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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18686-8.txt b/18686-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d9f31e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/18686-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,26538 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Melbourne House, by Elizabeth Wetherell + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Melbourne House + + +Author: Elizabeth Wetherell + + + +Release Date: June 26, 2006 [eBook #18686] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MELBOURNE HOUSE*** + + +Warner, Susan, 1819-1885, Melbourne House, 1864, Ward Lock edition 1907. + +Produced by Daniel FROMONT + + +MELBOURNE HOUSE + + +BY +ELIZABETH WETHERELL + +AUTHOR OF "WIDE, WIDE WORLD." + + +"Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be +pure, and whether it be right." - _Prov. xx. 11_ + + +LONDON + +WARD LOCK AND C° LIMITED + +1907 + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER I. DAISY'S QUESTION + +CHAPTER II. THE PONY-CHAISE + +CHAPTER III. THE BIRTHDAY + +CHAPTER IV. THE HAM + +CHAPTER V. STRAWBERRIES + +CHAPTER VI. THE EPERGNE + +CHAPTER VII. A SOLDIER + +CHAPTER VIII. GEOGRAPHY + +CHAPTER IX. AFTER TROUT + +CHAPTER X. A FIELD OF BATTLE + +CHAPTER XI. THE WOUNDED HAND + +CHAPTER XII. THE HUNDRED DOLLARS + +CHAPTER XIII. OBEDIENCE + +CHAPTER XIV. SUNDAY EVENING + +CHAPTER XV. SCHROEDER'S MOUNTAIN + +CHAPTER XVI. JUANITA'S COTTAGE + +CHAPTER XVII. THE LITTLE CONFESSOR + +CHAPTER XVIII. WONDERFUL THINGS + +CHAPTER XIX. THE DOCTOR + +CHAPTER XX. SUN AND MOON + +CHAPTER XXI. TEA AT HOME + +CHAPTER XXII. BEING ROBBED + +CHAPTER XXIII. THE MAP OF ENGLAND + +CHAPTER XXIV. THE PICNIC PARTY + +CHAPTER XXV. A SHOWER + +CHAPTER XXVI. DAISY'S SUPPER + +CHAPTER XXVII. RANSOM AND FIDO + +CHAPTER XXVIII. MRS. GARY'S PRESENT + +CHAPTER XXIX. THE ROSEBUSH + +CHAPTER XXX. MOLLY'S GARDEN + +CHAPTER XXXI. THE PICTURES + +CHAPTER XXXII. THE BASKET OF SPONGE-CAKE + +CHAPTER XXXIII. SATIN AND FEATHERS + +CHAPTER XXXIV. CHARITY AND VANITY + +CHAPTER XXXV. QUEEN ESTHER + +CHAPTER XXXVI. TABLEAUX VIVANTS + +CHAPTER XXXVII. AN ACCIDENT + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. SOMETHING WRONG + +CHAPTER XXXIX. BREAKING UP + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DAISY'S QUESTION. + + +A little girl was coming down a flight of stairs that led up +from a great hall, slowly letting her feet pause on each +stair, while the light touch of her hand on the rail guided +her. The very thoughtful little face seemed to be intent on +something out of the house, and when she reached the bottom, +she still stood with her hand on the great baluster that +rested on the marble there, and looked wistfully out of the +open door. So the sunlight came in and looked at her; a little +figure in a white frock and blue sash, with the hair cut short +all over a little round head, and a face not only just now +full of some grave concern, but with habitually thoughtful +eyes and a wise little mouth. She did not seem to see the +sunlight which poured all over her, and lit up a wide, deep +hall, floored with marble, and opening at the other end on +trees and flowers, which showed the sunlight busy there too. +The child lingered wistfully. Then crossed the hall, and went +into a matted, breezy, elegant room, where a lady lay +luxuriously on a couch, playing with a book and a leaf-cutter. +She could not be _busy_ with anything in that attitude. Nearly +all that was to be seen was a flow of lavender silk flounces, +a rich slipper at rest on a cushion, and a dainty little cap +with roses on a head too much at ease to rest. By the side of +the lavender silk stood the little white dress, still and +preoccupied as before a few minutes without any notice. + +"Do you want anything, Daisy?" + +"Mamma, I want to know something." + +"Well, what is it?" + +"Mamma" Daisy seemed to be engaged on a very puzzling +question "what does it mean to be a Christian?" + +"_What?_" said her mother, rousing herself up for the first +times to look at her. + +"To be a Christian, mamma?" + +"It means, to be baptised and go to church, and all that," +said the lady, turning back to her book. + +"But mamma, that isn't all I mean." + +"I don't know what you mean. What has put it into your head?" + +"Something Mr. Dinwiddie said." + +"What absurd nonsense! Who is Mr. Dinwiddie?" + +"You know him. He lives at Mrs. Sandford's." + +"And where did he talk to you?" + +"In the little school in the woods. In his Sunday-school. +Yesterday." + +"Well, it's absurd nonsense, your going there. You have +nothing to do with such things. Mr. Randolph? " + +An inarticulate sound, testifying that he was attending, came +from a gentleman who had lounged in and was lounging through +the room. + +"I won't have Daisy go to that Sunday-school any more, down +there in the woods. Just tell her she is not to do it, will +you? She is getting her head full of the most absurd nonsense. +Daisy is just the child to be ruined by it." + +"You hear, Daisy," said Mr. Randolph, indolently, as he +lounged finally out of the room by an open window; which, as +did all the windows in the room, served for a door also. By +the door by which she had entered, Daisy silently withdrew +again, making no effort to change the resolution of either of +her parents. She knew it would be of no use; for excessively +indulgent as they both were in general, whenever they took it +upon them to exercise authority, it was unflinchingly done. +Her father would never even hear a supplication to reconsider +a judgment, especially if pronounced at the desire of her +mother. So Daisy knew. + +It was a disappointment, greater than anybody thought or would +have guessed, that saw her. She went out to the large porch +before the door, and stood there, with the same thoughtful +look upon her face, a little cast down now. Still she did not +shed tears about the matter, unless one time when Daisy's hand +went up to her brow rather quick, it was to get rid of some +improper suggestion there. More did not appear, either before +or after the sudden crunching of the gravel by a pair of light +wheels, and the coming up of a little Shetland pony, drawing a +miniature chaise. + +"Hollo, Daisy! come along; he goes splendidly!" + +So shouted the driver, a boy somewhat bigger than Daisy. + +"Where are you going?" + +"Anywhere down to the church, if you'll be quick. Never mind +your hat!" + +He waited, however, while Daisy dashed into the house and out +again, and then stepped into the low chaise beside him. Then +the eager intimation was given to the pony, which set off as +if knowing that impatience was behind him. The smooth, wide, +gravelled road was as good and much better than a plank +flooring; the chaise rolled daintily on under the great trees; +the pony was not forgetful, yet ever and anon a touch of his +owner's whip came to remind him, and the fellow's little body +fairly wriggled from side to side in his efforts to get on. + +"I wish you wouldn't whip him so." said Daisy, "he's doing as +well as he can." + +"What do girls know about driving!" was the retort from the +small piece of masculine science beside her. + +"Ask papa," said Daisy, quietly. + +"Well, what do they know about horses, anyhow!" + +"I can _see_," said Daisy, whose manner of speech was somewhat +slow and deliberate, and in the choice of words, like one who +had lived among grown people. "I can observe." + +"See that, then!" And a cut, smarter than ordinary, drove +the pony to his last legs, namely, a gallop. Away they went; +it was but a short-legged gallop after all; yet they passed +along swiftly over the smooth gravel road. Great, beautiful +trees overshadowed the ground on either side with their long +arms; and underneath, the turf was mown short, fresh and +green. Sometimes a flowering bush of some sort broke the +general green with a huge spot of white or red flowers; +gradually those became fewer, and were lost sight of; but the +beautiful grass and the trees seemed to be unending. Then a +gray rock here and there began to show itself. Pony got +through his gallop, and subsided again to a waddling trot. + +"This whip's the real thing," said the young driver, +displaying and surveying it as he spoke; "that _is_ a whip now, +fit for a man to use." + +"A man wouldn't use it as you do," said Daisy. "It is cruel." + +"That's what _you_ think. I guess you'd see papa use a whip once +in a while." + +"Besides, you came along too fast to see anything." + +"Well, I told you I was going to the church, and we hadn't +time to go slowly. What did you come for?" + +"I suppose I came for some diversion," said Daisy, with a +sigh. + +"Ain't Loupe a splendid little fellow?" + +"Very; I think so." + +"Why, Daisy, what ails you? there is no fun in you to-day. +What's the matter?" + +"I am concerned about something. There is nothing the matter." + +"Concerned about Loupe, eh!" + +"I am not thinking about Loupe. Oh, Ransom! stop him; there's +Nora Dinwiddie; I want to get out." + +The place at which they were arrived had a little less the air +of carefully kept grounds, and more the look of a sweet wild +wood; for the trees clustered thicker in patches, and grey +rock, in large and in small quantities, was plenty about among +the trees. Yet still here was care; no unsightly underbrush or +rubbish of dead branches was anywhere to be seen; and the +greensward, where it spread, was shaven and soft as ever. It +spread on three sides around a little church, which, in green +and gray, seemed almost a part of its surroundings. A little +church, with a little quaint bell-tower and arched doorway, +built after some old, old model; it stood as quietly in the +green solitude of trees and rocks, as if it and they had grown +up together. It was almost so. The walls were of native +greystone in its natural roughness; all over the front and one +angle the American ivy climbed and waved, mounting to the +tower; while at the back, the closer clinging Irish ivy +covered the little "apse," and creeping round the corner, was +advancing to the windows, and promising to case the first one +in a loving frame of its own. It seemed that no carriage-road +came to this place, other than the dressed gravelled path +which the pony-chaise had travelled, and which made a circuit +on approaching the rear of the church. The worshippers must +come humbly on foot; and a wicket in front of the church led +out upon a path suited for such. Perhaps a public road might +be not far off, but at least here there was no promise of it. +In the edge of the thicket, at the side of the church, was the +girl whose appearance Daisy had hailed. + +"I sha'n't wait for you," cried her brother, as she sprang +down. + +"No go I don't want you," and Daisy made few steps over +the greensward to the thicket. Then it was, "Oh, Nora! how do +you do? what are you doing?" and "Oh, Daisy! I'm getting +wintergreens." Anybody who has ever been nine, or ten, or +eleven years old, and gone in the woods looking for +wintergreens, knows what followed. The eager plunging into the +thickest of the thicket; the happy search of every likely bank +or open ground in the shelter of some rock; the careless, +delicious straying from rock to rock, and whithersoever the +bank or the course of the thicket might lead them. The +wintergreens sweet under foot, sweet in the hands of the +children, the whole air full of sweetness. Naturally their +quest led them to the thicker and wilder grown part of the +wood; prettier there, they declared it to be, where the ground +became broken, and there were ups and downs, and rocky dells +and heights, and to turn a corner was to come upon something +new. They did not note nor care where they went, intent upon +business and pleasure together, till they came out suddenly +upon a little rocky height, where a small spot was shaded with +cedars and set with benches around and under them. The view +away off over the tops of the trees to other heights and hills +in the distance was winningly fair, especially as the sun +showed it just now in bright, cool light and shadow. It was +getting near sundown. + +"Look where we are!" cried Nora, "at the Sunday-school!" + +Daisy seated herself without answering. + +"I think," went on Nora, as she followed the example, "it is +the very prettiest place for a Sunday-school that there ever +was." + +"Have you been in other Sunday-schools?" asked Daisy. + +"Yes, in two." + +"What were they like?" + +"Oh, they were in a church, or in some sort of a room. I like +being out-of-doors best; don't you?" + +"Yes, I think so. But was the school just like this in other +things?" + +"Oh, yes; only once I had a teacher who always asked us what +we thought about everything. I didn't like that." + +"What you thought about everything?" said Daisy. + +"Yes; every verse and question, she would say, 'What do you +think about it?' and I didn't like that, because I never +thought anything." + +Whereat Daisy fell into a muse. Her question recurred to her; +but it was hardly likely, she felt, that her little companion +could enlighten her. Nora was a bright, lively, spirited +child, with black eyes and waves of beautiful black hair; +neither at rest; sportive energy and enjoyment in every +motion. Daisy was silent. + +"What is supposed to be going on here?" said a stronger voice +behind them, which brought both their heads round. It was to +see another head just making its way up above the level of +their platform; a head that looked strong and spirited as the +voice had sounded; a head set with dark hair, and eyes that +were too full of light to let you see what colour they were. +Both children came to their feet, one saying, "Marmaduke!" the +other, "Mr. Dinwiddie!" + +"What do two such mature people do when they get together? I +should like to know," said the young man as he reached the +top. + +"Talking, sir," said Daisy. + +"Picking wintergreens," said the other, in a breath. + +"Talking! I dare say you do. If both things have gone on +together, like your answers," said he, helping himself out of +Nora's stock of wintergreens, "you must have had a basket of +talk." + +"_That_ basket isn't full, sir," said Daisy. + +"My dear," said Mr. Dinwiddie, diving again into his sister's, +"that basket never is; there's a hole in it somewhere." + +"You are making a hole in mine," said Nora, laughing. "You +sha'n't do it, Marmaduke; they're for old Mrs. Holt, you +know." + +"Come along, then," said her brother; "as long as the baskets +are not full the fun isn't over." + +And soon the children thought so. Such a scrambling to new +places as they had then; such a harvest of finest wintergreens +as they all gathered together; till Nora took off her sun- +bonnet to serve for a new basket. And such joyous, lively, +rambling talk as they had all three, too; it was twice as good +as they had before; or as Daisy, who was quiet in her +epithets, phrased it, "it was nice." By Mr. Dinwiddie's help +they could go faster and further than they could alone; he +could jump them up and down the rocks, and tell them where it +was no use to waste their tine in trying to go. + +They had wandered, as it seemed to them, a long distance +they knew not whither when the children's exclamations +suddenly burst forth, as they came out upon the Sunday-school +place again. They were glad to sit down and rest. It was just +sundown, and the light was glistening, crisp and clear, on the +leaves of the trees and on the distant hill-points. In the +west a mass of glory that the eye could not bear was sinking +towards the horizon. The eye could not bear it, and yet every +eye turned that way. + +"Can you see the sun?" said Mr. Dinwiddie. + +"No, sir," and "No, Marmaduke." + +"Then why do you look at it?" + +"I don't know!" laughed Nora; but Daisy said: "Because it is +so beautiful, Mr. Dinwiddie." + +"Once when I was in Ireland," said the gentleman, "I