And if he is ill-treating them I should like to catch him at it," she added, her eyes kindling, and the color deepening on her cheek.
"And what would you do in that case ?" her lather asked, with a slight smile, drawing her close to him and touching his lips to the blooming cheek.
"Dismiss him, I suppose, papa; I don't know what else I could do to punish him or prevent further cruelties.

I should not like to shoot him down," she added, laughingly; "and I doubt if I should have strength to flog him." "Doubt ?" laughed her father, "certainly you could not, single-handed; unless his politeness should lead him to refrain from any effort to defend himself; and I, it would seem, am not expected to have anything to do with the matter." A deeper blush than before now suffused Elsie's fair cheek.

"Forgive me, dear papa," she said, laying her head on his shoulder, and fondly stroking his face with her pretty white hand.

"Please consider yourself master there as truly as at the Oaks, and as you have been for years; and understand that your daughter means to take no important step without your entire approval." "No, I do not go there as master, but as your guest," he answered, half playfully, half tenderly.
"My guest?
That seems pleasant indeed, papa; and yet I want you to be master too.

But you will at least advise me ?" "To the best of my ability, my little girl." "Thank you, my dear kind father.