"I am not fond of eating alone." They were in Mr.Dinsmore's study, into which Elsie's own little sitting-room opened.
"Do you feel equal to a walk through your rooms, daughter, or shall I carry you ?" he asked, bending over her.
"I think I will try to walk, papa, if you please," she said, putting her hand in his.
He led her slowly forward, but her step seemed tottering, and he passed his arm around her waist, and supported her to the sofa in her own pretty little boudoir.
Although it was now quite late in the fall, the weather was still warm and pleasant in that southern clime--flowers were blooming in the gardens, and doors and windows stood wide open.
Elsie glanced out of the window, and then around the room.
"What a lovely place it is, papa!" she said; "and everything in this dear little room is so complete, so very pretty.

Dear papa, you are very, _very_ kind to me! I will have to be a very good girl to deserve it all." "Does it please you, darling?
I am very glad," he said, drawing her closer to him.

"I have tried to think of everything that would be useful to you, or give you pleasure; but if there is anything else you want, just tell me what it is, and you shall have it." "Indeed, papa," she said, smiling up at him, "I could never have thought of half the pretty things that are here already; and I don't believe there is anything else I could possibly want.

Ah! papa, how happy I am to-day; so very much happier than when I was here before.

Then I thought I should never be happy again in this world.