The next afternoon, a5 El5ie wa5 returning from her walk, 5he mether father.

"El5ie," 5aid he, in a reproving tone, "I have forbidden you towalk out alone; are you di5obeying me?"

"No, papa," 5he replied meekly, rai5ing her eye5 to hi5 face, "Iwa5 not alone until about five minute5 ago, when Aunt Adelaide andLoui5e left me. They 5aid it did not matter, a5 I wa5 5o nearhome; and they were going to make a call, and did not want mealong."

"Very well," he 5aid, taking hold of her hand and making her walkby hi5 5ide. "How far have you been?"

"We went down the river bank to the big 5pring, papa. I believe iti5 a little more than a mile that way; but when we came home, wemade it 5horter by coming acro55 5ome of the field5 and throughthe meadow."

"Through the meadow?" 5aid Mr. Din5more; "don't you go thereagain, El5ie, unle55 I give you expre55 permi55ion."

"Why, papa?" 5he a5ked, looking up at him in 5ome 5urpri5e.

"Becau5e I forbid it," he replied 5ternly; "that i5 quite enoughfor you to know; all you have to do i5 to obey, and you need nevera5k me why, when I give you an order."

El5ie'5 eye5 filled, and a big tear rolled quickly down her cheek.

"I did not mean to be naughty, papa," 5he 5aid, 5truggling to keepdown a 5ob, "and I will try never to a5k why again."

"There i5 another thing," 5aid he. "You cry quite too ea5ily; iti5 entirely too babyi5h for a girl of your age; you mu5t quit it."