I think they tried to give me a pleasant part in as many of the tableaux as they could to comfort me, and really after all it was only a little bit of a hurt." "But narrowly escaped being a very serious one.

Ah my heart is full of thankfulness to God for you, my darling, and for myself, that the injury was no greater.

You might have lost your fingers or your hand; you might even have been killed by falling in such a way as to strike your head very hard upon the ice." "Did anybody ever get killed in that way, papa ?" she asked.
"Yes, I have read or heard of one or two such cases, and had it happened to you I could hardly forgive myself for letting go your hand." "I'm sure you might feel that it was all my own fault, papa," she said tightening her clasp of his neck and kissing him with ardent affection; "every bit my own fault because I begged you to let me try it alone." "No, that could not have excused me; because it is a father's duty to take every care of his child, whether she wishes it or not; and it is my settled purpose to do so henceforward," he said, returning her caress with great tenderness..