“Yes, very much; and I love his mother dearly. She wants us to spend part of our time with them at Ion. And we must visit Roselands too.”
“I’d rather stay here.”
“Of course the greater portion of the winter will be spent here. Perhaps a week at each of the other places will be enough.”
The visitors for the day had all gone from the Oaks, and when Rose went to the nursery, Mildred to her room, and Annis presently slipped away to follow her sister, while Dr. Landreth seemed buried in a book, Mr. Dinsmore said to Elsie, “Come with me, daughter,” and led the way to his private study.
“Oh, it’s nice to be here alone with you again, papa!” she exclaimed as he sat down and drew her to his knee.
“Yes, we don’t spend so much time alone together nowadays as has been our custom,” he said, drawing her closer to him. “But I hope my little girl is enjoying herself?”
“Oh, yes indeed, papa! I think Annis is the very nicest little friend I’ve ever had.”
“She ought to be, considering how thoroughly well she has been brought up. But I brought you in here to teach you a lesson.”
Elsie opened her eyes wide in surprise. “Why, papa, I thought you said I was to have a holiday all week! and this is only Friday evening!”
“That’s a fact!” he said, as if she had brought to his recollection something he had forgotten, “and as I am particular about keeping my promises, I shall not insist on teaching you the intended lesson. We will leave it until next week if you prefer that.”