At breakfast next morning the gentlemen announced that business called them to the city, and invited both the ladies and the little girls to drive in with them.
The latter joyfully accepted, but the ladies preferred a quiet day at home.
“Now, little girls,” Mr. Dinsmore said, as they rose from the table, “the carriage will be at the door in half an hour, and I should like you to be ready by that time. But, Elsie, I want you in the study for a little while the first thing.”
He walked away in that direction as he spoke, and she tripped gayly after him.
“I’m going to the bank to get a check cashed; would you like to do the same?” he asked, turning to her with a kind, fatherly smile, as he opened his writing-desk.
“Yes, papa. You will go with me and show me just what to do?”
“Of course, my pet. If I thought there was any danger of your going there without me for years to come, I should very positively forbid it.”
“Ah,” she said, with a contented little laugh, “I was pretty sure you didn’t mean to let me get out some of that money just whenever I pleased.”
“No, you are quite too young for such latitude as that. Now sit down here and let me see how well you remember yesterday’s lesson,” he said, dipping a pen into the ink and putting it into her hand, as she took the designated seat.
“How much money shall I write it for, papa?” she asked.