When dinner was over, he did not ask if he should take her out, but quietly bade her go to Chloe and get her bonnet put on.  She obeyed, as she knew she must, without a word, but as he took her hand on her return, to lead her out, she asked, “Is there no danger that Miss Rose will come while we are gone, papa?”

“If she does, my dear, she will leave her card, and then we can go to see her; or very possibly she may wait until we return,” he answered in a kind, cheerful tone.  “But at any rate, you must have a walk this afternoon.”

Elsie sighed a little, but said no more, and her father led her along, talking so kindly, and finding so many pretty things to show her, that after a little she almost forgot her anxiety and disappointment.

They were passing a confectioner’s, where the display of sweetmeats in the window was unusually tempting.  Elsie called his attention to it.

“See, papa, how very nice those candies look!”

He smiled a little, asking, “Which do you think looks the most inviting?”

“I don’t know, papa, there is such a variety.”

“I will indulge you for once—­it isn’t often I do,” he said, leading her into the store; “so now choose what you want and I will pay for it.”

“Thank you, papa!” and the smile that accompanied the words was a very bright one.

When they returned to their hotel Elsie eagerly inquired of Chloe if Miss Rose had been there, and was again sadly disappointed to learn that she had not.

“Oh, papa!” she said, bursting into tears, “what can be the reason she doesn’t come?”

“I don’t know, darling,” he answered soothingly; “but never mind; she is probably away from home, and perhaps will return in a day or two.”

The next morning Mr. Dinsmore would not hear of staying in to wait for a call that was so uncertain, but ordered a carriage immediately after breakfast, and had Elsie out sight-seeing and shopping all day.  One of their visits—­one which particularly pleased and interested the little girl—­was to Independence Hall, where they were shown the bell which in Revolutionary days had, in accordance with its motto, “Proclaimed liberty throughout all the land, to all the inhabitants thereof.”

“I am so glad to have seen it, papa,” Elsie said.  “I have always felt so interested in its story, and shall never forget it so long as I live.”

“Yes,” he said, with a pleased smile, “I was sure you would enjoy seeing it; for I know my little girl is very patriotic.”

Other historical scenes were visited after that, and thus several days passed very pleasantly.  Still there were no tidings of Miss Allison, and at last Elsie gave up expecting her; for her father said it must certainly be that the family had left the city for the summer, although it was so early in the season; so he decided that they would go on and visit Boston, and the White Mountains; and perhaps go up the Hudson River, too, and to Niagara Falls, and the lakes, stopping in Philadelphia again on their return; when their friends would probably be in the city again.