"_Dear_ papa," she said, in pleading, tearful tones, "you don't know how I have looked and longed for that letter; and I _do want_ it so _very_ much; won't you let me see it just for a few moments ?" "You have your answer, Elsie," he said coldly; "and it is the only one I have to give you." Elsie turned and walked away, silently crying as she went.
But ere she had reached the door he called her back, and looking sternly at her, as she again stood trembling and weeping at his side, "Remember," he said, "that from this time forth, I forbid you to write or receive any letters which do not pass through my hands, and I shall not allow you to correspond with Miss Allison, or any one else, indeed, until you become a more dutiful child." "Oh, papa! what will Miss Allison think if I don't answer her letter ?" exclaimed Elsie, weeping bitterly.
"I shall wait a few weeks," he said, "to see if you are going to be a better girl, and then, if you remain stubborn, I shall write to her myself, and tell her that I have stopped the correspondence, and my reasons for doing so." "Oh, papa! _dear_ papa! _please_ don't do that!" cried the little girl in great distress.

"I am afraid if you do she will never love me any more, for she will think me such a very bad child." "If she does, she will only have a just opinion of you," replied her father coldly; "and _all_ your friends will soon cease to love you, if you continue to show such a wilful temper; my patience is almost worn out, Elsie, and I shall try some very severe measures before long, unless you see proper to submit.

Go now to your own room; I do not wish to see you again to-night." "Good-night, papa," sobbed the little girl, as she turned to obey him.
"Elsie, my daughter," he said, suddenly seizing her hand, and drawing her to his side, "why will you not give up this strange wilfulness, and let your papa have his own darling again?
I love you dearly, my child, and it pains me more than I can express to see you so unhappy," he added, gently pushing back the curls from the little tear-stained face upturned to his.
His tone had all the old fondness, and Elsie's heart thrilled at the very sound; his look, too, was tender and affectionate, and throwing down his paper he lifted her to his knee, and passed his arm around her waist.
Elsie laid her head against his breast, as was her wont before their unhappy estrangement, while he passed his hand caressingly over her curls.
"Speak, my daughter," he said in a low tone, full of tenderness; "speak, and tell papa that he has his own dutiful little daughter again.

His heart aches to receive her; must he do without her still ?" The temptation to yield was very strong.

She loved him, oh, how dearly! Could she bear to go on making him unhappy?
And it was such _rest_--such _joy_--thus once more to feel herself folded to his heart, and hear his dear voice speaking to her in loving, tender tones.