was +looking, near sunset, at some curious old ruins. They were +near a very poor little village where I had to pass the night. +There had been a little chapel or church of some sort, but it +had crumbled away; only bits of the walls were standing, and +in place of the floor there was nothing but grass and weeds, +and one or two monuments that had been under shelter of the +roof. One of them was a large square tomb in the middle of the +place. It had been very handsome. The top of it had held two +statues, lying there with hands upraised in prayer, in memory +of those who slept beneath. But it was so very old he +statues had been lying there so long since the roof that +sheltered them was gone, that they were worn away so that you +could only just see that they had been statues; you could just +make out the remains of what had been the heads and where the +hands had been. It was all rough and shapeless now." + +"What had worn the stone so?" asked Daisy. + +"The weather the heat and the cold, and the rain, and the +dew." + +"But it must have taken a great while?" + +"A very great while. Their names were forgotten nobody knew +whose monument or what church had been there." + +"More than a hundred years?" asked Nora. + +"It had been many hundred." + +"Oh, Duke!" + +"What's the matter? Don't you believe that people died many +hundred years ago?" + +"Yes; but " + +"And they had monuments erected to them, and they thought +their names would live forever; but these names were long +gone, and the very stone over their grave was going. While I +sat there, thinking about them, and wondering what sort of +people they were in their lifetime, the sun, which had been +behind a tree, got lower, and the beams came striking across +the stone and brightening up those poor old worn heads and +hands of what had been statues. And with that the words rushed +into my head, and they have never got out since, '_Then_ shall +the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their +Father.' " + +"When, Mr. Dinwiddie?" said Daisy, after a timid silence. + +"When the King comes!" said the young man, still looking off +to the glowing west, "the time when He will put away out of +His kingdom all things that offend Him. You may read about it, +if you will, in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew, in the +parable of the tares." + +He turned round to Daisy as he spoke, and the two looked +steadily into one another's faces; the child wondering very +much what feeling it could be that had called an additional +sparkle into those bright eyes the moment before, and brought +to the mouth, which was always in happy play, an expression of +happy rest. He, on his part, queried what lay under the +thoughtful, almost anxious, search of the little one's quiet +grey eyes. + +"Do you know," he said, "that you must go home? The sun is +almost down." + +So home they went Mr. Dinwiddie and Nora taking care of +Daisy quite to the house. But it was long after sundown then. + +"What has kept you?" her mother asked, as Daisy came in to the +tea-table. + +"I didn't know how late it was, mamma." + +"Where have you been?" + +"I was picking wintergreens with Nora Dinwiddie." + +"I hope you brought me some," said Mr. Randolph. + +"Oh, I did, papa; only I have not put them in order yet." + +"And where did you and Nora part?" + +"Here, at the door, mamma." + +"Was she alone?" + +"No, ma'am Mr. Dinwiddie found us in the wood, and he took +her home, and he brought me home first." + +Daisy was somewhat of a diplomatist. Perhaps a little natural +reserve of character might have been the beginning of it, but +the habit had certainly grown from Daisy's experience of her +mother's somewhat capricious and erratic views of her +movements. She could not but find out that things which to her +father's sense were quite harmless and unobjectionable, were +invested with an unknown and unexpected character of danger or +disagreeableness in the eyes of her mother; neither could +Daisy get hold of any chain of reasoning by which she might +know beforehand what would meet her mother's favour and what +would not. The unconscious conclusion was, that reason had +little to do with it; and the consequence, that without being +untrue, Daisy had learned to be very uncommunicative; about +her thoughts, plans, or wishes. To her mother, that is; she +was more free with her father, though the habit, once a habit, +asserted itself everywhere. Perhaps, too, among causes, the +example of her mother's own elegant manner of showing truth +only as one shows a fine picture, in the best light, might +have had its effect. Daisy's diplomacy served her little on +the present occasion. + +"Daisy!" said her mother, "look at me." Daisy fixed her eves +on the pleasant, handsome, mild face. "You are not to go +anywhere in future where Mr. Dinwiddie is. Do you understand?" + +"If he finds you lost out at night, though," said Mr. +Randolph, a little humorously, "he may bring you home." + +Daisy wondered and obeyed, mentally, in silence; making no +answer to either speaker. It was not her habit either to show +her dismay on such occasions, and she showed none. But when +she went up an hour later to be undressed for bed, instead of +letting the business go on, Daisy took a Bible and sat down by +the light and pored over a page that she had found. + +The woman waiting on her, a sad-faced mulatto, middle-aged and +respectable- looking, went patiently round the room, doing or +seeming to do some trifles of business, then stood still and +looked at the child, who was intent on her book. + +"Come, Miss Daisy," said she at last, "wouldn't you like to be +undressed?" + +The words were said in a tone so low they were hardly more +than a suggestion. Daisy gave them no heed. The woman stood +with dressing gown on her arm and a look of habitual endurance +upon her face. It was a singular face, so set in its lines of +enforced patience, so unbending. The black eyes were bright +enough, but without the help of the least play of those fixed +lines, they expressed nothing. A little sigh came from the +lips at last, which also was plainly at home there. + +"Miss Daisy, it's gettin' very late." + +"June, did you ever read the parable of the tares?" + +"The what, Miss Daisy?" + +"The parable about the wheat and the tares in the Bible in +the thirteenth chapter of Matthew?" + +"Yes, ma'am," came somewhat dry and unwillingly from June's +lips, and she moved the dressing-gown on her arm +significantly. + +"Do you remember it?" + +"Yes, ma'am, I suppose I do, Miss Daisy " + +"June, when do you think it will be?" + +"When will what, Miss Daisy?" + +"When the 'Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and they +shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend and +them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of +fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall +the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their +Father.' It says, 'in the end of this world' did you know +this world would come to an end, June?" + +"Yes, Miss Daisy " + +"When will it be, June?" + +"I don't know, Miss Daisy." + +"There won't be anybody alive that is alive now, will there?" + +Again unwillingly the answer came: "Yes, ma'am. Miss Daisy, +hadn't you better " + +"How do you know, June?" + +"I have heard so it's in the Bible it will be when the +Lord comes." + +"Do you like to think of it, June?" + +The child's searching eyes were upon her. The woman half +laughed, half answered, and turning aside, broke down and +burst into tears. + +"What's the matter, June?" said Daisy, coming nearer and +speaking awedly; for it was startling to see that stony face +give way to anything but its habitual formal smile. But the +woman recovered herself almost immediately, and answered as +usual: "It's nothing, Miss Daisy." She always spoke as if +everything about her was "nothing" to everybody else. + +"But, June," said Daisy, tenderly, "why do you feel bad about +it?" + +"I shouldn't, I s'pose," said the woman desperately, answering +because she was obliged to answer; "I hain't no right to feel +so if I felt ready." + +"How can one be ready, June? That is what I want to know. +Aren't you ready?" + +"Do, don't, Miss Daisy! the Lord have mercy upon us!" said +June under her breath, wrought up to great excitement, and +unable to bear the look of the child's soft grey eyes. "Why +don't ye ask your papa about them things? he can tell ye." + +Alas, Daisy's lips were sealed. Not to father or mother would +she apply with any second question on this subject. And now +she must not ask Mr. Dinwiddie. She went to bed, turning the +matter all over and over in her little head. + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PONY-CHAISE. + + +For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her +little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her +mother said. Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had +been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting +with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, +or going out or coming in with a book under her arm. Mrs. +Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the +Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not +know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her +studies. But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy +had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to +turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it +was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came +into her head. But therefore it was partly, too, that Mrs. +Randolph tried to put books and thinking as far from her as +she could. + +"Daisy," she said one morning at the breakfast-table, "would +you like to go with June and carry some nice things down to +Mrs. Parsons?" + +"How, mamma?" + +"How what? Do speak distinctly." + +"How shall I go, I mean?" + +"You may have the carriage. I cannot go, this morning or this +afternoon." + +"Oh, papa, mayn't I take Loupe and drive there myself?" + +If Daisy had put the question at the other end of the table, +there would have been an end of the business, as she knew. As +it was, her father's "yes" got out just before her mother's +"no." + +"Yes she may," said Mr. Randolph "no harm. John, tell Sam +that he is to take the black pony and go with the pony-chaise +whenever Miss Daisy drives. Daisy, see that he goes with you." + +"Well," said Mrs. Randolph, "you may do as you like, but I +think it is a very unsafe proceeding. What's Sam? he's a +boy." + +"Safe enough," said Mr. Randolph. "I can trust all three of +the party; Daisy, Loupe, and Sam. They all know their +business, and they will all do it." + +"Well! I think it is very unsafe," repeated Mrs. Randolph. + +"Mamma," said Daisy, when she had allowed a moment to pass +"what shall I take to Mrs. Parsons?" + +"You must go and see Joanna about that. You may make up +whatever you think will please her or do her good. Joanna will +tell you." + +And Mrs. Randolph had the satisfaction of seeing that Daisy's +eyes were lively enough for the rest of breakfast-time, and +her colour perceptibly raised. No sooner was breakfast over +than she flew to the consultation in the housekeeper's room. + +Joanna was the housekeeper, and Mrs. Randolph's right hand; a +jewel of skill and efficiency; and as fully satisfied with her +post and power in the world, at the head of Mr. Randolph's +household, as any throned emperor or diademed queen; +furthermore, devoted to her employers as though their concerns +had been, what indeed she reckoned them, her own. + +"Mrs. Randolph didn't say anything to me about it," said this +piece of capability, "but I suppose it isn't hard to manage. +Who is Mrs. Parsons? that's the first thing." + +"She's a very poor old woman, Joanna; and she is obliged to +keep her bed always; there is something the matter with her. +She lives with a daughter of hers who takes care of her, I +believe; but they haven't much to live upon, and the daughter +isn't smart. Mrs. Parsons hasn't anything fit for her to eat, +unless somebody sends it to her." + +"What's the matter with her? ain't she going to get well?" + +"No, never she will always be obliged to lie on her bed as +long as she lives; and so, you see, Joanna, she hasn't +appetite for coarse things." + +"Humph!" said Joanna. "Custards won't give it to her. What +does the daughter live upon?" + +"She does washing for people; but of course that don't give +her much. They are very poor, I know." + +"Well, what would you like to take her, Miss Daisy?" + +"Mother said you'd know." + +"Well, I'll tell you what _I_ think sweetmeats ain't good for +such folks. You wait till afternoon, and you shall have a pail +of nice broth, and a bowl of arrowroot with wine and sugar in +it; that'll hearten her up. Will that do?" + +"But I should like to take something to the other poor woman, +too." + +"How are you going?" + +"In my pony-chaise I can take anything." + +Joanna muttered an ejaculation. + +"Well then, Miss Daisy, a basket of cold meat wouldn't come +amiss, I suppose." + +"And some bread, Joanna?" + +"The chaise won't hold so much." + +"It has got to hold the basket," said Daisy in much glee, "and +the bread can go in. And, Joanna, I'll have it ready at half- +past four o'clock." + +There was no air of moping about Daisy, when, at half-past +four she set off from the house in her pony-chaise, laden with +pail and basket and all she had bargained for. A happier child +was seldom seen. Sam, a capable black boy, was behind her on a +pony not too large to shame her own diminutive equipage; and +Loupe, a good-sized Shetland pony, was very able for more than +his little mistress was going to ask of him. Her father looked +on, pleased, to see her departure; and when she had gathered +up her reins, leaned over her and gave her with his kiss a +little gold piece to go with the pail and basket. It crowned +Daisy's satisfaction; with a quiet glad look and word of +thanks to her father, she drove off. + +The pony waddled along nicely, but as his legs were none of +the longest, their rate of travelling was not precisely of the +quickest. Daisy was not impatient. The afternoon was splendid, +the dust had been laid by late rains, and Daisy looked at her +pail and basket with great contentment. Before she had gone a +quarter of a mile from home, she met her little friend of the +wintergreens. Nora sprang across the road to the chaise. + +"Oh, Daisy, where are you going?" + +"I am going to carry some things for mamma, to a house." + +"All alone?" + +"No, Sam is there to take care of me." + +Nora looked back at the black pony, and then at Daisy. "Isn't +it nice!" she said, with a sort of half-regretful admiration. + +"It's as nice as a fairy tale," said Daisy. "I'm just as good +as a princess, you know, Nora. Don't you want to go, too? Do +come." + +"No, I mustn't there are people coming to tea Mrs. +Linwood, and Charles and Jane I wish I could go! How far is +it, Daisy?" + +"About five miles. Down beyond Crum Elbow, a good nice way; +but I shan't go through Crum Elbow." + +"It's so splendid!" sighed Nora. "Well, good-bye. I can't go." + +On went the pony. The roads were good and pleasant, leading +through farm fields and here and there a bit of wood, but not +much. It was mostly open country, cultivated by farmers; and +the grain fields not yet ripe, and the grass fields not yet +mown, looked rich and fair and soft in bright colours to +Daisy's eyes, as the afternoon sun shone across them and tree +shadows lay long over the ground. For trees there were, a +great many, growing singly about the fields and fences, and +some of them very large and fine. Daisy was not so busy with +her driving but that she could use her eyes about other +things. Now and then she met a farm wagon, or a labourer going +along the road. The men looked at her curiously and +pleasantly, as if they thought it a pretty