He welcomed her with a smile, and drawing her into his arms added a tender caress.
"And what has my little girl, my dear eldest daughter, to say to her father to-night ?" he asked.
"Oh, not very much of anything, papa," she replied, "but I'm hungry for a little petting and a chance to hug and kiss my dear father; without anybody by to criticise," she concluded, with a low, happy laugh.
"Very well, my darling, you have my full permission to do all you care to in that line," he said, patting her cheek and pressing his lips to it again and again.

"I haven't lost the first place in my little girl's heart yet ?" "No, indeed, papa; and you need not have the least bit of fear that you ever will." "That is good news; if something I have heard so many times can be properly called news." "Are you tired hearing it, father, dear ?" she asked half entreatingly, half incredulously.
"Indeed no, my darling," he returned, holding her close.

"I can hardly bear to think there will ever be a time when I shall have to relinquish the very first place in your heart; though I do not believe the time will ever come when your love for me will fail entirely or even be very small." "I can't believe there is the very least danger of that, my own dear, dear father," she returned earnestly, "and oh, it would break my heart to think that you would ever love me any less than you do now." "It would take a great deal to lessen my love for you, dear one," he replied, repeating his caresses.

"Has this been a happy and enjoyable day to you, daughter ?" "Oh, very, papa! what a delightful time we are having!" "You will be almost sorry when the time comes for returning home ?" "Oh, no, indeed, sir! we have such a sweet home that I am always glad to be back to it when we have been away for a few weeks." "But then playtime will be over and studies must be renewed." "And that, with such a cross, cross teacher whom nobody loves," she returned sportively, and laying her head on his shoulder, for he had sat down, drawing her to his side and putting an arm about her waist.
"Ah, indeed! I had thought it was your father who was to teach you." "And you didn't know how cross and tyrannical he was ?" she laughed.
"So cross and tyrannical that he says now that it is time his eldest daughter was in her bed." "Oh, please don't say I must go just yet, papa!" she begged.

"There are so many of us here that I can hardly ever get a word with you in private, and it is so--so pleasant to get you all to myself for a few minutes." "Well," he said, taking out his watch, "you may have five----" "Oh, papa," she interrupted eagerly, "say ten, please do! and I'll try to be ever so good to-morrow," she concluded, with a merry look and smile.
"Ten then, but not another one unless you want me to say you must stay here and rest all day to-morrow." "Oh, no, sir, please don't! That would be worse than being sent to bed immediately.