Travilla, I love that child as I have never loved another earthly thing except her mother, and it cuts me to the quick to have her rebel as she has been doing for the last five weeks; it is almost more than I can bear in my present weak state.

I thought she loved me devotedly, but it seems I was mistaken, for surely obedience is the best test of love, and she refuses me that." He paused for a moment, apparently quite overcome by his feelings, then went on; "I have been compelled to banish her from my presence, but, alas! I find I cannot tear her from my heart, and I miss her every moment." Mr.Travilla looked very much concerned.

"I am sorry, indeed," he said, "to hear such an account of my little friend; but her love for you I cannot doubt, and we will hope that she will soon return to her duty." "Thank you, Travilla; I am always sure of your sympathy in any kind of trouble," replied Mr.Dinsmore, trying to speak cheerfully; "but we will leave this disagreeable subject, and talk of something else." In a few moments Mr.Travilla rose to take leave, declining Mr.
Dinsmore's urgent invitation to remain to dinner, but promising to come again before long and stay a day or two.

His kind heart was really pained to learn that there was again a misunderstanding between his little friend--as he had been in the habit of calling Elsie--and her father; and as he rode home silently pondering the matter, he determined that he would very soon fulfil his promise of paying a longer visit, for he could not refrain from indulging a faint hope that he might be able to accomplish something as mediator between them.
A few days after this, Elsie was passing down the hall.

The doors and windows were all open, for it was a warm spring day, and as she passed the drawing-room door, she paused a moment and looked in.