sight; but once +Daisy, passing a couple of men together, overheard one say to +the other + +"It's Randolph's folks they stick themselves up +considerable." + +The tone of the voice was gruff and coarse, and Daisy +marvelled much in her little mind what had displeased the man +in her or in "Randolph's folks." She determined to ask her +father. "Stick ourselves up?" said Daisy thoughtfully "we +_never_ do!" + +So she touched the pony, who was falling into a very leisurely +way of trotting, and in good time came to Mrs. Parsons' door. + +Daisy went in. The daughter was busy at some ironing in the +outer room; she was a dull, lack-lustre creature, and though +she comprehended the gifts that had been brought her, seemed +hardly to have life enough to thank the donor. That wasn't +quite like a fairy tale, Daisy thought. No doubt this poor +woman must have things to eat, but there was not much fun in +bringing them to her. Daisy was inclined to wonder how she had +ever come to marry anybody with so lively a name as Lark. But +before she got away, Mrs. Lark asked Daisy to go in and see +her mother, and Daisy, not knowing how to refuse, went in as +requested. + +What a change! Another poor room to be sure, very poor it +looked to Daisy; with its strip of rag carpet on the floor, +its rush-bottomed chairs, and paper window-shades; and on the +bed lay the bed-ridden woman. But with such a nice pleasant +face; eyes so lively and quiet, smile so contented, brow so +calm, Daisy wondered if it could be she that must lie there +always and never go about again as long as she lived. It had +been a matter of dread to her to see anything so disagreeable; +and now it was not disagreeable. Daisy was fascinated. Mrs. +Lark had withdrawn. + +"Is your mother with you, dear?" + +"No ma'am, I came alone. Mamma told me to ask Mrs. Parsons if +there is anything she would like to have, that mamma could do +for her." + +"Yes; if you would come in and see me sometimes," said the old +lady, "I should like it very much." + +"Me?" said Daisy. + +"Yes. I don't see young faces very often. They don't care to +come to see an old woman." + +"I should like to come," said Daisy, "very much, if I could do +anything; but I must go now, because it will be late. Good- +bye, ma'am." + +Daisy's little courtesy it was pleasant to see, and it was so +pleasant altogether that Mrs. Parsons had it over and over in +her thoughts that day and the next. + +"It's as nice as a fairy tale," Daisy repeated to herself, as +she took her seat in the chaise again and shook up her reins. +It was better than a fairy tale really, for the sunshine +coming between the trees from the sinking sun, made all the +world look so beautiful that Daisy thought no words could tell +it. It was splendid to drive through that sunlight. In a +minute or two more she had pulled up her reins short, and +almost before she knew why she had done it or whom she had +seen, Mr. Dinwiddie stood at her side. Here he was. She must +not go where he was; she had not; he had come to her. Daisy +was very glad. But she looked up in his face now without +speaking. + +"Ha! my stray lamb," said he, "whither are you running?" + +"Home, sir," said Daisy, meekly. + +"Do you know you have run away from me?" + +"Yes, Mr. Dinwiddie." + +"How came that?" + +"It was unavoidable, sir," said Daisy, in her slow, old- +fashioned way. But the bright eye of the young man saw that +her eye fell and her face clouded over; it was not a slight +nor a chance hindrance that had been in her way, he was sure. + +"Then you don't mean to come to me any more." + +It was a dreadful question, but Mr. Dinwiddie's way of +speaking was so clear and quick and business-like, and he +seemed to know so well what he was talking about, that the +answer was forced from Daisy. She looked up and said, "No, +sir." + +He watched the soft thoughtful face that was raised towards +him. + +"Then if this is the last time we are to talk about it, Daisy, +shall I look for you among those that will 'shine as the sun' +in the Lord's kingdom?" + +"Oh, sir, Mr. Dinwiddie," said Daisy, dropping her reins +and rising up, "that is what I want to know about. Please tell +me!" + +"Tell you what?" said Mr. Dinwiddie, gathering up the reins. + +"Tell me how to do, sir, please." + +"What have you done, Daisy?" + +"Nothing, sir only reading the Bible." + +"And you do not find it there?" + +"I find a great deal, sir; but I don't quite understand. I +don't know how to be a Christian." + +Daisy thought it might be her last chance; she was desperate, +and spoke out. + +"Do you love the Lord Jesus, Daisy?" + +"I don't know, Mr. Dinwiddie." + +"You know how He loves you? You know what He has done for +you?" + +"Yes I know " + +"He died to save you from death and sin. He will do it if you +trust Him. Now what He wants is that you should love Him and +trust Him. 'Let the little children come to me,' He said a +great while ago, and says now. Daisy, the good Lord wants you +to give Him your heart." + +"But suppose, Mr. Dinwiddie " + +"Yes. What?" + +"Suppose I can't. I don't know how." + +"Do you want to do it?" + +"Yes, sir. Indeed I do." + +"Very well; the Lord knows just what your difficulty is; you +must apply to Him." + +"Apply to Him?" said Daisy. + +"Ask Him." + +"How, sir?" + +"Pray to Him. Tell the Lord your trouble, and ask Him to make +it all right for you. Did you never pray to Him?" + +"No, sir not ever." + +"My lamb," said Mr. Dinwiddie, "He will hear you, if you never +prayed to Him before. I will show you the word of His +promise." And he opened a pocket-Bible and found the place of +these words which he gave Daisy to read : "I will put a new +spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of +their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh; that they +may walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do +them: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God." + +"Now is that what you want, Daisy?" + +"Yes, sir; only I don't know how." + +"Never mind; the Lord knows. He will make it all right, if +only you are willing to give yourself to be His little +servant." + +"I will give Him all I have got, sir," said Daisy, looking up. + +"Very well; then I will show you one thing more it is a word +of the Lord Jesus. See 'If ye love Me, keep My +commandments.' Now I want you to keep those two words, and you +can't remember where to find them again I must let you take +this book with you." And Mr. Dinwiddie folded down leaves in +the two places. + +"But Mr. Dinwiddie," said Daisy softly "I don't know when +I can get it back to you again, sir." + +"Never mind keep it, and when you don't want it, give it to +some poor person that does. And remember, little one, that the +good Lord expects His servants to tell Him their troubles and +to pray to Him every day." + +"Thank you, sir!" was Daisy's deep ejaculation. + +"Don't thank me. Now will your pony get you home before dark?" + +"Oh, yes, Mr. Dinwiddie! Loupe is lazy, but he can go, and I +will make him." + +The chaise went off at a swift rate accordingly, after another +soft grateful look from its little driver. Mr. Dinwiddie stood +looking after it. Of a certain woman of Thyatira it is written +that "the Lord opened her heart, that she attended to the +things which were spoken." Surely, the gentleman thought, the +same had been true of his late little charge. He went +thoughtfully home. While Daisy, not speculating at all, in her +simplicity sat thinking that she was the Lord's servant; and +rejoiced over and over again that she had for her own and +might keep the book of her Lord's commandments. There were +such things as Bibles in the house, certainly, but Daisy had +never had one of her own. That in which she had read the other +night, and which she had used to study her lessons for Mr. +Dinwiddie, was one belonging to her brother, which he was +obliged to use at school. Doubtless Daisy could also have had +one for the asking she knew that but it might have been +some time first; and she had a certain doubt in her little +mind that the less she said upon the subject the better. She +resolved her treasure should be a secret one. It was right for +her to have a Bible; she would not run the risk of +disagreeable comments or commands by in any way putting it +forward. Meanwhile she had become the Lord's servant! A very +poor little beginning of a servant she thought herself; +nevertheless, in telling Mr. Dinwiddie what she had, it seemed +to Daisy that she had spoken aloud her oath of allegiance; and +a growing joy in the transaction and a growing love to the +great Saviour who was willing to let her be His servant, +filled her little heart. She just knew that the ride home was +lovely, but Daisy's mind was travelling a yet more sunshiny +road. + +She was intelligent in what she had done. One by one Mr. +Dinwiddie's lessons had fallen on a willing and open ear. She +knew herself to be a sinner and lost; she believed that the +Lord Jesus would save her by His death; and it seemed to her +the most natural and reasonable and pleasant thing in the +world, that the life for which His blood had been shed, should +be given to Him. "If ye love me, keep My commandments." "I +wonder," thought Daisy, "what they are." + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE BIRTHDAY. + + +"What sort of an expedition did you have, Daisy?" her father +asked at breakfast next morning. Company the evening before +had prevented any talk about it. + +"Oh, very good, papa! It was as good as a fairy tale." + +"Was it?" said Mr. Randolph. "I wonder what pitch of +excellence that is. I don't remember ever finding a fairy tale +very good to me." + +"Did you ever read any, papa?" + +"I don't know! Were you not tired with your long drive?" + +"Oh, no, papa!" + +"Would you like to go again?" + +"Yes, papa, very much." + +"You may go as often as you like only always let Sam be +along." + +"Did you find out what Mrs. Parsons wants?" said Mrs. +Randolph. + +"No, mamma she did not look as if she wanted anything, +except to see me. And yet she is very poor, mamma." + +At this speech Mr. Randolph burst into a round laugh, and even +Mrs. Randolph seemed amused. + +"Did she _look_ as if she wanted to see you, Daisy?" + +"Papa, I think she did," said Daisy, colouring; "she said so +at any rate; but I could not find out what else she would +like." + +"Daisy, I think she showed very good taste," said Mr. +Randolph, drawing his little daughter into his arms; "but it +would be safe to take something else with you when you go." + +"Your birthday is next week, Daisy," said her mother; "and +your aunt Gary and your cousins will be here. What would you +like to have, to celebrate the day?" + +"I don't know, mamma," said Daisy, returning her father's +kisses. + +"You may have what you please, if you will think and tell me." + +"Mamma, may I talk to Nora Dinwiddie about it?" + +"Nonsense! What for?" + +"Only to consult, mamma." + +"Consult Ransom. He would be a much better help to you." + +Daisy looked sober, and said nothing. + +"Why not?" said Mr. Randolph. "Why not consult your brother?" + +"Papa," said Daisy slowly, "Ransom and I do not understand +each other." + +"Don't you," said her father, laughing; "what is the cause of +that, Daisy?" + +Daisy was not very willing to answer, but being pressed by +both father and mother, she at length spoke. "I think, papa, +it is because he understands so many other things." + +Mr. Randolph was excessively amused. "Ransom!" he called out +to the hall. + +"Please, papa, don't!" said Daisy. + +"Ransom! come here. What is this? your sister says you do +not understand her." + +"Well, papa," said Ransom, an exceedingly handsome and bright- +looking boy, and a great pet of his mother, "there are things +that are not deep enough to be understood." + +Daisy's lips opened eagerly and then closed again. + +"Girls always use magnifying glasses where themselves are +concerned!" went on Ransom, whose dignity seemed to be +excited. + +"Hush, hush!" said his father, "take yourself off, it you +cannot maintain civility. And your mother does not like +fishing-tackle at the breakfast-table go! I believe," he +said as Ransom bounded away, "I believe conceit is the normal +condition of boyhood." + +"I am sure," said Mrs. Randolph, "girls have enough of it +and women too." + +"I suppose it would be rash to deny that," said Mr. Randolph. +"Daisy, I think I understand you. I do not require so much +depth as is necessary for Ransom's understanding to swim in." + +"If you do not deny it, it would be well not to forget it," +said Mrs. Randolph; while Daisy, still in her father's arms, +was softly returning his caresses. + +"What shall we do on your birthday, Daisy." said her father, +without seeming to heed this remark. + +"Papa, I will think about it. Mamma, do you like I should talk +to Nora about it?" + +"By all means!" said Mr. Randolph; "send for her and hold a +grand council. Your mother can have no objection." + +Daisy did not feel quite so sure of that; but at any rate she +made none, and a messenger was sent to ask Nora to come that +afternoon. All the morning Daisy was engaged with her mother, +going to make a visit to some friends that lived a long way +off. It was not till the afternoon was growing cool and +pleasant that she was released from dinner and dressing and +free to go with her Bible to her favourite reading place; or +rather one of her favourites; a garden seat under a thick +oak. The oak stood alone on a knoll looking over a beautiful +spread of grassy sward that sloped and rolled away to a +distant edge of thicket. Other noble trees dotted the ground +here and there; some fine cattle showed their red and white +heads, standing or lying about in the shade. Above the distant +thicket, far, far away, rose the heads of great blue +mountains. The grass had just been mown, in part; and a very +sweet smell from the hay floated about under the trees around +the house. Daisy's tree however was at some distance from the +house. In the absolute sweet quiet, Daisy and her Bible took +possession of the place. The Bible had grown a wonderful book +to her now. It was the book of the commandments of the Great +King whose servant she felt herself. Now every word would tell +her of something she must do, or not do; all sweet to Daisy; +for she felt she loved the King, and His commandments were +good to her. This time she got very much interested in the +twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, in the parable of the +talents. But she wished she could have had Mr. Dinwiddie to +tell her a little better exactly what it meant. Some of its +meaning she understood; and remembering Mr. Dinwiddie's words, +she prayed with clasped hands and a very earnest little heart, +that the Lord would "make her know what all her talents were +and help her to make good use of them." Then Daisy went on +studying. + +In the midst of her studies, a light step bounded down through +the shrubbery from the house, and Daisy had hardly raised her +head when Nora was at her side. There was room for her on the +seat, and after a glad greeting the children sat down +together, to talk much joyful talk and tell childish news, in +the course of which Daisy's perplexities came out, for which +she had wanted Nora's counsel. She explained that she could +have precisely what she chose, in the way of merry-making for +her birthday. Daisy spoke about it seriously, as a weighty and +important matter; and so Nora took it up, with a face of great +eagerness. + +"You can have _just_ what you like, Daisy?" Daisy nodded. "Oh, +what have you thought of, Daisy?" + +"What would be nicest, Nora?" + +"I'll tell you what _I_ should have I should have a party." + +"A party!" + +"Yes, that is what I should have." + +"I never thought of that. Who would you ask, Nora? I thought +of a pic-nic; and of a great journey to Schroeder's Mountain; + that would be nice; to spend the