"I think it will be for Arthur's own good to be sent away, where he will not have his mother to spoil him by indulgence; and besides, I cannot feel that _you_ are safe while he is about the house, and I consider it my first duty to take care of you; therefore, I have insisted upon its that either _he_ must be sent away, or you and I must go and make a home for ourselves somewhere else." "Oh, papa, how delightful that would be, to have a home of our own!" she exclaimed eagerly; "_will_ you do it some day ?" "Should you like it so much ?" he asked.
"Oh, yes, papa, so very, _very_ much! When will you do it, papa ?" "I don't know, darling; some day, if we both live; perhaps when you are old enough to be my housekeeper." "But that will be such a long, long time to wait, papa," she said--the eager, joyous expression fading away from her face, and the pale, wearied look coming back again.
"Perhaps we will not wait for that, darling; I did not say that we would," he replied, in a soothing tone, as he passed his hand caressingly over her hair and cheek.
Then he added, a little mischievously, "I think, possibly, I might induce Miss Stevens to keep house for us.

Shall I ask her ?" "Oh, papa, no; that would spoil it all," she said, with a blush and a look of surprise; "and besides, I'm sure Miss Stevens would feel insulted if anybody should ask her to go out as housekeeper." "No, I think not, if _I_ asked her," laughed Mr.Dinsmore; "but you need not be alarmed; I have no notion of doing it.
"Now, daughter, I shall bathe your ankle with that liniment again, and put you in bed, and you must try to go to sleep." "My prayers first, papa, you know," she replied, making an effort to get down upon the floor.
But he held her fast.
"No, daughter, you are not able to kneel to-night," he said, "and therefore it is not required; the posture makes but little difference, since God looks not at it, but at your heart." "I know that, papa, but I ought to kneel if I can; and if I may, I would much rather try." "No, I shall not allow you to do so; it would not be right," he replied decidedly; "you may say them here, while I have you in my arms, or after I have put you in bed." "Then I will say them in my bed, papa," she answered submissively.
She was very patient and quiet while her father and nurse dressed her ankle, and prepared her for bed, and when he had laid her in and covered her up, he sat down beside her and listened to the low, murmured words of her prayer.
"I think you prayed for me as well as for Arthur," he remarked when she had done; "what did you request for me ?" "I asked, as I always do, that you might love Jesus, papa, and be very happy, indeed, both in this world and the next." "Thank you," he said, "but why are you so anxious that I should love him?
It would not trouble _me_ if _you_ did not, so long as you loved and obeyed me." A tear trickled down her cheek and fell upon the pillow as she answered, in a half tremulous tone: "Because I know, papa, that no one can go to heaven who does not love Jesus, nor ever be really happy anywhere, for the Bible says so.

Papa, you always punish me when I am disobedient to you, and the Bible says God is our Father and will punish us if we do not obey him; and one of his commands is: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God; and in another place it says: Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." He did not reply, and his countenance was almost stern in its deep gravity.
Elsie feared she had displeased him.
"Dear papa," she said, stretching out her little hand to him, "I am afraid I have said things to you that I ought not; are you angry with me ?" "No, daughter," he replied, as he bent down and kissed her cheek; "but you must not talk any more to-night.

I want you to shut your eyes and go to sleep." She threw her arm around his neck and returned his caress, saying, "Good-night, dear, _dear_ papa; I do love you _so_ much;" then turned away her face, shut her eyes, and in a few moments was sleeping sweetly.
The next morning quite a number of the little folks begged leave to go in after breakfast to see Elsie, and as she seemed much better--indeed, quite well, except that she could not put her foot to the floor--Mr.
Dinsmore gave a ready consent.
They found Elsie dressed and lying upon a sofa, with the lame foot on a pillow.

She seemed very glad to see them, looked as smiling and cheerful as if nothing ailed her; and to all their condolences replied that she did not mind it very much; she was doing nicely--papa and everybody else was so kind--and the doctor said he hoped she would be able to run about again in a few weeks.
They were all around her, talking and laughing in a very animated way, when Mr.Dinsmore came in, and going up to her couch, said, "Elsie, daughter, I have an errand to the city this morning; but, as I have promised to give you all you want of my company to-day, I will commission some one else to do it, if you are not willing to spare me for a couple of hours; do you think you could do without your papa that long?
It shall be just as you say." "You know I love dearly to have you by me, papa," she answered, smiling up into his face; "but I will be quite satisfied with whatever you do, because you always know best." "Spoken like my own little girl," he said, patting her cheek.