BE TRUE. 29

per,” thought Laura, «and he will feel
better.” But, though the little girl
walked briskly about, drew out the
table, opened the leaves, spread the
cloth, ran forth and back to the clo-
set, up and down cellar, the father
did not look at her with a pleasant
smile, as he was wont to do; and
when at last she put her arms around
his neck, and whispered in his ear,
« Supper is ready,” he did not catch
her in his arms, and playfully bite
her cheek, as he had done before:
but he got slowly up, sat down to —
the table, and took his tea in silence.
This done, he took a newspaper
from his hat, and seating himself by
the light-stand, pretended to read.
But Laura, who was putting away
the tea things, saw that this was
mere pretense; he was looking over