whole day, you know." + +"Yes, that would be nice: but I should have a party. Oh, there +are plenty to have. There is Kitty Marsden." + +"I don't know Kitty Marsden, much" said Daisy. + +"And Ella Stanfield." + +"I like Ella Stanfield" said Daisy, sedately. + +"And there are the Fishes." + +"I don't like Mrs. Fish's children very well; when Alexander +and Ransom get together, they make a great deal of +disturbance!" + +"Oh, we needn't mind their disturbance," said Nora; and she +went on discussing the plan and the advantages of the party. +Suddenly Daisy broke in with a new subject. "Nora, you know +the story of the servants with the talents, in the New +Testament?" + +"Yes " said Nora, with open eyes; "I know." + +"Do you know what it means? the talents, I mean; of course I +know what the rest means; but do you know what the talents +are? Is it just money? because then you and I have very +little indeed; and all the servants had something." + +"Why, Daisy, what made you think of that just now? we were +talking about the party." + +"I have been thinking of it all the while," said Daisy. "I was +reading it do you know what it means, Nora?" + +"But we were talking about the party!" said Nora. + +"Yes, but I want to understand this; and then we will go on +about the party. If you know what it means." + +"I have heard Duke explain it," said Nora, unwillingly coming +to the graver subject. + +"Well, what does he say it is? the talents, you know." + +"Duke says it is everything anybody has. Not money, +_everything_ Now don't you think we can make up a nice party?" + +"Everything, Nora? Just wait a little I want to know about +this. What do you mean by 'everything'?" + +"Are you studying for Sunday-school, Daisy? that isn't the +lesson." + +"No," said Daisy sorrowfully; "if I was, I could ask Mr. +Dinwiddie. That's why I want you to help me, Nora; so think, +and tell me what he said." + +"Well, that," said Nora, "he said that; he said the talents +meant everything God has given people to work with for Him." + +"What could they work with besides money?" said Daisy. + +"Why, _everything_, Duke says; all they've got; their tongues +and their hands and their feet, and all they know, and all +their love for people; and even the way we do things, our +studies and all, Marmaduke says. What do you want to know for, +Daisy?" + +"I was thinking about it," answered Daisy, evasively. "Wait a +minute, Nora, I want to write it down, for fear I should +forget something." + +"What _are_ you going to do?" exclaimed Nora. "Are you going to +teach a class yourself?" + +Daisy did not answer, while she was writing down with a pencil +what Nora had said, and making her repeat it for that purpose. +When she had done she looked a little dubiously off towards +the woods, while Nora was surprised and disappointed into +silence. + +"I think perhaps I ought to tell you," was Daisy's slow +conclusion. "I want to know what this means, that I may do it, +Nora." + +"_Do_ it?" + +"Yes," said Daisy, turning her quiet eyes full upon her +companion "I want to try to please God. I love the Lord +Jesus." + +Nora was very much confounded, and looked at Daisy as if a gap +in the ground had suddenly separated them. + +"So," Daisy went on, "as I have talents to use, I want to know +what they are, for fear I shouldn't use them all. I don't +understand it yet, but I will think about it. Now we will go +on about the party if you like." + +"But, Daisy," said Nora. + +"What?" + +"Are you in earnest?" + +"Certainly I am in earnest," said Daisy gravely. "What makes +you ask me? Don't you think your brother is in earnest?" + +"Marmaduke! oh yes, but you never told me of it before." + +"I didn't know it till yesterday," said Daisy simply, "that I +loved the Lord Jesus; but I know I do now, and I am very glad; +and I am going to be His servant." + +Her little face was very sweet and quiet as she looked at her +little neighbour and said these words; but Nora was utterly +confounded, and so nearly dismayed that she was silent; and it +was not till several invitations in Daisy's usual manner had +urged her, that she was able to get upon the subject of the +party again, and to discuss it with any spirit. The discussion +then did not come to any determination. Daisy was at least +lukewarm in her fancy for that mode of spending her birthday; +and separate plans of pic-nics and expeditions of pleasure +were taken up and handled, sure to be thrown aside by Nora for +the greater promise and splendour of the home entertainment. +They broke up at last without deciding upon anything, except +that Nora should come again to talk about it, and should at +all events have and give her share in whatever the plan for +the day might be. + +Perhaps Daisy watched her opportunity, perhaps it came; but at +all events she seized the first chance that she saw to speak +with her father in private. He was sauntering out the next +morning after breakfast. Daisy joined him, and they strolled +along through the grounds, giving here and there directions to +the gardener, till they came near one of the pleasant rustic +seats, under the shade of a group of larches. + +"Papa, suppose we sit down here for a moment and let us look +about us." + +"Well, Daisy," said her father, who knew by experience what +was likely to follow. + +"Papa," said Daisy as they sat down, "I want to ask you about +something." + +"What is it?" + +"When I was in the chaise, driving Loupe the other clay, papa, +I heard something that I could not understand." + +"Did you?" + +"It was two men that passed me on the road; I heard one say to +the other as I went by, that it was your carriage, and then he +said that 'Randolph's folks were a good deal _stuck up;_' what +did he mean, papa?" + +"Nothing of any consequence, Daisy." + +"But why did he say it, papa?" + +"Why do you want to know?" + +"I did not understand it nor like it, papa; I wanted to know +what he meant." + +"It is hardly worth talking about, Daisy. It is the way those +who have not enough in the world are very apt to talk of +others who are better off than themselves." + +"Why, papa?" + +"They were poor men, I suppose, weren't they." + +"Yes; papa working men." + +"That class of people, my dear, are very apt to have a grudge +against the rich." + +"For what, papa?" + +"For being able to live better than they do." + +"Why, papa! do poor people generally feel so?" + +"Very often, I think. They do not generally speak it out +aloud." + +"Then, papa," said Daisy, speaking slowly, "how do you know? +What makes you think they feel so?" + +Her father smiled at her eagerness and gravity. + +"I see it, Daisy, when they do not speak it. They show it in +various ways. Besides, I know their habit of talking among +themselves." + +"But papa, that is very bad." + +"What?" + +"That poor people should feel so. I am sure rich people are +their best friends." + +Her father stroked her head fondly, and looked amused. + +"They don't believe that, Daisy." + +"But _why_ don't they believe it, papa?" said Daisy, growing +more and more surprised. + +"I suppose," said Mr. Randolph, rising, "they would be better +satisfied if I gave them my horses and went afoot." A speech +which Daisy pondered and pondered and could make nothing of. + +They walked on, Mr. Randolph making observations and giving +orders now and then to workmen. Here a man was mowing under +the shrubbery; there the gardener was setting out pots of +greenhouse flowers; in another place there were holes digging +for trees to be planted. Daisy went musing on while her father +gave his orders, and when they were again safe out of hearing +she spoke. "Papa, do you suppose Michael and Andrew and John, +and all your own people, feel so about you?" + +"I think it is likely, Daisy. I can't hope to escape better +than my neighbours." + +"But, papa, they don't look so, nor act so?" + +"Not before me. They do not wish to lose their places." + +"Papa, couldn't something be done to make them feel better." + +"Why, Daisy," said her father laughing, "are you going to turn +reformer!" + +"I don't know what that is, papa." + +"A thankless office, my dear. If you could make all the world +wise, it would do, but fools are always angry with you for +trying it." + +The conversation ended, and left Daisy greatly mystified. Her +father's people not liking him? the poor having ill-will +against the rich, and a grudge against their pleasant things +it was very melancholy! Daisy thought about it a great deal +that day; and had a very great talk on the subject with Nora, +who without a quarter of the interest had much more knowledge +about it than Daisy. She had been with her brother sometimes +to the houses of poor children, and she gave Daisy a high- +coloured picture of the ways of living in such houses and the +absence of many things by Daisy and herself thought the +necessaries of life. Daisy heard her with a lengthening face, +and almost thought there was some excuse for the state of +feeling her father had explained in the morning. The question, +however, was too long a one for Daisy; but she arrived at one +conclusion, which was announced the next morning at the +breakfast-table. Mrs. Randolph had called upon her to say what +was determined upon for the birthday. + +"Papa," said Daisy, "will there be a great plenty of +strawberries next week?" + +"Yes, I believe so. Logan says the vines are very full. What +then?" + +"Papa, you gave me my choice of what I would have for +Wednesday." + +"Yes. Is it my strawberry patch?" + +"Not for myself, papa. I want you to have a great table set +out of doors somewhere, and give a feast to all your work +people." + +"Daisy!" exclaimed Mrs. Randolph. "I never heard anything so +ridiculous in all my life!" + +Daisy waited with downcast eyes for her father to speak. He +was not in a hurry. + +"Would that give you pleasure, Daisy?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"Did Nora Dinwiddie put that scheme in your head?" asked Mrs. +Randolph. + +"She didn't like it at all, mamma. I put it into her head." + +"Where did you get it?" + +Daisy looked troubled and puzzled, and did not answer till her +father said "Speak." Then, nestling up to him with her head on +his breast, a favourite position, she said, "I got it from +different sources, I think, papa." + +"Let us hear, for instance." + +"I think, partly from the Bible, papa and partly from what +we were talking of yesterday." + +"I wish you would show me where you found it in the Bible. I +don't remember a strawberry feast there." + +"Do you mean it in earnest, papa?" + +"Yes." + +Daisy walked off for a Bible not her own and after some +trouble found a place which she showed her father; and he read +aloud, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy +friends nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich +neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompense be +made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the +maimed, the lame, the blind; and thou shalt be blessed; for +they cannot recompense thee; for thou shalt be recompensed at +the resurrection of the just." Mr. Randolph closed the book +and laid it on the table, and drew his little daughter again +within his arms. + +"That child is in a way to get ruined!" said Mrs. Randolph, +energetically. + +"But Daisy, our work people are not lame or blind how will +they do?" said her father. + +"They are poor, papa. I would like to have the others too, but +we can't have everybody." + +Mr. Randolph kissed the little mouth that was lifted so near +his own, and went on. + +"Do you think then it is wrong to have our friends and +neighbours? Shall we write to your aunt and cousins, and Gary +McFarlane and Captain Drummond, to stay away?" + +"No, papa," said Daisy, smiling, and her smile was very +sweet, "you know I don't mean that. I would like to have +them all; but I would like the feast made for the other +people." + +"You will let the rest of us have some strawberries?" + +"If there are enough, papa. For that day, I would like the +other people to have them." + +Mr. Randolph seemed to find something as sweet as strawberries +in Daisy's lips. + +"It is the very most absurd plan I ever heard of!" repeated +her mother. + +"I am not sure that it is not a very good thing," remarked Mr. +Randolph. + +"Is it expected that on that day we are to do without servants +in the house, and wait upon ourselves? or are we expected to +wait upon the party!" + +"Oh, mamma," said Daisy, "it isn't the servants it's only +the out-of-door people." + +"How many will there be, Daisy?" said her father; "have you +numbered them up?" + +"Not yet, papa. There is Logan, and Michael, and Mr. Stilton, +and the two under-gardeners " + +"And four hay-makers." + +"Hay-makers, papa?" + +"Yes there will be four of them in the fields next week. And +there is the herdsman and boy." + +"And there is old Patrick at the gate. That is all, papa." + +"And are the ladies of all these families to be invited?" + +"Papa! What do you think?" + +"I have no doubt there will be strawberries enough." + +"But I am afraid there would be too many children. Logan has +six, and Michael has four, and I believe the herdsman has +some; and there are four at the Lodge. And Mr. Stilton has +two." + +"What shall we do with them, Daisy?" + +"Papa, we can't have them. I should like to have the men and +their wives come, I think, and send some strawberries home to +the children. Wouldn't that do best?" + +"Admirably. And you can drive over to Crum Elbow and purchase +some suitable baskets. Take the chaise and Sam. I expect you +to arrange everything. If you want help, come and consult me." + +"If mamma will tell Joanna," said Daisy, looking somewhat +doubtfully towards the other end of the table. + +"I have nothing to do with it," said Mrs. Randolph. "I have +no knowledge how to order such parties. You and Joanna may do +what you please." + +Daisy's eye went to her father. + +"That will do, Daisy," said he. "You and Joanna can manage it. +You may have carte-blanche." + +The earliest minute that she knew Joanna could attend to her, +found Daisy in the housekeeper's room. Joanna was a tall, +rather hard-featured woman, with skill and capacity in every +line of her face however, and almost in every fold of her +gown. She heard with a good deal of astonishment the project +unfolded to her, and to Daisy's great delight gave it her +unqualified approbation. + +"It's a first-rate plan," said Joanna. "Now I like that. The +men won't forget it. Where are you going to have the table +set, Miss Daisy?" + +"I don't know yet, Joanna. In some pretty, shady place, under +the trees." + +"Out-of-doors, eh!" said Joanna. " 'Well, I suppose that'll be +as good a way as any. Now what are you going to have, Miss +Daisy? what do you want of me?" + +"Mamma and papa said I was to arrange it with you." + +Joanna sat down and folded her arms to consider the matter. + +"How many will there be?" + +"I counted," said Daisy. "There will be about seventeen, with +their wives, you know." + +"Seventeen, wives and all?" said Joanna. "You'll have to get +the carpenter or Mr. Stilton to make you a table." + +"Yes, that's easy," said Daisy; "but Joanna, what shall we +have on it? There will want to be a good deal, for seventeen +people; and I want it handsome, you know." + +"Of course," said Joanna, looking as if she were casting up +the multiplication table "it'll have to be that, whatever +else it, is. Miss Daisy, suppose you let me manage it and +I'll see and have it all right. If you will give orders about +the strawberries, and have the table made." + +"I shall dress the table with flowers, Joanna." + +"Yes well " said Joanna, "I don't know anything about +flowers; but I'll have the cake ready, and everything else." + +"And tea and coffee, Joanna?" + +"Why, I never thought of that! yes, to be sure, they'll want +something to drink who will pour it out, Miss Daisy?" + +"I don't know. Won't you, Joanna?" + +"Well I don't know " said the housekeeper, as if she were +afraid of being taken on too fast by her little counsellor +"I don't know as there's anything to hinder, as it's your +birthday, Miss Daisy." + +Away went Daisy delighted, having secured just what she +wanted. The rest was easy. And Daisy certainly thought it was +as promising an entertainment as she could have devised. It +gave her a good deal of business. The table, and the place for +the table, had to be settled with Mr. Stilton, and the +invitations given, and many particulars settled; but to settle +them was extremely pleasant, and Daisy found that every face +of those concerned in the invitations wore a most golden glow +of satisfaction when the thing was understood. Daisy was very +happy. She hoped, besides the pleasantness of the matter, it +would surely incline the hearts of her father's work-people to +think kindly of him. