"Well, we will look at the letters and decide whether it is necessary to answer any of them to-night." They had entered the library and drawn near the table while they talked.
A pile of letters lay upon it.

He took them up and glanced at the superscription upon each.
"Ah! here is one directed to you, daughter," he said, "and from someone in this neighborhood; for it is without a stamp." "Probably from Maud or Sydney," she remarked.
"No," said her father, "the handwriting is evidently that of a man.
Well, you may open it and see who the writer is," handing it to her as he spoke.
"If you would rather I did not, papa, I do not want to," she said, not offering to take it.

"Please read it first." "I can trust you, daughter, and you have my full permission to read it," he said in a kindly indulgent tone.
"Thank you, papa; but I really prefer to have you read it first," she replied.
He smiled approval, broke the seal, and glanced over the missive.
"It is from Chester Dinsmore," he said; "merely an invitation to you to go with him to a boating party on the river, if your father gives consent." "Which I don't believe my father will," laughed Lucilla.
"And you are not anxious that he should ?" he queried with a smile.
"Not unless he is entirely willing to have me go; and hardly even then, as he is not to be one of the party." "That is my own good little girl," he said, putting an arm about her, drawing her close to his side, and kissing her several times.

"I am not willing to have you a young lady yet,--as I think you know,--but I want to keep you my own little girl for some time longer." "I am very glad that you do, papa," she returned, laying her head against his breast and putting her arms about his neck, "and I hope you won't ever, ever grow tired of keeping me for your own, altogether yours, with no partner in the concern," she added with a low, gleeful laugh.
"You need have no fear that I will grow tired of it until you do," he said with a smile, and repeating his caresses.

"But when that time comes do not hesitate to tell me: for, rest assured, your happiness is very dear to your father's heart.