The next evening, as the good-nights were being said, she gave him a most wistful, longing look.
“Yes,” he said, in a grave, serious, yet kindly tone, “I am coming to your room for a little good-night talk.”
“Oh, I am so glad, papa!” she cried, her face lighting up with joy, then went skipping and dancing to her room, hurried through her preparations for the night, and when she heard his approaching footsteps, ran to open the door and bid him welcome.
“It seems such a long while I’ve been without this, the pleasantest of all my times,” she said, as he sat down and drew her into his arms with the old fond gesture and tender caress.
“Well, daughter,” he said, “shall I give you another week of freedom from my control and being your own mistress? or have you had enough of it?”
“Oh, quite, quite enough, papa! a great deal more than enough!” she exclaimed, nestling closer in his arms. “I do think I’ll never want to be my own mistress again while I have such a dear, wise, kind father to rule and direct me; to love and care for me. Papa, I actually feel hungry for an order from you, that I may have the pleasure of obeying it. And oh, it will be so delightful to wait on you and do all sorts of little things for you again, if only you will let me!”
“Gladly, dear child,” he said, holding her close to his heart; “you can scarcely rejoice more than your father does in your restoration to a daughter’s place. I have found it a sad thing to have to do without the loving services of my dear daughter Lulu, and this sweet interchange of endearments with her.”
“Oh, it is ever so sweet to me!” she said. “But,” as if struck by a sudden and not pleasant thought, “aren’t you going to punish me now for my disobedience? Don’t you have to, because of your Bible orders?”
“I think not; I think you are penitent enough this time to make it right for me to accord you free forgiveness; and I am very, very glad to do so,” he said, repeating his caresses.
THE END.