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE HAM. + + +It happened that one cause and another hindered Daisy from +going to Crum Elbow to fetch the strawberry-baskets, until the +very Tuesday afternoon before the birthday. Then everything +was right; the pony chaise before the door, Sam in waiting, +and Daisy just pulling her gloves on, when Ransom rushed up. +He was flushed and hurried. + +"Who's going out with Loupe?" + +"I am, Ransom." + +"You can't go, Daisy I'm going myself." + +"You cannot, Ransom. I am going on business. Papa said I was +to go." + +"He couldn't have said it! for he said I might have the chaise +this afternoon, and that Loupe wanted exercise. So, I am going +to give him some. He wouldn't get it with you." + +"Ransom," said Daisy trembling, "I have got business at Crum +Elbow, and I must go, and you must not." + +"Fiddlesticks!" said Ransom, snapping his fingers at her. +"Business! I guess you have. Girls have a great deal of +business! Here, Sam ride round mighty quick to Mr. Rush's, +and tell Hamilton to meet me at the cross road." + +And without another word to Daisy, Ransom sprang into the +chaise, cracked his whip over Loupe's head and started him off +in a very ungraceful but very eager waddling gallop. Daisy was +left with one glove on and with a spirit thoroughly +disordered. A passionate child she was not, in outward manner +at least; but her feelings once roused were by no means easy +to bring down again. She was exceedingly offended, very much +disturbed at missing her errand, very sore at Ransom's ill- +bred treatment of her. Nobody was near; her father and mother +both gone out; and Daisy sat upon the porch with all sorts of +resentful thoughts and words boiling up in her mind. She did +not believe half of what her brother had said; was sure her +father had given no order interfering with her proceedings; +and she determined to wait upon the porch till he came home, +and so she would have a good opportunity of letting him know +the right and the wrong of the case. Ransom deserved it, as +she truly said to herself. And then Daisy sorrowed over her +lost expedition, and her missing strawberry baskets. What +should she do? for the next morning would find work enough of +its own at home, and nobody else could choose the baskets to +please her. Ransom deserved + +In the midst of the angry thoughts that were breaking one over +the other in Daisy's mind, there suddenly came up the +remembrance of some words she had read that day or the day +before. "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me and I +forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not +unto thee, until seven times, but until seventy times seven." +This brought Daisy up short; her head which had been leaning +on her hands suddenly straightened itself up. What did those +words mean? There could be no doubt, for with the question +came the words in the Lord's Prayer which she knew well, but +had never felt till then. Forgive Ransom out and out? say +nothing about it? not tell her father, nor make her +grievance at all known to Ransom's discomfiture? Daisy did +not want to yield. He _deserved_ to be reproved and ashamed and +made to do better. It was the first time that a real conflict +had come up in her mind between wrong and right; and now that +she clearly saw what was right, to her surprise she did not +want to do it! Daisy saw both facts. There was a power in her +heart that said, "No, I will not forgive," to the command from +a greater power that bade her do it. Poor Daisy! it was her +first view of her enemy; the first trial that gave her any +notion of the fighting that might be necessary to overcome +him. Daisy found she could not overcome him. She was fain to +go, where she had just begun to learn she might go, "to the +Strong for strength." She ran away from the porch to her room, +and kneeled down and prayed that the King would give her help +to keep His commandments. She was ashamed of herself now; but +so obstinate was her feeling of displeasure against her +brother, that even after she thought she had forgiven him, +Daisy would not go downstairs again nor meet him nor her +father, for fear she should speak words that she ought not, or +fail of a perfectly gentle and kind manner. + +But what to do about her baskets? A bright and most business- +like thought suddenly came into her head. The breakfast-hour +was always late; by being a little earlier than usual she +could have plenty of time to go to Crum Elbow and return +before the family were assembled. Splendid! Daisy went down +the back stairs, and gave her orders in such a way that they +should not reach Ransom's ear. If not put on the alert he was +sure to be down to breakfast last of anybody. So Daisy went to +bed and to sleep with her mind at rest. + +It was so pleasant when she came out at half past six the next +morning, that Daisy almost thought it was the prettiest time +of all. + +The morning air smelt so fresh, with the scent of the trees +and flowers coming through the dew; and the light, was so cool +and clear, not like the hot glow of later hours, that Daisy +felt like dancing for very gladness. Then it was such a stroke +of business to go to Crum Elbow before breakfast! + +The pony and the chaise came up presently, and Sam and the +black pony, all right, and every one of them looking more +brisk and fresh than usual. And off they went; under the +boughs of the dew-bright trees, where the birds seemed to be +as glad as Daisy, to judge by the songs they were singing; and +by and by out from the beautiful grounds of Melbourne, into +the road. It was pleasanter there, Daisy thought, than she had +ever seen it. The fields looked more gay in that clear early +light, and the dust was kept down by the freshness in the air. +It was delightful; and Loupe never went better. Daisy was a +very good little driver, and now the pony seemed to understand +the feeling in her fingers and waddled along at a goodly rate. + +Crum Elbow was not a great many miles off, and in due time +they reached it. But Daisy found that other people kept +earlier hours than her father and mother at Melbourne. She saw +the farmers were getting to work as she went on; and in the +houses of the village there were signs that everybody was +fully astir to the business of the day. It was a scattering +village; the houses and the churches stood and called to each +other across great spaces of fields and fences between; but +just where the crossing of two roads made a business point, +there was a little more compactness. There was the baker's, +and the post-office, and two stores and various other houses, +and a blacksmith's shop. Up to the corner where the principal +store stood, came the pony and his mistress, and forthwith out +came Mr. Lamb the storekeeper, to see what the little pony +chaise wanted to take home; but Daisy must see for herself, +and she got out and went into the store. + +"Baskets," said Mr. Lamb. "What sort of baskets?" + +"Baskets to hold strawberries little baskets," said Daisy. + +"Ah! strawberry-baskets. That, ma'am, is the article." + +Was it? Daisy did not think so. The storekeeper had showed her +the kind of baskets commonly used to hold strawberries for the +market; containing about half a pint. She remarked they were +not large enough. + +"No, ma'am? They are the kind generally used regular +strawberry-baskets we have sold 'em nearly all out, but +we've got a few left." + +"They are not large enough, nor pretty enough," repeated +Daisy. + +"They'll look pretty when they get the strawberries in them," +said the storekeeper, with a knowing look at her. "But here's +a kind, ma'am, are a little neater maybe you would like +these What do you want, child?" + +There had come into the store just after Daisy a little poor- +looking child, who had stood near, watching what was going on. +Daisy turned to look at her as Mr. Lamb's question was thrown +at her over the counter, in a tone very different from his +words to herself. She saw a pale, freckled, pensive-faced +little girl, in very slim clothing, her dress short and +ragged, and feet bare. The child had been looking at her and +her baskets, but now suddenly looked away to the shopkeeper. + +"Please, sir, I want " + +"There! stop," said Mr. Lamb; "don't you see I'm busy. I can't +attend to you just now; you must wait. Are these baskets +better, ma'am?" he said, coming back to Daisy and a smooth +voice. + +Daisy felt troubled, but she tried to attend to her business. +She asked the price of the baskets. + +"Those first I showed you, ma'am, are three pence apiece +these are sixpence. This is quite a tasty basket," said Mr. +Lamb, balancing one on his forefinger. "Being open, you see, +it shows the fruit through. I think these might answer your +purpose." + +"What are those?" said Daisy, pointing to another kind. + +"Those, ma'am, are not strawberry baskets." + +"But please let me see one. What is the price?" + +"These fancy baskets, ma'am, you know, are another figure. +These are not intended for fruit. These are eighteen pence +apiece, ma'am." + +Daisy turned the baskets and the price over. They were very +neat! they would hold as many berries as the sixpenny ones, +and look pretty too, as for a festival they should. The +sixpenny ones were barely neat they had no gala look about +them at all. While Daisy's eye went from one to the other, it +glanced upon the figure of the poor, patient, little waiting +girl who stood watching her. "If you please, Mr. Lamb," she +said, "will you hear what this little girl has to say? while +I look at these." + +"What do you want, child?" + +The answer came very low, but though Daisy did not want to +listen she could not help hearing. + +"Mother wants a pound of ham, sir." + +"Have you brought the money for the flour?" + +"No, sir mother'll send it." + +"We don't cut our hams any more," said the storekeeper. "Can't +sell any less than a whole one and that's always cash. +There! Go, child I can't cut one for you." + +Daisy looked after the little ragged frock as it went out of +the door. The extreme mystery of some people being rich and +some people poor, struck her anew, and perhaps something in +her look as it came back to the storekeeper made him say, + +"They're very poor folks, Miss Randolph the mother's sickly, +and I should only lose my money. They came and got some flour +of me yesterday without paying for it and it's necessary to +put a stop to that kind of thing at once. Don't you think that +basket'll suit, ma'am?" + +Baskets? and what meant those words which had been over and +over in Daisy's mind for the few days past? "Whatsoever ye +would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Her +mind was in great confusion. + +"How much does a ham cost, Mr. Lamb?" + +"Sixteen pence a pound, ma'am," said the storekeeper rather +dryly, for he did not know but Daisy was thinking a reproof to +him. + +"But how many pounds are there in a ham?" + +"Just as it happens, ma'am sometimes twenty, and from there +down to ten." + +"Then how much does a whole ham cost?" said Daisy, whose +arithmetic was not ready. + +"A ham of fifteen pounds, ma'am, would be about two dollars +and forty cents." + +Daisy stood looking at the baskets, and thinking how much +money she would have over if she took the sixpenny ones. She +wanted twenty baskets; she found that the difference of price +between the plain and the pretty would leave her twenty +shillings in hand. Just enough! thought Daisy, and yet, how +could she go to a strange house and offer to give them a ham? +She thought she could not. If she had known the people; but as +it was Daisy bought the pretty baskets and set off +homewards. + +"Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even +so to them" Daisy could see nothing along the road but those +words. "That is my King's command to me and those poor +people have got no breakfast. If I was in that little girl's +place, I would _like_ to have it given to me. But those other +baskets would they do? I could make them do somehow Nora +and I could dress them up with greens and flowers!" + +The pony chaise stopped. Sam came up alongside. + +"Sam, take those baskets back to the store. I am going back +there." + +Round came the chaise, and in five minutes more they were at +the Crum Elbow corner again, for Daisy's heart-burning had not +let her go far. Mr. Lamb was exceedingly mystified, as it was +very unusual for young ladies like this one to come buying +whole hams and riding off with them. However, he made no +objections to the exchange, being a gainer by ten cents; for +Daisy had asked for a ham of fifteen pounds. + +Then Daisy enquired the way to the girl's house, and her name, +and set off in a new direction. It was not far; a plain little +brown house, with a brown gate a few yards from the door. +Daisy got out of the chaise and opened the gate, and there +stood still and prayed a little prayer that God would help her +not to feel foolish or afraid when she was trying to do right. +Then she went up to the door and knocked. Somebody said in a +very uninviting tone of voice, "Come in!" + +It was hard for Daisy; she had expected that somebody would +open the door, but now she must go in and face all that was +there. However, in she went. There was a poor room to be sure, +with not much in it. A woman was taking some hot bread, just +baked, out of a little cooking stove. Daisy saw the little +girl standing by; it was the right place. + +"Well!" said the woman, looking up at Daisy from her stove +oven "what is it?" She looked pale and unhappy, and her +words were impatient. Daisy was half afraid. + +"I am Daisy Randolph" she began, gently. + +"Go on," said the woman, as Daisy hesitated. + +"I was in Mr. Lamb's store just now, when your little girl +came to buy some ham." + +"Well! what then?" + +"Mr. Lamb said he would not cut any, and she was obliged to go +without it." + +"Well, what have you to do with all that?" + +"I was sorry she was disappointed," said Daisy, more steadily; +"and as Mr. Lamb would not cut one for her I have brought a +whole one if you will please accept it. It is at the gate, +because the boy could not leave the horses." + +The woman set her bread on the floor, left the oven door open, +and rose to her feet. + +"What did you tell her, Hephzibah?" she said, in a threatening +voice. + +"I didn't tell her nothing," said the girl hurriedly "I +never spoke to her." + +"How did she know what you came for?" + +"I was so near," said Daisy, bravely, though she was afraid, +"that I couldn't help hearing." + +"Well, what business was it of yourn?" said the woman, turning +upon her. "If we are poor, we don't throw it in anybody's +face; and if you are rich, you may give charity to those that +ask it. _We_ never asked none of you and don't want it." + +"I am not rich," said Daisy, gently, though she coloured and +her eyes were full of tears; "I did not mean to offend you; +but I thought you wanted the ham, and I had money enough to +get it. I am very sorry you won't have