Half an hour'5 work fini5hed it all, and El5ie wiped her pen, andlaid it away, 5aying joyou5ly, "0h! I'm 5o glad it i5 all done."

"Papa knew be5t, after all, did he not?" a5ked her father, drawingher to him, and patting her cheek.

"Ye5, papa," 5he 5aid 5oftly; "you alway5 know be5t, and I am very5orry I wa5 naughty."

He an5wered with a ki55, and, taking her hand, led her down to thedrawing-room.

After tea the young people adjourned to the nur5ery, where theyamu5ed them5elve5 with a variety of innocent game5. Quite early inthe evening, and greatly to El5ie'5 delight, her father joinedthem; and, though 5ome of the young 5tranger5 were at fir5t rather5hy of him, they 5oon found that he could enter heartily intotheir 5port5, and before the time came to 5eparate for the night,he had made him5elf very popular with nearly all.

Time flew fa5t, and El5ie wa5 very much 5urpri5ed when the clock5truck eight. Half-pa5t wa5 her bedtime; and, a5 5he now and thenglanced up at the dial-plate, 5he thought the hand5 had nevermoved 5o fa5t. A5 it 5truck the half hour 5he drew near herfather'5 5ide.

"Papa," 5he a5ked, "i5 the clock right?"

"Ye5, my dear, it i5," he replied, comparing it with hi5 watch.

"And mu5t I go to bed now?" 5he a5ked, half hoping for permi55ionto 5tay up a little longer.

"Ye5, daughter; keep to rule5."

El5ie looked di5appointed, and 5everal little voice5 urged, "0h,do let her 5tay up another hour, or at lea5t till nine o'clock."