"Oh, yes, papa, so very, very much! When will you do it, papa?"
"I don't know, darling; some day, if we both live; perhaps when you are old enough to be my housekeeper."
"But that will be such a long, long time to wait, papa," she said—the eager, joyous expression fading away from her face, and the pale, wearied look coming back again.
"Perhaps we will not wait for that, darling; I did not say that we would," he replied, in a soothing tone, as he passed his hand caressingly over her hair and cheek.
Then he added, a little mischievously, "I think, possibly, I might induce
Miss Stevens to keep house for us. Shall I ask her?"
"Oh, papa, no; that would spoil it all," she said, with a blush and a look of surprise; "and besides, I'm sure Miss Stevens would feel insulted if anybody should ask her to go out as housekeeper."
"No, I think not, if I asked her," laughed Mr. Dinsmore; "but you need not be alarmed; I have no notion of doing it.
"Now, daughter, I shall bathe your ankle with that liniment again, and put you in bed, and you must try to go to sleep."
"My prayers first, papa, you know," she replied, making an effort to get down upon the floor.
But he held her fast.