"That old tyrant, eh?" he repeated, stooping to take a kiss from the sweet lips, and to bestow one on the wee face resting on her bosom. "Yes, you know you are," she answered, her eyes contradicting her words; "the idea of you forbidding me to lift my own baby!" "My baby, my little friend," he said gayly. Elsie laughed a low, silvery, happy laugh, musical as a chime of bells. "Our baby," she corrected. "But you have not spoken to papa." "Ah, we said good-morning out in the avenue. Dinsmore, since we are all three here together now, suppose we get Elsie's decision in regard to that matter we were consulting about." "Very well." "What matter?" she asked, looking a little curious. "A business affair," replied her husband, taking a seat by her side. "I have a very good offer for your New Orleans property, daughter," said Mr. Dinsmore; "shall I accept it?" "Do you think it advisable, papa? and you, Edward? I have great confidence in your judgments." "We do; we think the money could be better and more safely invested in foreign stock; but it is for you to decide, as the property is yours." "More safely invested? I thought I had heard you both say real estate was the safest of all investments." "Usually," replied her father, "but we fear property there is likely to depreciate in value." "Well, papa, please do just as you and my husband think best. You both know far more about these things than I do, and so I should rather trust your judgment than my own." "Then I shall make the sale; and I think the time will come when you will be very glad that I did." Mr. Dinsmore presently said good-bye and went away, leaving them alone. "Are not your arms tired, little wife?" asked Mr. Travilla. "No, dear; ah, it is so sweet to have her little head lying here; to feel her little form, and know that she is my own, own precious treasure." He rose, gently lifted her in his arms, put himself in the easy chair and placed her on his knee. "Now I have you both. Darling, do you know that I love you better to-day than I ever did before?" "Ah, but you have said that many times," she answered, with an arch, yet tender smile. "And it is always true. Each day I think my love as great as it can be, but the next I find it still greater." "And I have felt angry with you to-day, for the first time since you told me of your love." Her tone was remorseful and pleading, as though she would crave forgiveness. "Angry with me, my dearest? In what can I have offended?" he asked in sorrowful surprise. "Papa was saying that he had sometimes been too hard with me, and had fully deserved the epithet you once bestowed upon him in your righteous indignation. It was when I fell from the piano-stool; do you remember?" "Ah, yes, I can never forget it. And I called him a brute. But you will forgive what occurred so long ago? and in a moment of anger aroused by my great love for you?"