"I think you can," he said. "Stand here by my side, and let me see you try."
She succeeded, and was full of joy.
"There is nothing like trying, my little girl," he said, smiling at her exultation and delight.
She came to him again after lessons were done, and Max and Grace had left the room once more.
"May I talk a little to you, papa?" she asked.
"Yes, more than a little, if you wish," he replied, laying aside the book he had taken up. "What is it?"
"Papa, I want to thank you for sending me out to take that run, and then helping me so nicely and kindly with my arithmetic."
"You are very welcome, my darling," he said, drawing her to a seat upon his knee.
"If you hadn't done it, papa, or if you had spoken sternly to me, as grandpa Dinsmore would have done in your place, I'd have been in a great passion in a minute. I was feeling like just picking up my slate, and dashing it to pieces against the corner of the desk."
"How grieved I should have been had you done so!" he said; "very, very sorry for your wrong-doing, and that I should have to keep my word in regard to the punishment to be meted out for such conduct."