"No, sir, I won't," Elsie answered with a blush. "But, papa," she
added the next moment, "Miss Stevens does that constantly."

"That makes no difference, my daughter," he said gravely. "Miss
Stevens is the very last person I would have you take for your model;
the less you resemble her in dress, manners, or anything else, the
better. If you wish to copy any one let it be Miss Allison, for she is
a perfect lady in every respect."

Elsie looked very much pleased. "Yes, indeed, papa," she said, "I
should be glad if I could be just like Miss Rose, she is always kind
and gentle to everybody; even the servants, whom Miss Stevens orders
about so crossly."

"Elsie!"

"What, papa?" she asked, blushing again, for his tone was reproving.

"Come here and sit on my knee; I want to talk to you. I am afraid my
little daughter is growing censorious," he said, with a very grave
look as he drew her to his side. "You forget that we ought not to
speak of other people's faults."

"I will try not to do it any more, papa," she replied, the tears
springing to her eyes; "but you don't know how very annoying Miss
Stevens is. I have been near telling her several times that I did wish
she would let me alone."

"No, daughter, don't do that. You must behave in a lady-like manner