"And I'm so glad to have it!" she cried, holding it up, and gazing at it with a face full of delight. "I must run and show it to Sophy!"
She was getting down from his knee; but he drew her back. "Wait a little, daughter; I have something to tell you."
"What, papa?"
"We have paid our friends a very long visit, and I think it is time for us to go, if we would not have them grow weary of us: so I have decided to leave Elmgrove to-morrow."
"Have you, papa? I like to travel, but I shall be so sorry to leave Sophy, and Miss Rose, and all the rest; they are so kind, and I have had such a pleasant time with them."
"I have told you the bad news first," he said, smiling; "now I have some good. We are going to take a trip through New England and the State of New York; and Miss Rose and Mr. Edward have promised to accompany us: so you see you will not have to part with them just yet."
Elsie clapped her hands at this piece of good news.
"O papa, how pleasant it will be! Dear, dear Miss Rose; I am so glad she is going."
"And Mr. Edward?"
"Yes, papa, I like him too, but I love Miss Rose the best of all. Don't you, papa?"