I know you are not one to
presume upon favors, and I wanted to indulge you a little, because
I fear my little girl has been made to suffer perhaps more than
she quite deserved this afternoon."
His voice had a very tender tone as he uttered the concluding
words, and stooping, he pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Don't think, though," he added the next moment, "that I am
excusing you for impertinence, not at all; but it was what you
have had to suffer from Enna's insolence. I shall put a stop to
that, for I will not have it."
"I don't mind it much, papa," said Elsie gently, "I am quite used
to it, for Enna has always treated me so."
"And why did _I_ never hear of it before?" he asked, half
angrily. "It is abominable! not to be endured!" he exclaimed, "and
I shall see that Miss Enna is made to understand that _my_
daughter is fully her equal in every respect, and always to be
treated as such."
He paused; but, Elsie, half frightened at his vehemence, made no reply;
and he went on: "I have no doubt your grandfather and his wife would have
been better pleased had I forced you to yield to Enna's whim; but I had
no idea of such a thing; you shall use your own pleasure whenever she
is concerned; but: if _I_ had bidden you to tell her that
story it would have been a very different matter; you need never
set up your will, or your opinion of right and wrong, against mine,
Elsie, for I shall not allow it.
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