Elsies Womanhood | Page 7

not the question just now. This is one of the
talents which God has given you, and I think you ought, at least for the
present, to keep the principal and decide for yourself what shall be done
with the interest. You are old enough now to do so, and I hope do not
wish to shirk the responsibility, since God, in His good providence, has
laid it upon you."
He spoke very gravely and Elsie's face reflected the expression of his.
"No, I do not wish it now, papa," she said, in a low, sweet voice. "I will
undertake it, asking Him for wisdom and grace to do it aright."
They were busy for the next hour or two over the papers.
"There!" cried Elsie, at length, "we have examined the last one, and I
think I understand it all pretty thoroughly."
"I think you do. And now another thing; ought you not to go and see for
yourself your property in Louisiana?"
Elsie assented, on condition that he would take her.
"Certainly, my dear child, can you suppose I would ever think of
permitting you to go alone?"
"Thank you, papa. And if poor mammy objects this time, she may take

her choice of going or staying; but go I must, and see how my poor
people are faring at Viamede. I have dim, dreamy recollections of it as
a kind of earthly paradise. Papa, do you know why mammy has always
been so distressed whenever I talked of going there?"
"Painful associations, no doubt. Poor creature! it was there her
husband--an unruly negro belonging to a neighboring planter--was sold
away from her, and there she lost her children, one by accidental
drowning, the others by some epidemic disease. Your own mother, too,
died there, and Chloe I think never loved one of her own children
better."
"No, I'm sure not. But she never told me of her husband and children,
and I thought she had never had any. And now, papa, that we are done
with business for the present, I have a request to make."
"Well, daughter, what is it?"
"That you will permit me to renew my old intimacy with Lucy
Carrington; or at least to call on her. You remember she was not well
enough to be at the wedding; she is here at Ashlands with her baby. Mr.
and Mrs. Carrington called here yesterday while you were out, and both
urged me not to be ceremonious with Lucy, as she is hardly well
enough to make calls and is longing to see me."
"And what answer did you give them?" he asked with some curiosity.
"That I should do so if possible; that meant if I could obtain your
permission, papa."
"You have it. Lucy is in some sort taken into the family now, and you
are safely engaged; to say nothing of your mature years," he added
laughingly, as she seated herself on his knee again and thanked him
with a hug and kiss.
"You dear good papa!"
"Some girls of your age, heiresses in their own right, would merely

have said, 'I'm going,' never asking permission."
"Ah, but I like to be ruled by you. So please don't give it up. Now about
Enna?"
"If I had any authority in the matter, I should say, you shall not give her
a cent. She doesn't deserve it from you or any one."
"Then I shall wait till you change your mind."
Mr. Dinsmore shook his head. "Ah! my little girl, you don't realize how
much some one else's opinions will soon weigh with you," he answered,
putting an arm about her and looking with fatherly delight into the
sweet face.
"Ah, papa!" she cried, laying her cheek to his, "please don't talk so; it
hurts me."
"Then, dearest, I shall not say it again, though indeed I was not
reproaching you; it is right, very right, that husband and wife should be
more than all the world beside to each other."
Elsie's cheek crimsoned. "It has not come to that yet, father dear," she
murmured, half averting her blushing face; "and--I don't know which of
you I love best--or how I could ever do without either: the love differs
in kind rather than in degree."
He drew her closer. "Thank you, my darling; what more could I ask or
desire?" A slight tap on the door and Mrs. Dinsmore looked in. "Any
admittance?" she asked playfully.
"Always to my wife," answered her husband, releasing Elsie and rising
to hand Rose a chair.
"Thanks, my dear, but I haven't time to sit down," she said. "Here is a
note of invitation for us all to spend the day at Roselands. Shall we
go?"
"Certainly, if it suits you, Rose," replied Mr. Dinsmore; "and Elsie;" he

added,