from me will bring her round. I am punishing myself quite as much,
however, for it will be terribly hard to do without her."

Elsie hastened to her own room, almost distracted with grief; the blow
had been so sudden, so unexpected, so terrible; for she could see no end
to her banishment; unless, indeed, a change should take place in her
father's feelings, and of that she had very little hope.

Flinging herself upon a couch, she wept long and bitterly. Her grief was
deep and despairing, but there was no anger in it; on the contrary, her
heart was filled with intense love to her father, who, she doubted not,
was acting from a mistaken sense of duty; and she could scarcely bear the
thought that now she should no longer be permitted to wait upon him, and
attend to his comfort. She had sent a servant to him, but a servant could
ill supply a daughter's place, and her heart ached to think how he would
miss her sympathy and love.

An hour passed slowly away; the family returned from church, and the bell
rang for dinner. But Elsie heeded it not; she had no desire for food, and
still lay sobbing on her couch, till Chloe came to ask why she did not go
down.

The faithful creature was much surprised and distressed at the state in
which she found her child, and raising her in her arms tenderly, inquired
into the cause of her grief.

Elsie told her in a few words, and Chloe, without finding any fault with
Mr. Dinsmore, strove to comfort the sorrowing child, assuring her of her
own unalterable affection, and talking to her of the love of Jesus, who
would help her to hear every trial, and in his own good time remove it.