He did so, and reported a badly sprained ankle, and a slight bruise on the head; nothing more.

“Are you quite sure, doctor, that her spine has sustained no injury?” asked the father anxiously, adding, “there is scarcely anything I should so dread for her as that.”

“None whatever,” replied the physician confidently, and Mr. Dinsmore looked greatly relieved.

“My back does not hurt me at all, papa; I don’t think I struck it,” Elsie said, looking up lovingly into his face.

“How did you happen to fall, my dear?” asked the doctor.

“If you please, sir, I would rather not tell,” she replied, while the color rushed over her face, and then instantly faded away again, leaving her deathly pale.  She was suffering great pain, but bearing it bravely.

The doctor was dressing the injured ankle, and her father sat by the sofa holding her hand.

“You need not, darling,” he answered, kissing her cheek.

“Thank you, papa,” she said, gratefully, then whispered, “Won’t you stay with me till tea-time, if you are not busy?”

“Yes, daughter, and all the evening, too; perhaps all night.”

She looked her happiness and thanks, and the doctor praised her patience and fortitude; and having given directions concerning the treatment of the wounded limb, bade his little patient good-night, saying he would call again in the morning.

Mr. Dinsmore followed him to the door.

“That’s a sweet child, Mr. Dinsmore,” he remarked.  “I don’t know how any one could have the heart to injure her; but I think there has been foul play somewhere, and if she were mine I should certainly sift the matter to the bottom.”

“That I shall, you may rest assured, sir; but tell me doctor, do you think her ankle very seriously injured?”

“Not permanently, I hope; indeed, I feel quite sure of it, if she is well taken care of, and not allowed to use it too soon; but these sprains are tedious things, and she will not be able to walk for some weeks.  Good-night, sir; don’t be too anxious, she will get over it in time, and you may be thankful it is nothing worse.”

“I am, indeed, doctor,” Mr. Dinsmore said, warmly grasping the hand the kind-hearted physician held out to him.

Everybody was asking what the doctor had said, and how much Elsie was injured, and Mr. Dinsmore stepped into the drawing-room a moment to answer their inquiries, and then hastened back to his child again.

She looked so glad to see him.

“My poor little pet,” he said, pityingly, “you will have a sad New Year’s Day, fastened down to your couch; but you shall have as much of my company as you wish.”

“Shall I, papa?—­then you will have to stay by me all day long.”

“And so I will, dearest,” he said, leaning fondly over her, and stroking back the hair from her forehead.  “Are you in much pain now, darling?” he asked, as he noticed a slight contraction of her brow, and an almost deadly pallor around her mouth.