose, and all the rest; they are so kind, and I have had such a pleasant time with them."

      "I have told you the bad news first," he said, smiling; "now I have some good. We are going to take a trip through New England and the State of New York; and Miss Rose and Mr. Edward have promised to accompany us: so you see you will not have to part with them just yet."

      Elsie clapped her hands at this piece of good news.

      "O papa, how pleasant it will be! Dear, dear Miss Rose; I am so glad she is going."

      "And Mr. Edward?"

      "Yes, papa, I like him too, but I love Miss Rose the best of all. Don't you, papa?"

      Her father only smiled, and said "Miss Rose was very lovely, certainly."

      The breakfast-bell rang, and she ran down, eager to show her watch. It was much admired by all; but there was great lamentation, especially amongst the younger members of the family, when it was announced that their guests were to leave them so soon.

      "Why couldn't Elsie stay always?" they asked. "Why couldn't she live with them? they would only be too glad to have her."

      Mr. Dinsmore laughed, and told them he could not possibly spare Elsie, for she was his only child, and he had no one else to share his home.

      "But you may stay too, Mr. Dinsmore," said Sophy; "there's plenty of room, and mamma and Rose like to have you read to them."

      Rose blushed, and shook her head at Sophy, and Mr. Dinsmore replied that it would be very pleasant to live at Elmgrove, but that Elsie and he had a home of their own to which they must soon return, and where she would be very glad to receive a visit from any or all of them.

      Chapter XVII

       Table of Contents

      "Have you arranged your plans in regard to what places you will visit and in what order you will take them?" asked Mr. Allison, addressing Mr. Dinsmore.

      "We have not," he replied; "that is, not very definitely; only that we will visit New England and New York."

      "Elsie looks as if she could make a suggestion," remarked Miss Rose, with a smiling glance at the bright, animated face of the little girl.

      "I should like to if I were old enough," said the child, dropping her eyes and blushing as she perceived that at that moment she was the object of the attention of every one at the table.

      "We will consider you so, my dear," laughed Mr. Allison. "Come, give us the benefit of your ideas."

      Still Elsie hesitated till her father said pleasantly, "Yes, daughter, let us have them. We can reject or adopt them as we see fit."

      "Yes, papa," she returned. "I was just thinking that Valley Forge and Paoli are both in this State, and I should like very much to see them both."

      "I call that a very good idea," said Mr. Edward Allison. "I have always intended to visit those historical places, but have never done so yet."

      "Then let us go," said Rose, "for I, too, should like very much to see them; if the plan suits you, Mr. Dinsmore," she added, giving him a smiling glance.

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