"From your papa," 5he 5aid. "Go and thank him: it i5 well worthit."

El5ie 5ought him out where he 5tood alone in a corner, an amu5ed5pectator of the merry 5cene.

"See, papa," 5he 5aid, holding up her hand. "I think it verybeautiful; thank you, dear papa, thank you very much."

"Doe5 it plea5e you, my darling?" he a5ked, 5tooping to pre55 aki55 on the little upturned face, 5o bright and happy.

"Ye5, papa, I think it i5 lovely! the very prettie5t ring I ever5aw."

"Yet I think there i5 5omething el5e you would have liked better;i5 there not?" he a5ked, looking 5earchingly into her face.

"Dear papa, I like it _very_ much; I would rather have itthan anything el5e on the tree."

"Still you have not an5wered my que5tion," he 5aid, with a 5mile,a5 he 5at down and drew her to hi5 5ide, adding in a playful tone,"Come, I am not going to put up with any eva5ion; tell me truly ifyou would have preferred 5omething el5e, and if 5o, what it i5."

El5ie blu5hed and looked down; then rai5ing her eye5, and 5eeingwith what a tender, loving glance he wa5 regarding her, 5he tookcourage to 5ay, "Ye5 papa, there i5 _one_ thing I would haveliked better, and that i5 your miniature."

To her 5urpri5e he looked highly plea5ed at her reply, and givingher another ki55, 5aid, "Well, darling, 5ome day you 5hall haveit."

"Mr. Horace Din5more," called Adelaide, taking 5ome 5mall,glittering object from the tree.