“Yes, papa; I wanted to ask you if I mayn’t be the Peri to-morrow evening?”
He did not answer immediately, and putting her arm round his neck and looking coaxingly into his face, she repeated, “mayn’t I?”
He stroked her hair and kissed her before he spoke.
“I think,” he said at last, “that here is an opportunity for my little girl to put in practice her good resolution to deny herself for the sake of others.”
“I don’t like to,” she said in a half jesting tone, and with an arch look and smile, “I wasn’t born good, and I’d rather please myself.”
“Yes, daughter, that is the way with us all; none of us were born good, and we all love self-indulgence.”
“Papa,” she exclaimed in her vehement way, “I don’t believe you do! not one bit! you’re always doing kindnesses to others, and I think you’re just as unselfish as possible!”
He was musing again and seemed scarcely to notice what she said.
“Do you suppose my oldest daughter might be safely trusted to keep a secret?” he asked presently.
“I hope so, papa; will you try me?”