it." + +"Did Mr. Lamb tell you we were beggars?" + +"No, not at all." + +"Then what put into your head to come bringing a ham here? who +told you to do it?" + +"Nobody told me," said Daisy. "Yes there did, though. The Lord +Jesus Christ told me to do it, ma'am." + +"What do you mean?" said the woman, suddenly sobering as if +she was struck. + +"That's all, ma'am," said Daisy. "He had given me the money to +buy the ham, and I heard that your little girl wanted it. And +I remembered His commandment, to do to others what I would +like they should do to me I didn't mean to offend you." + +"Well, I ain't offended," said the woman. "I s'pose you didn't +mean no harm; but we have some feelings as well as other +folks. Folks may work, and yet have feelings. And if I could +work, things would be well enough; but I've been sick, miss, +and I can't always get work that I would like to do and when +I can get it, I can't always do it," she added with a sigh. + +Daisy wanted to go, but pity held her fast. That poor, pale, +ragged child, standing motionless opposite her! Daisy didn't +venture to look much, but she saw her all the same. + +"Please keep the ham this time!" she broke out, bravely, "I +won't bring another one!" + +"Did nobody send you?" said the woman, eyeing her keenly. + +"No," said Daisy, "except the Lord Jesus He sent me." + +"You're a kind little soul!" said the woman, "and as good a +Christian as most of 'em I guess. But I won't do that. I'd die +first! unless you'll let me do some work for you and make it +up so." There was relenting in the tone of these last words. + +"Oh, that will do," said Daisy, gladly. "Then will you let +your little girl come out and get the ham? because the boy +cannot leave the horses. Good-bye, Mrs. Harbonner." + +"But stop!" cried the woman "you hain't told me what I am to +do for you." + +"I don't know till I get home and ask there. What would you +like to do?" + +"My work is tailoring I learnt that trade; but beggars +mustn't be choosers. I can do other things plain sewing, and +washing, and cleaning, and dairy work; anything I _can_ do." + +Daisy said she would bring her word, and at last got off; +without her ham, and in glee inexpressible. "They will have +some for breakfast," she said to herself; for there had been +something in little Hephzibah's eye as she received the great +ham in her arms, that went through and through Daisy's heart +and almost set her to crying. She was _very_ glad to get away +and to be in the pony chaise again, driving home, and she +almost wondered at her own bravery in that house. She hardly +knew herself; for true it was, Daisy had considered herself as +doing work not of her own choosing while she was there; she +felt in her Master's service, and so was bold where for her +own cause she would have shrunk away. "But they have got +something for breakfast! I think mine will be good when I get +it," said Daisy. + +Daisy, however, fell into a great muse upon the course of her +morning's experience. To do as she would be done by, now +seemed not quite so easy as she had thought; since it was +plain that her notions and those of some other people were not +alike on the subject. How should she know what people would +like? When in so simple a matter as hunger, she found that +some would prefer starving to being fed. It was too deep a +question for Daisy. She had made a mistake, and she rather +thought she should make more mistakes; since the only way she +could see straight before her was the way of the command, and +the way of duty, therefore; and she was very much inclined to +think, besides, that in that way her difficulties would be +taken care of for her. It had been so this morning. Mrs. +Harbonner and she had parted on excellent terms and the +gleam in that poor child's eyes! + + +CHAPTER V. + +STRAWBERRIES. + + +Daisy was so full of her thoughts that she never perceived two +gentlemen standing at the foot of the hall steps to receive +her. Not till Loupe in his best style had trotted up the road +and stopped, and she had risen to throw down her reins. Then +Daisy started a little. One gentleman touched his cap to her, +and the other held out his hands to help her to alight. + +"You are just in time for breakfast, Miss Randolph. Is that +the coach that was made out of a pumpkin?" + +Daisy shook hands with the other gentleman, and made no +answer. + +"I had always heard," went on the first, "that the young +ladies at the North were very independent in their habits; but +I had no idea that they went to market before breakfast." + +"Sam," said Daisy, "take the baskets to Joanna." + +"What is in the baskets? eggs? or butter? or vegetables? +Where do you go to market?" + +"To New York, sir," said Daisy. + +"To New York! And have you come from there this morning? Then +that is certainly also the pony that was once a rat! it's a +witchcraft concern altogether." + +"No sir," said Daisy, "I don't go to market." + +"Will you excuse me for remarking, that you just said you +did?" + +"No, sir, I didn't mean that _I_ went." + +"How are gentlemen to understand you, in the future experience +of life, if you are in the habit of saying what you do not +mean?" + +"I am not in the habit of it," said Daisy, half laughing, for +she knew her questioner. He was a handsome young man, with a +grave face and manner through all his absurd speeches; dressed +rather picturesquely; and altogether a striking person in +Daisy's eyes. To her relief, as they reached the hall her +mother appeared. + +"Come in to breakfast, Gary Daisy, run and get yourself +ready." + +And Daisy went, in great glee on various accounts. When she +came down, everybody was at table; and for a little while she +was permitted to eat her breakfast in peace. Daisy felt +wonderfully happy. Such a pleasant breakfast, for the talk +among the elders went on very briskly; such pleasant work done +already, such pleasant work to do all through the day; nothing +but joy seemed to be in the air. + +"And what did you get at market, Daisy?" suddenly asked the +gentleman whom her mother called "Gary." + +"I went to buy baskets," said Daisy, concisely. + +"What else did you get at market?" + +"I didn't go to market, sir." + +"She told me she did" said Mr. Gary, looking at her father. + +"Did you buy anything else, Daisy?" said her father, +carelessly. + +"Papa," said Daisy, colouring, "Mr. McFarlane asked me, I +thought, where we went to market, and I told him New York. I +did not mean that I went myself." + +"Didn't you get anything but baskets?" said Mr. McFarlane +mischievously. + +"Papa," said Daisy, making a brave push, "if I only spend what +you give me for my birthday, don't you think it would be +considerate in Mr. McFarlane not to ask me any more?" But this +speech set the gentlemen to laughing. + +"Daisy, you make me curious," said her father. "Do you think +it would be inconsiderate in _me_ to ask?" + +"Papa, I think it would." + +"Answer, Daisy, directly, and don't be ridiculous," said her +mother. + +Daisy's face clouded, coloured, and the tears came into her +eyes. + +"Answer, Daisy, since it is put so," said her father, gravely. + +"I bought a ham, papa." + +But the shout that was raised at this was so uproarious that +Daisy was almost overcome. She would certainly have made her +escape, only she knew such a thing would not be permitted. She +sat still, and bore it as well as she could. + +"The baskets held eggs, no doubt," said Captain Drummond, the +other gentleman. + +"Roast potatoes would be better for your Irish friends, +Daisy," said McFarlane. "Ham and eggs is good for the Yankees. +It would be the best plan to make a fire out-of-doors and let +each one cook for himself, according to his country. How do +you expect to please everybody?" + +"Come here, Daisy," said her father, kindly, and he put his +arm round her and kissed her; "did you have money enough for +your ham and your other purchases too?" + +"Plenty, papa," said Daisy, gratefully. + +"And why didn't you go yesterday afternoon, as I thought you +intended?" Daisy's and Ransom's eyes met. + +"Papa, it was a great deal pleasanter this morning than it +would have been then; I never had such a nice ride." + +"And what do you want done now? Is your table ready?" + +"It will be ready Mr. Stilton is getting it ready." + +"Who is invited, Daisy?" inquired Mr. McFarlane. "Do you +intend to receive any except those who are not your friends?" + +"I don't think those of a different class had better come," +said Daisy. + +"Daisy is quite right," said Mrs. Randolph. + +"Do you not intend to show yourself?" said her husband, with +some meaning. + +"I? No! Certainly not. At her age, since you choose to indulge +Daisy in her whim, she may do what she pleases." + +Was this what the man meant by Randolph's people being "stuck +up?" Daisy looked grave, and her father bade her run away and +attend to her preparations. + +Even then she went slowly and a little puzzled, till she +reached the housekeeper's room; and there the full beauty of +the occasion burst upon her. Such nice things as Joanna was +making ready! + +Daisy ran off at full speed to Logan to get a supply of greens +and flowers to trim her baskets. Nora was coming to help her +and be with her all day, and arrived just in time. With aprons +and baskets full, the two children sought a hidden spot on the +bank under the trees, and there sat down, with strawberry +baskets in one heap, and the sprigs and leaves to dress them +in another. + +"Now throw off your hat," said Daisy. "It's shady enough, and +you'll feel cooler. Now Nora. how shall we do? You try one, +and I'll try one; that will be best; and then we can see. I +want them to look very pretty, you know; and they are to be +filled with strawberries to send home to the children; if we +make them very nice they will go on the table, I think, and +help dress it up." + +For a time there was comparative silence, while the little +hands turned and twisted the mosses and bits of larch and +cedar and hemlock in and out of the openings of the baskets. +It was not found easy at first to produce a good effect; hands +were unused to the work; and Nora declared after half an hour +she believed the baskets would look best plain, just as they +were. But Daisy would not give up. She grew very warm indeed +with the excitement of her efforts, but she worked on. By and +by she succeeded in dressing a basket so that it looked rich +with green; and then a bit or two of rosebuds or heath or +bright yellow everlasting made the adornment gay and pretty +enough. It was taken for a model; and from that time tongues +and fingers worked together, and heat was forgotten. + +"Isn't this pleasant!" exclaimed Daisy at length, dropping her +work into her lap. "Isn't it just as pleasant as it can be, +Nora?" + +"Yes," said Nora, working away. + +"Just see the river it's so smooth. And look up into the +leaves; how pretty they are! and every one of them is +trembling a little; not one of them is still, Nora. How +beautiful the green is, with the sun shining through! Wouldn't +you like to be a bird up there?" + +"No," said Nora; "I'd rather be down here." + +"I think it would be nice to be a bird," said Daisy; "it must +be pleasant up in those branches only the birds don't know +anything, I suppose. What do you think heaven must be like, +Nora?" + +"Daisy, you're so funny. What makes you think about heaven?" + +"Why, you know," said Daisy slowly, "I expect to go there. Why +shouldn't I think about it?" + +"But you won't go there till you die," said Nora. + +"I don't see what that has to do with my thinking about it. I +shall die, some time." + +"Yes, but Daisy, don't be so queer. You are not going to die +now." + +"I don't know about that," said Daisy; "but I like to think of +heaven. Jesus is there. Isn't it pleasant, Nora, that He can +see us always, and knows what we are doing?" + +"Daisy, Marmaduke said he wished you would invite him to your +party." + +The turn Nora wished to give to Daisy's thoughts took effect +for the moment. It was grievous; to wish so much for her +friend and to have him join in the wish, and all in vain. But, +characteristically, Daisy said nothing. She was only silent a +moment. + +"Nora, did you ever hear Mr. Dinwiddie say that poor people +disliked rich people?" + +"No. They don't dislike him, I know." + +"Is Mr. Dinwiddie rich too?" + +"Of course he is," said Nora. + +"I shouldn't think anybody would dislike him," said Daisy; +"but then he never seemed like rich people." She went into a +muse about it. + +"Well, he is," said Nora. "He has got as much money as he +wants, I know." + +"Nora, you know the parable of the servants and the talents?" + +"Yes." + +"Are you one of the good servants?" + +Nora looked up very uneasily. Daisy's face was one of quiet +inquiry. Nora fidgeted. + +"Daisy, I wish you would be like yourself, as you used to be, +and not talk so." + +"But _are_ you, Nora?" + +"No, I don't suppose I am! I couldn't do much." + +"But would you like to have the King say to you what He said +to the servant who had one talent and didn't do anything?" + +"Daisy, I don't want to have you talk to me about it," said +Nora, a little loftily. "I have got Marmaduke to talk to me, +and that's as much as I want." + +"_I_ mean to be one of them!" said Daisy gently. "Jesus is the +king; and it makes me so glad to think of it! so glad, Nora. +He is my King, and I belong to Him; and I _love_ to give Him all +I've got; and so would you, Nora. I only want to find out all +I have got, that I may give it to Him." + +Nora went on very assiduously with the covering of the +baskets, and Daisy presently followed her example. But the +talk was checked for a little. + +"Nora, Jesus is _your_ King, though," said Daisy again. "He made +everything, and He made you; and He _is_ your King. I wish you +would be His servant too." + +Daisy was greatly astonished at the effect of this speech; for +Nora without speaking arose, left her baskets and greens on +the ground, and set off from the spot with an air that said +she did not mean to return to it. Daisy was too bewildered to +speak, and only looked after her till she was too far to be +recalled. What was the matter? Greatly puzzled and dismayed, +she tried to find a possible answer to this question. Left +alone on her birthday in the midst of her business, by her +best friend, what could have brought about so untoward a +combination of circumstances? Daisy could not understand it; +and there was no time to go after Nora to get an +understanding. The baskets must be finished. Luckily there did +not much remain to be done, for Daisy was tired. As soon as +her work was out of her hand, she went to see about the +success of her table. It was done; a nice long, neat table of +boards, on trestles; and it was fixed under a beautiful grove +of trees, on the edge of a bank from which the view over the +grounds was charming. Mr. Stilton was just gathering up his +tools to go away, and looked himself so smiling and bright +that Daisy concluded there was reason to hope her party was +going to be all right; so with fresh spirit she went in to her +own dinner. + +After that it was busy times. The long table was to be spread +with a table-cloth, and then the cups and plates in proper +number and position, leaving the places for the baskets of +strawberries. It was a grave question whether they should be +arranged in a pyramid, with roses filling the spaces, or be +distributed all round the table. Daisy and Joanna debated the +matter, and decided finally on the simpler manner; and Logan +dressed some splendid bouquets for the centre of the table +instead. Daisy saw that the maids were bringing from the house +pretty china dishes and cups; and then she ran away to get +dressed herself. Just as this was almost done she saw her +mother driving off from the house with several gentlemen in +her party. It suddenly struck Daisy, who was to do the honours +of the