He put his hand under her chin, and lifted her face, so that he could look down into her eyes; and she drew a long breath of relief as she perceived that he was smiling at her.
"No," he said. "You come honestly by your pride of independence. I would no more live on mamma Vi's money than you would."
"Oh, I'm so glad! But—then, how can you do without your pay, papa?"
"Because my heavenly Father has prospered me, and given me money enough of my own (or, rather, lent it to me; for all we have belongs to him, and is only lent to us for a time) to provide all that is necessary for my family, and educate my children.
"Now we have had a long talk, which has, I trust, made my dear little girl much happier; and it is time for you to go to your bed for the night."
"I don't like to have you leave me," she said, clinging about his neck; "but you were very kind to stay so long. Won't you come soon in the morning?"
"You are not a prisoner any longer," he said, caressing her: "you are free to leave this room, and go where you choose about the house and grounds to-morrow."
"But I don't want to. O papa! I can't face them! Mayn't I stay in my room till you are ready to take me to our own home?"
"You will have to face them sometime," he said; "but we will see what can be done about it. Would you like to see Max and Gracie to-night?"
"Gracie, ever so much; but Max—I—I don't know how he feels toward me, papa."