"Let mammy take your hat and scarf," said Elsie. "You'll stay and
spend the day with me, won't you?"

"Thank you, no; I came to carry you off to Ashlands to spend a week.
Will you come?"

"I should like to, dearly well, if papa gives permission."

"Well, run and ask him."

"I can't; unfortunately he is out, and not expected to return till
tea-time."

"Oh, pshaw! how provoking! But can't your mamma give permission just
as well?"

"If it were only for a day she might, but I know she would say the
question of a longer visit must be referred to papa."

"Dear me! I wouldn't be you for something. Why, I never ask leave of
anybody when I want to pay a visit anywhere in the neighborhood. I
tell mamma I'm going, and that's all-sufficient. I don't see how you
stand being ordered about and controlled so."

"If you'll believe me," said Elsie, laughing a gay, sweet, silvery
laugh, "I really enjoy being controlled by papa. It saves me a deal of
trouble and responsibility in the way of deciding for myself; and then
I love him so dearly that I almost always feel it my greatest pleasure
to do whatever pleases him."