strawberry feast? She ran down stairs to find her +father; she could not find him, he was out; so Daisy went to +see that the setting the table was going on all right, and +then came and planted herself in the library, to wait for Mr. +Randolph's coming in. And while she waited eagerly, she began +to think about its being her birthday. + +"Nine years old," thought Daisy; "there isn't much of my life +passed. Perhaps, if I live a good while, I may do a great deal +to serve the Lord. I wonder if I know all the things I can do +now! all my 'talents'? I am afraid of missing some of them for +not knowing. Everything I have, Mr. Dinwiddie said, so Nora +said, is a talent of some sort or other. How strange Nora +was to-day! But I suppose she will come and tell me what was +the matter. Now about the talents I wish papa would come! +This birthday was one talent, and I thought it would be a good +thing if papa's people could be made to know that he is not +'stuck up,' if he is rich, but if neither he nor mamma come +out to speak to them at all, I wonder what they will think?" + +Daisy ran out again to view the table. Yes, it was looking +very handsome. Joanna was there herself, ordering and +directing; and china and glass, and flowers, and silver, made +a very brilliant appearance, though none of the dishes were on +the table as yet. + +"But who is going to pour out the coffee and the tea, Joanna?" +said Daisy. "Aren't you going to dress and come and do it for +me?" + +"La! Miss Daisy, I don't see how I can. I expect the best plan +will be to have you do it yourself. That will give the most +satisfaction, I guess." + +"Joanna! I don't know how." + +"Yes, you do, Miss Daisy; you'll have the coffee urn, and all +you have to do is to turn the faucet, you know; and Sam will +wait upon you, and if you want tea poured out, he can lift it +for you. It'll taste twice as good to all the party if you do +it." + +"Do you think so, Joanna?" + +"I don't want to think about it," said Joanna; "I know without +thinking." + +"But, Joanna, I can't reach the things." + +"I'll have a high seat fixed for you. I know what you want." + +Daisy stood watching; it was such a pleasure to see Joanna's +nice preparations. And now came on the great dishes of +strawberries, rich and sweet to the eye and the smell; and +then handsome pitchers filled with milk and ice-water, in a +range down the table. Then came great fruit cakes and pound +cakes, superbly frosted and dressed with strawberries and +rosebuds; Joanna had spared no pains. Great store of sliced +bread and butter too, and plates of ham and cold beef, and +forms of jelly. And when the dressed baskets of strawberries +were set in their places all round the table, filling up the +spaces, there was a very elegant, flowery, and sparkling +appearance of a rich feast. Why was not Nora there? and with +the next thought Daisy flew back to the library to find her +father. He was found. + +"Oh, papa," she said, gently, though she had rushed in like a +little summer wind, "are you going to come to the feast?" + +"What for, my dear?" + +"Papa, they will all like it; they will be pleased." + +"I think they will enjoy themselves better without me." + +"Papa, I am sure they would be pleased." + +"I should only make it a constraint for them, Daisy. I do not +think they will want anything but the strawberries +especially if _you_ look at them." + +"But mamma is not here to speak to them either, papa." + +"You think somebody must speak to them, eh? I don't think I +can make speeches, Daisy," said Mr. Randolph, stretching +himself at ease in a chaise longue. "But perhaps I may step +down and look at them by and by, my dear." + +There was no more to be done, Daisy knew. She went slowly off +over the grounds, meditating whether the people would be +satisfied with so very at-arms'-length an entertainment. Would +_this_ draw the poor nearer to the rich? or the rich nearer to +the poor? Daisy had an instinctive, delicate sense of the +want, which she set herself to do the best her little self +could to supply. "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to +you" that sweet and most perfect rule of high breeding was +moving her now; and already the spirit of another rule, which +in words she did not yet know, was beginning to possess her +heart in its young discipleship; she was ready "to do good to +all men, even as she had opportunity." + +She went slowly back to the table. Nobody come yet. Joanna was +there, putting some last touches. Suddenly a new idea struck +Daisy, as she saw what a long table it was. + +"Joanna there must be somebody else to wait. Sam can never +do it all." + +"He'll have to. James is busy, and Hiram. Sam's all that can +be spared; and that's as much as ever." + +"But I must have more, Joanna. Can't some of the maids come?" + +"To wait? they wouldn't, Miss Daisy." + +"Yes, they would, Joanna. You must make them, Joanna. Send +Maria and Ophelia down here, and I'll tell them what I want of +them. And quick, Joanna; and don't you tell them, please, what +I want." + +"I hope you'll grow up to marry the President, some day," said +Joanna, walking off; "you could help him if he got puzzled!" + +Poor Daisy almost felt as if she had the affairs of a nation +on her hands, when she saw Mr. and Mrs. Stilton, dressed in +their best, coming near through the trees. But the spirit of +kindness was so thoroughly at work in Daisy, that it made her +reception of her guests just what it ought to be, and she was +delighted a few minutes after to see that their eyes were +kindling with gratification. Logan looked at the table as if +he had some right to take an interest in it; the hay-makers +were open-mouthed; the women in a flutter of ribands and +propriety; and the various people who had come upon the ground +with doubtful expectancy, sat down to table proud and gay. It +was a pretty sight! and prettier was the sight of little Daisy +perched up at one end of the board, and with tremulous fingers +filling cups of coffee, and ordering cups of tea. + +"Miss Daisy," said Mrs. Stilton, "it's too much trouble for +you to fill all them cups sha'n't I come there, and take the +responsibility? if you would delegate me." + +Gladly Daisy agreed, slipped off her high chair, and saw Mrs. +Stilton's full portly figure take the place. But Daisy's +labours were not ended. She saw one of the Irish labourers +sitting with his eyes straight before him, and nothing on his +plate for them to look at. Daisy went round. It was her feast; +she felt she must do the honours. + +"Will you have a cup of coffee?" said a soft little voice at +the man's elbow. He started. + +"Ach! Sure Miss, I wouldn't be troublesome." + +"It's no trouble. Will you have some tea or some coffee?" + +" 'Dade, sorrow a drop ever I tuk of ary one of 'em but the one +time, plase yer ladyship. It's too good for me, sure; that's +why it don't agree wid me, Miss." + +Very much puzzled by the confidential little nod with which +this information was communicated, Daisy yet felt she could +not give up the matter. + +"Then what will you have? some ham? or some strawberries?" + +"Sure I'll do very well, niver fear, plase yer ladyship; don't +trouble yerself. The angels wouldn't want something purtier to +eat, than what we have, Miss!" + +Daisy gave up in despair, and charged Sam to see that the man +had his supper. Then, without asking any more questions, she +carried a cup of coffee down the table to a meek-looking old +woman who likewise seemed to be in a state of bewilderment. It +was the mother of Michael the gate-keeper. She started a +little too, as Daisy's hand set down her cup, and half rose +from her chair. + +"Blessings on ye, for a dear little lady! It's a wonder to see +the likes of you. The saints above bless the hand and the fut +that wasn't above doing that same! and may ye always have +plenty to wait on ye, and the angels of heaven above all!" + +"Sit down, Mrs. Sullivan," said Daisy. "Do you like coffee?" + +"Do I like it! It's better to me nor anything else in the +worruld, when it wouldn't be a sup o' summat now and thin, if +I'd have the rheumatiz." + +"A sup of what?" + +"Medicine, dear, medicine that I take whin the doctor says +it's good for me. May you niver know the want of it, nor of +anything in the wide worruld! and niver know what it is to be +poor!" + +Daisy managed to get the old woman to eat, supplying her with +various things, every one of which was accepted with "Thank +you, Miss," and "Blessings on ye!" and turning away from her +at last, saw her handmaids approaching from the house. The +girls, however disposed to stand upon their dignity, could not +refuse to do what their little mistress was doing; and a +lively time of it they and Daisy had for the next hour, with +all the help Sam and Mrs. Stilton could give them. Daisy saw +that strawberries and cream, cake and coffee, were thoroughly +enjoyed; she saw too that the honour of being served off +silver and china was duly felt. If her father had but come out +to say a kind word! but he did not come. His little substitute +did all a substitute could do; and at last when everybody +seemed in full tide of merrymaking, she stole away that they +might have no constraint upon it. Before she had got far, she +was startled by a noise behind her, and looking round saw that +all the tableful had risen to their feet. The next instant +there was a great shout. Daisy could not imagine what they +were doing, but she saw that they were all looking at her. She +came back a step or two. Now there was another shout greater +than the other; the women flourished handkerchiefs, the men +waved their arms above their heads. "Long life to ye!" "Good +luck to ye forever!" "Blessings on ye for a lady!" "Many +thanks to ye, Miss Daisy!" "May ye niver want as good!" +"Hurrah for the flower of Melbourne!" Shouts various and +confused at last made Daisy comprehend they were cheering _her_. +So she gave them a little courtesy or two, and walked off +again as fast as she thought it was proper to go. + +She went home and to the library, but found nobody there; and +sat down to breathe and rest; she was tired. Presently Ransom +came in. + +"Hallo, Daisy! is nobody here?" + +"No." + +"Have you seen your things yet?" + +"My things? what things?" + +"Why, your _things_ your birthday things. Of course you +haven't, or you'd know. Never mind, you'll know what I mean by +and by. I say, Daisy." + +"What?" + +"You know when papa asked you this morning why you didn't go +yesterday to Crum Elbow? " + +"Yes." + +"Why didn't you tell him?" + +Daisy hesitated. Ransom was cutting a pencil vigorously, but +as she was silent he looked up. + +"Why didn't you tell him? did you tell him _afterwards?_" + +"Why, no, Ransom!" + +"Well, why didn't you? that's what I want to know. Didn't +you tell anybody?" + +"No, of course not." + +"Why didn't you, then?" + +"Ransom," said Daisy, doubtfully. + +"What? I think you're turned queer." + +"I don't know whether you'd understand me." + +"Understand _you!_ That's a good one! I couldn't understand _you!_ +I should rather like to have you try." + +"Well, I'll tell you," said Daisy. + +"Just do." + +"Ransom, you know who the Lord Jesus Christ is." + +"I used to; but I have forgotten." + +"Oh, Ransom!" + +"Come, go ahead, and don't palaver." + +"I am His servant," said Daisy; "and He has bid me do to other +people what I would like to have them do to me." + +"He has bid you! What do you mean?" + +"You know what I mean. It is in the Bible." + +"What's in the Bible?" + +"_That;_ that I must do to other people what I would like to +have them do to me." + +"And I suppose you thought I wouldn't like to have you tell? +Well you're out, for I don't care a shot about it there! and +you may tell just as fast as you're a mind to." + +"Oh, Ransom! you know " + +"What do I know?" + +"It's no matter," said little Daisy, checking herself. + +"Go ahead, and finish! What is the use of breaking off? That's +the way with girls; they don't know how to speak English. +You may just as well say the whole of something ugly, as the +half of it." + +If Daisy was tempted to comply with the request, she did not +give way to the temptation; for she was silent; and in a mood +less pleasant than her own apparently, Ransom took himself out +of her presence. Left alone, Daisy presently curled herself +down on a couch, and being very tired fell asleep. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE EPERGNE. + + +Daisy slept on, until a bustle and sounds of voices and +laughter in the hall, and boots clattering over the marble and +up the staircase, at last found their way into her ears. + +The riding party had got home. Daisy sat up and rubbed her +eves and looked out. + +The sun was low, and shining from the western mountains over +the tops of all the trees. It was certainly near dinner-time; +the cool glittering look of the light on the trees and shrubs +could not be earlier than that. What had become of the +strawberry feast? It seemed like a dream. Daisy shook off the +remains of her sleep and hurried out by one of the glass doors +to go and see. She ran down to the bank where the table was +spread. It was a feast over. The company were gone, so were +the baskets of strawberries; yes, and the very bouquets of +flowers had been taken away. That was a sign of pleasure. +Nothing was left but the disordered table. Daisy hoped the +people had had a good time, and slowly went back towards the +house. As she came near the library window she saw her father, +standing in it. + +"Well, Daisy?" + +"Well, papa." + +"How has the feast gone off?" + +"I don't know, papa. There's nothing left but the boards and +the cups and saucers." + +Mr. Randolph sat down and drew his little daughter up to his +side. + +"Have you enjoyed it, Daisy?" + +"Yes papa I have enjoyed it pretty well." + +"Only pretty well! for your birthday! Do you think now you +made a good choice, Daisy?" + +"Yes, sir I think I did." + +"What has been wanting? I am afraid your ham did not figure on +the board, if it is so empty?" + +Daisy did not answer, but her father, watching her, saw +something in her face which made him pursue the subject. + +"Did it?" + +"No, papa," said Daisy, colouring a little. + +"How was that?" + +"Joanna arranged everything that was to go on the table." + +"And left the ham out of the question? It seems to me that was +a mistake, though I am not much of a housekeeper. Why was +that?" + +"Papa," said Daisy, "do you think I would make a wrong use of +a ham?" + +Mr. Randolph laughed. "Why, Daisy, unless you are a finished +economist, that might be. Do you mean that I am not to know +the particular use made of this ham." + +"Papa, I wish you would not desire to know!" + +But Daisy's face was too much in earnest. "I think I cannot +grant that request," said her father. "You must tell me." + +Daisy looked distressed. But she dared not evade the order, +though she feared very much what might come of it. + +"I didn't buy the ham for the party, papa." + +"Then for what?" + +"I bought it, papa, for a little girl who was going without +her breakfast. She came to Mr. Lamb's to buy ham, and she had +no money, and he wouldn't let her have any." + +"And what became of your baskets?" + +"Oh, I got them, papa; I got cheaper ones; and Nora and I +dressed them with greens. I had money enough." + +Mr. Randolph took his little daughter on his knee, and softly +put down his lips to kiss her. + +"But Daisy, after all, why did you not go to Crum Elbow +yesterday afternoon, as you meant to do?" + +"Papa, this morning did better, for it was pleasanter." + +"Do you call that an answer?" said Mr. Randolph, who was still +softly kissing her. + +"Papa, if you would be so _very_ good as not to ask me that?" + +"I am not good at all, Daisy. I ask, and I mean to know." + +Daisy was in trouble. No entreaty was worth a straw after +that. She was puzzled how to answer. + +"Papa," she ventured, "I don't like to tell you, because +Ransom would not like I should." + +"Ransom's pleasure must give way to mine, Daisy." + +"He wanted the pony-chaise," said Daisy, looking very +downcast. + +"And you gave it him?" + +"No, sir." + +"What then? Daisy," said Mr. Randolph, bringing her head round +to face him, "tell me what I want to know without any more +questions." + +"He took the chaise, papa, that was all, so I went this +morning." + +"Ransom knew you wanted it?