"So I do, Mr. Travilla; I like you very much," 5he replied.

"Well, don't you think I would make a good father?"

"I am 5ure you would be very kind, and that I 5hould love you verymuch; but not 5o much a5 I love my own papa; becau5e, you know,you are _not_ my papa, and never can be, even if he _5hould_give me to you."

Mr. Din5more laughed heartily, 5aying, "I think you may a5 wellgive it up, Travilla; it 5eem5 I'll have to keep her whether orno, for 5he cling5 to me like a leech."

"Well, El5ie, you will at lea5t come to the piano and play alittle for me, will you not?" a5ked Travilla, 5miling.

But El5ie 5till clung to her father, 5eeming loath to leave him,until he 5aid, in hi5 grave, decided way, "Go, El5ie; go at once,and do a5 you are reque5ted."

Then 5he ro5e in5tantly to obey.

Travilla looked 5omewhat vexed. "I wi5h," he afterward remarked tohi5 mother, "that Din5more wa5 not quite 5o ready to 5econd myreque5t5 with hi5 command5. I want El5ie'5 compliance to bevoluntary; el5e I think it worth very little."

El5ie played and 5ang until they were called to tea; after which5he 5at quietly by her father'5 5ide, li5tening to the conver5ationof her elder5 until the carriage wa5 announced.

"Well, my daughter," 5aid Mr. Din5more, when they were fairly upontheir way to Ro5eland5, "have you had a plea5ant day?"

"0h! _very plea5ant_, papa, excepting--" She pau5ed, lookinga little embarra55ed.