But perhaps you are too tired," he added hastily, as if just struck by the thought.

"If so, daughter, I would not have you exert yourself to do the work now.

It can wait till to-morrow morning.

Or, if I find anything needing an immediate reply, I can attend to it myself, without my little girl's assistance." "But I am not tired, papa, and I dearly love to help you in any and every way that I can," she answered, smiling up into his eyes.
"I do not doubt it in the least, my child," he said, laying his hand on her head in tender, fatherly fashion; "and you are a very great help and comfort to me; so much so that I shall be extremely loath ever to let anybody rob me of my dear eldest daughter." "I hardly think anybody wants to yet, papa," she laughed; "nobody seems to set anything like the value upon me that you do.

So you needn't be in the least afraid of ever being robbed of this one of your treasures.
Ah, papa, it is so nice--such a happiness to have you esteem me a treasure, and to know that I belong to you." "A happiness to me as well as to you, dear child," he said.