"O papa! you know! Woodburn, I mean."
"I think I have secured it," he said, "and that it will make a very delightful home for us all."
"Oh, I am so glad!" she cried, throwing her arms round his neck, and giving him a vigorous hug. "When can we move in, papa?"
"In about two weeks, probably: can you stand having to wait for that length of time?"
"I s'pose I'll have to," she said, laughing a little ruefully. "It'll help very much that I'll have you here, and see you every day. Are you going to keep me shut up in this room all the time?"
"No: did I not tell you, you were no longer a prisoner?"
"Oh, yes, sir! but I—I don't care very much to—to be with Rosie and the rest."
"I prefer that you should not be, except when I am present," he returned gravely. "I want to keep you with me as much as possible; and would rather have you alone, or with Evelyn, Max, and Gracie only, when I am not with you."
"I like that best, too, papa," she replied humbly; "for I can't trust myself not to get into a passion with Rosie and her dog, and I suppose you can't trust me either."
"Not yet, daughter," he said gently; "but I hope the time will come when
I can. Now we will attend to the lessons."