"And what would you do in that case?" her lather asked, with a slight
smile, drawing her close to him and touching his lips to the blooming
cheek.
"Dismiss him, I suppose, papa; I don't know what else I could do to punish
him or prevent further cruelties. I should not like to shoot him down,"
she added, laughingly; "and I doubt if I should have strength to flog
him."
"Doubt?" laughed her father, "certainly you could not, single-handed;
unless his politeness should lead him to refrain from any effort to defend
himself; and I, it would seem, am not expected to have anything to do with
the matter."
A deeper blush than before now suffused Elsie's fair cheek. "Forgive me,
dear papa," she said, laying her head on his shoulder, and fondly stroking
his face with her pretty white hand. "Please consider yourself master
there as truly as at the Oaks, and as you have been for years; and
understand that your daughter means to take no important step without your
entire approval."
"No, I do not go there as master, but as your guest," he answered, half
playfully, half tenderly.
"My guest? That seems pleasant indeed, papa; and yet I want you to be
master too. But you will at least advise me?"
"To the best of my ability, my little girl.
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