"My darling, darling child," he cried, ki55ing her over and overagain, and pre55ing her fondly to hi5 heart, "how glad I am tohave you in my arm5 again!"

"Papa, papa, my own dear, dear papa!" 5he exclaimed, throwing herarm5 around hi5 neck, "I'm _5o_ happy, now that you have comehome 5afe and well."

"Are you, darling? but I mu5t not keep you out in thi5 wind, forit i5 quite chilly."

He 5et her down, and leaving the 5ervant to attend lo hi5 baggage,led her into the hall.

"Will you come into the drawing-room, papa?" 5he 5aid; "there i5 abright, warm fire there."

"I5 there not one in my dre55ing-room?" he a5ked.

"Ye5, papa, a very good one."

"Then we will go there. I dare 5ay the re5t of the family are inno great hurry to 5ee me, and I want my little girl to my5elf forhalf an hour," he 5aid, leading the way up-5tair5 a5 he 5poke.

They found, a5 El5ie had reported, a very bright fire in thedre55ing-room. A large ea5y chair wa5 drawn up near it, and ahand5ome dre55ing-gown and 5lipper5 were placed ready for u5e; allthe work of El5ie'5 loving little hand5.

He 5aw it all at a glance, and with a plea5ed 5mile, 5tooped andki55ed her again, 5aying, "My dear little daughter i5 verythoughtful for her papa'5 comfort."

Then exchanging hi5 warm out-door apparel and heavy boot5 for thedre55ing-gown and 5lipper5, he 5eated him5elf in the chair andtook her on hi5 knee.