himself; and I, it would seem, am not expected to have anything to do with
the matter."

A deeper blush than before now suffused Elsie's fair cheek. "Forgive me,
dear papa," she said, laying her head on his shoulder, and fondly stroking
his face with her pretty white hand. "Please consider yourself master
there as truly as at the Oaks, and as you have been for years; and
understand that your daughter means to take no important step without your
entire approval."

"No, I do not go there as master, but as your guest," he answered, half
playfully, half tenderly.

"My guest? That seems pleasant indeed, papa; and yet I want you to be
master too. But you will at least advise me?"

"To the best of my ability, my little girl."

"Thank you, my dear kind father. I have another reason for wishing to
start to-morrow. I'm growing anxious and impatient to see my birthplace
again: and," she added low and tenderly, "mamma's grave."

"Yes, we will visit it together for the first time; though I have stood
there alone again and again, and her baby daughter used to be taken there
frequently to scatter flowers over it and play beside it. Do you remember
that?"

"Yes, sir, as an almost forgotten dream, as I do the house and grounds and
some of the old servants who petted and humored me."