"Why did you not go with the others ?" "Because I preferred to stay at home with my dear father; and I hope he isn't displeased with me for it!" she replied, looking up coaxingly, smilingly, into his face.
"Displeased with you, dear child?
I am only too glad to have you by my side; except that I feel sorry on your own account that you should miss the pleasant, healthful trip along with the others," he said, bestowing upon her a fond caress.
"But how did you know that I was going to stay at home ?" he asked, as he led her in and sat down, drawing her to a seat upon his knee.
"Because I'm enough of a Yankee to be good at guessing, I suppose, papa," she answered, with a merry laugh, putting an arm round his neck and gazing into his eyes with her own full of ardent filial love.

"I saw that big pile of letters," pointing to them as they lay on the table, "and I thought, 'Now, if I stay at home with papa, maybe he will let me help him as I did the other day.' So now as I have stayed, won't you be so very good as to let me, you dear, dearest papa ?" "I shall be very glad of both your company and your help, darling, though I am sorry to have you miss your ride in order to give them to me." "But you needn't be sorry, papa, because I'm ever so glad.

I was almost afraid you might be displeased with me for taking the liberty of staying at home without consulting you; but I don't believe you are a bit," stroking his face with her little soft white hand, then kissing him with warmth of affection.
"I am so much displeased, that as a punishment you will have to write several letters on your machine at my dictation," he replied, with playful look and tone.

"We will set to work at once," he added, putting her off his knee, taking the cover from her typewriter, and placing a chair before it for her to sit upon, then laying a pile of paper and envelopes within easy reach of her hand.
"Ah, papa, I don't care how often you punish me in this way!" she exclaimed, with a merry laugh, as she took her seat.
"Tut! tut! don't talk as if my punishment were nothing," he replied, in pretended displeasure.

"You may get more of this kind some of these days than you will like." "Not while it's a help to my dear father," she returned, smiling up at him.
"You find that a pleasure, do you ?" he asked, with tender look and tone, laying a hand caressingly on her head and gazing fondly down into her eyes.
"Yes, indeed, sir! O papa, I just long to be a real help and comfort and blessing to you; and I do hope that some day I may be." "My own dear little daughter, you are already all three to me," he said with emotion.