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then, Daisy, tell me further, why you did not give me this +information when I asked about your drive this morning at +breakfast?" + +"Papa, I thought Ransom would not like to have it told." + +"Were you afraid he would revenge himself in any way if you +did?" + +"Oh, no, papa! not at all." + +"Then what moved you to silence?" + +"Why, papa, I did not want to trouble Ransom. I was afraid you +would be displeased with him perhaps, if I told." + +"Were you not displeased when he took the chaise?" + +"Yes, papa," said Daisy, softly. + +"And had your displeasure all gone off by this morning?" + +"Yes, sir." + +Mr. Randolph was not quite satisfied. There was no doubting +Daisy; but he had reasons of his own for knowing that she had +not said to him quite all that she had confessed to her +brother. He would have liked the whole confession; but did not +see how he could get at it just now. He took a little gold +piece out of his pocket, and quietly slipped it into Daisy's +hand. + +"Papa! what is this for?" + +"For your poor woman, if you like. You can send it to her by +Sam." + +"Oh, thank you, papa! But, papa, she won't take it so she +will not take the least thing without working to pay for it." + +"How do you know?" + +"She told me so, papa." + +"Who told you so?" + +"The poor woman Mrs. Harbonner." + +"Where did you see her?" + +"I saw her at her house, papa." + +"Why did you go to her house?" + +"To take her the ham, sir." + +"And she told you she wouldn't have anything without doing +work for it eh?" + +"Yes, papa she wouldn't even take the ham any other way." + +"What work did you engage her to do, Daisy?" + +"I thought Joanna could find her some, papa." + +"Well, let Joanna manage it. You must not go there again, nor +into any strange house, Daisy, without my leave. Now go and +get ready for dinner, and your part of your birthday." + +Daisy went very soberly. To see Mrs. Harbonner and her +daughter again, and to do them all sorts of good, had been a +dream of hers, ever since the morning. Now this was shut off. +She was very sorry. How were the rich to do good to the poor, +if they never came together? A question which Daisy thought +about while she was dressing. Then she doubted how her feast +had gone; and she had been obliged to tell of Ransom. +Altogether, Daisy felt that doing good was a somewhat +difficult matter, and she let June dress her in very sober +silence. Daisy was elegantly dressed for her birthday and the +dinner. Her robe was a fine beautifully embroidered muslin, +looped with rose ribands on the shoulder and tied with a broad +rose-coloured sash round the waist. There was very little rose +in Daisy's cheeks, however; and June stood and looked at her +when she had done, with mingled satisfaction and +dissatisfaction. + +"You've tired yourself to-day, Miss Daisy, with making that +party for the men!" she said. + +"Have you done? Now, June, will you go away, please, and leave +me my room for a few minutes?" + +"Yes, Miss Daisy but it's most time for you to go down." + +June went, and Daisy locked her doors, and dropped on her +knees by her little bed. How was she to know what was right to +do? and still more, how was she to do it wisely and +faithfully? Little Daisy went to her stronghold, and asked for +help; and that she might know what her talents were. + +"Miss Daisy," said the voice of June at the door, "you are +wanted in the library." + +Down went Daisy in a hurry. There was her father; and there +also, to her great surprise, were Nora and Mr. Dinwiddie! + +"I have brought Nora to make her peace with you, Daisy," said +Mr. Dinwiddie. "I found her in great trouble because, she +said, you were offended with her. Will you love her again?" + +Daisy put her arms round Nora, who looked a little ashamed, +and gave her a very peaceful and reassuring kiss. The +gentlemen both smiled at her action. It was too graceful to +need the aid of words. + +"My mission is successful," said Mr. Dinwiddie. + +"But I was not offended the least bit, Mr. Dinwiddie," said +Daisy. + +"I believe it; but Nora thought you had so much reason, that +she would not come alone to make her apology." + +The young man looked towards Mr. Randolph, whose attention was +just then taken by somebody who had come to him on business. +He waited. + +"Won't you sit down, Mr. Dinwiddie." said Daisy. + +"I must go." + +"But I want to ask you a question, sir." + +Mr. Dinwiddie sat down. + +"Mr. Dinwiddie," said Daisy with a grave face, "what are my +talents?" + +"What is the question, Daisy? I do not understand." + +"You know, sir one servant had ten and another had five. +What are my talents?" + +"I do not know." + +"But how can I tell, Mr. Dinwiddie?" + +Then the young man's eyes glowed, as Daisy had a few times +seen them do before. + +"Ask the Lord, Daisy. See what His word tells you to do." + +"But Mr. Dinwiddie, I am little; I can't do much." + +"_You_ cannot do anything. But Jesus can use you, to do what He +pleases, if you will be His little servant. Give me that +spoon, Nora." + +"But, Marmaduke " + +"Yes I know," said her brother. He took from Nora's hand? +and unfolded from its wrapping-paper a very curious thing, +which he told Daisy was an Egyptian spoon. He did not give her +time to look at it, only he held it so that she saw what it +was. + +"You see that spoon, Daisy. It cannot do anything. But in your +hand it might carry drops of comfort to somebody's lips." + +Daisy looked earnestly at the spoon, then at the bright eyes +that were fixed on her; and taking his meaning, she smiled, a +bright, satisfied smile. It satisfied Mr. Dinwiddie too. He +wrapped up the spoon again, handed it to Nora, and rose up to +make his adieus to Mr. Randolph. + +"Daisy," whispered Nora, "this spoon is for you. Will you take +it for my birthday present? Marmaduke says it is very +handsome. It is his he gave it to me to give to you." + +"It is very, very old," said Mr. Dinwiddie, coming to Daisy. +"It was found in an old Egyptian tomb, and was made and put +there perhaps before the Israelites came out of Egypt. Good +bye!" + +He took Daisy's hand with a strong, kindly grasp, and went +away with his little sister just as the dinner-bell rang. +Daisy had not time to look at her present. She held it tight, +and went in to dinner with it in her hand. + +Daisy did not generally dine with her father and mother. To- +day was a great exception to the rule. Even to-day she was not +expected to eat anything till the dessert came on; she had had +her dinner; so she had the more time for other things. Her +place was by her mother; Captain Drummond on the other side, +and Gary McFarlane opposite. Then her aunt, Mrs. Gary, had +arrived, just an hour before dinner; and she and her children +and one or two other friends filled the table, and the talking +and laughing went round faster than the soup. Daisy looked and +listened, very much pleased to see her aunt and cousins, and +amused; though, as usual, in her quiet fashion, she gave no +sign of it. + +"How did that party come off, Daisy?" said Mr. Gary McFarlane. + +"What party?" said Mrs. Gary. + +"Daisy's birthday entertainment." + +"Daisy invited all the gardeners and haymakers to take supper +and strawberries with her, Aunt Gary," said Ransom. + +"What is that?" said Mrs. Gary, looking to her sister. + +"Ransom has stated the matter correctly." + +"Gardeners and haymakers! What was that for, Daisy?" + +"I thought it would give them pleasure, aunt Gary, " said +Daisy. + +"Give _them_ pleasure! of course, I suppose it would; but are we +to give everybody pleasure that we can? At that rate, why not +invite our footmen and chambermaids too? Why stop?" + +"I suppose that will be the next thing," said Mrs. Randolph. +"Daisy, you must not eat that cheese." + +"What's Daisy's notion?" said Mrs. Gary, appealing to her +brother-in-law. + +"A child's notion," said Mr. Randolph. "The worst you can say +of it is, that it is Arcadian." + +"How did it go off, Daisy?" said Gary McFarlane. + +"I don't know," said Daisy. "I think it went off pretty well." + +"How did the hob-nails behave themselves?" + +"They had lots of things to eat," said Ransom. "I don't +believe we shall have any strawberries for a day or two +ourselves." + +"Did you give them strawberries?" said Mrs. Gary. + +"A tableful," said Ransom; "and baskets and baskets to take +home." + +"Something new, " said Mrs. Gary, eating her salad. + +"But how did the company behave?" said Mr. McFarlane. + +"I saw no behaviour that was not proper," Daisy answered, +gravely. She thought as much could not be said of the present +company, seeing that servants were present. + +"What have you there, Daisy?" said her mother. + +"It is a birthday present, mamma. It is an Egyptian spoon." + +"An Egyptian spoon! Where did you get it?" + +"Mr. Dinwiddie I mean, Nora gave it to me." + +"What about Mr. Dinwiddie?" + +"Nothing, mamma." + +"Then why did you speak his name?" + +"I don't know. He brought Nora to see me just now." + +"Where did you see him?" + +"In the library." + +"Mr. Randolph" said the lady "did Mr. Dinwiddie call to +see you?" + +"He did me that honour," said Mr. Randolph; "but I think +primarily his visit was to Daisy." + +"Who is Mr. Dinwiddie?" said Mrs. Gary, seeing a contraction +in her sister's brow. "It's a Virginian name." + +"He is a fanatic," said Mrs. Randolph. "I don't know what else +he is." + +"Let us see the fanatic's spoon," said Gary McFarlane. +"Egyptian, is it, Daisy? Curious, upon my word!" + +"Beautiful!" said Captain Drummond, taking the spoon in his +turn across the table. "Beautiful! This is a nice piece of +carving and very old it undoubtedly is. This is the lotus, +Daisy this stem part of the spoon; and do you see, in the +bowl here is the carving of a lake, with fish in it?" + +"Is it?" said Daisy; "and what is a _lotus_, Captain Drummond?" + +"If you will put me in mind to-morrow, privately, I will tell +you about it," said he. + +"Let me look at that, Captain Drummond," said Mrs. Gary. +"Why, here's a duck's head at the end of the handle. What a +dear old thing! Who is this Mr. Dinwiddie, pray?" + +"The duck's bill makes the spoon, aunt Gary," said Daisy. + +"If you asked me _what_ he is, I have told you," said Mrs. +Randolph. + +"He is a young man, of good family I believe, spending the +summer with a neighbour of ours who is his relation," Mr. +Randolph answered. + +"What is he a fanatic about?" + +This question did not get an immediate answer; the +conversation diverged, and it was lost. Daisy's spoon made the +round of the company. It was greatly admired, both from its +oddness and from the beauty of its carving. + +"Daisy, I will buy this spoon of you," said her aunt. + +Daisy thought not; but she said, "With what, aunt Gary?" + +"With anything you please. Do you set a high value on it? What +is it worth?" + +Daisy hesitated; and then she said, "I think it is worth my +regard, aunt Gary!" + +She could not guess why there was a general little laugh round +the table at this speech. + +"Daisy, you are an original," said Mrs. Gary. "May I ask, why +this piece of old Egypt deserves your regard?" + +"I think anything does, aunt Gary, that is a gift," Daisy +said, a little shyly. + +"If your first speech sounded forty years old, your second +does not," said the lady. + +"Arcadian again, both of them," Mr. Randolph remarked. + +"You always take Daisy's part," said the lady briskly. But Mr. +Randolph let the assertion drop. + +"Mamma," said Daisy, "what is an original?" + +"Something your aunt says you are. Do you like some of this +_biscuit_, Daisy?" + +"If you please, mamma. And mamma, what do you mean by a +fanatic?" + +"Something that I will not have you," said her mother, with +knitting brow again. + +Daisy slowly eat her biscuit-glacι and wondered wondered +what it could be that Mr. Dinwiddie was, and that her mother +was determined she should not be. + +Mr. Dinwiddie was a friend of poor people was that what her +mother meant? He was a devoted, unflinching servant of Christ; + "so will I be," said Daisy to herself; "so I am now; for I +have given the Lord Jesus all I have got, and I don't want to +take anything back. Is that what mamma calls being a fanatic?" + Daisy's meditations were broken off; for a general stir +round the table made her look up. + +The table was cleared, and the servants were bringing on the +fruit; and with the fruit they were setting on the table a +beautiful old fashioned silver ιpergne, that was never used +but for great occasions. Generally it was adorned with fruit +and flowers; to-day it was empty, and the attendants proceeded +to arrange upon it very strange looking things; packages in +white paper, books, trinkets, what not; and in the middle of +all a little statuette of a Grecian nymph, which was a great +favourite of Daisy's. Daisy began to guess that the ιpergne +had something to do with her birthday. But the nymph? +perhaps she came there by her beauty to dignify this use made +of the stately old thing. However, she forgot all about +fanatics and Mr. Dinwiddie for the present. The looks and +smiles of the company were unmistakable. Who would speak +first? + +"How are you to reach the ιpergne, Daisy?" said her father. + +"Shall I be the medium?" said Mrs. Gary. "These things are to +travel up to Daisy, I suppose." + +"I will represent the rolling stock of this road, and +undertake to carry parcels safely," said Mr. McFarlane. "Any +message with the goods, Mrs. Gary?" + +"I believe they carry their own message with them," said the +lady; "or else I don't see what is the use of these little +white tickets. Where shall I begin, Mr. Randolph?" + +"I do not think the order of proceedings will be criticized, +provided it does not delay," said Daisy's father. + +"Then transmit this, Gary." + +"Literary freight" said Gary McFarlane, handing over to Daisy +a little parcel of books. Five or six little volumes, in +pretty binding Daisy looked eagerly to see what they might +be. "Marmion" "The Lady of the Lake" "Scott's Poetical +Works." + +"Oh, thank you, papa!" said Daisy, looking delighted. + +"Not me," said Mr. Randolph. "I am not to be thanked." + +"There's no name in them " said Daisy. + +"That's Preston's gift," said her aunt. Preston was Daisy's +oldest cousin; a fine boy of sixteen. + +"I like it so much, Preston!" said Daisy, sending a grateful +look down the table to where he sat. + +"Is Daisy fond of poetry?" inquired Mr. McFarlane, with a +grave look. + +"Very fond," Mrs. Randolph said. + +"Dangerous taste!" said Gary. "What is this new consignment?" + +"Something valuable take care of it." + +"To be taken with care right side up," said Gary, putting +before Daisy by a stretch of his long arm a little paper +covered package. Daisy's cheeks were beginning to grow pink. +She unfolded the package. + +A little box then white cotton then a gold bracelet. + +"Mamma? " said Daisy instantly. Mrs. Randolph stooped and +kissed her. "It's beautiful, mamma!" Daisy spoke very +earnestly; however, her face did not show the light of +pleasure which the first gift had called into it. + +"How did you know so well?" said Mr. McFarlane. "Mrs. +Randolph, I am afraid you are not literary. Now Daisy, +exercise your discernment upon that." + +It was a little box containing a Chinese puzzle, with the +plans and keys belonging to it. + +"Where do you think that comes from?" + +Daisy looked up. "I think perhaps from you, Mr. +McFarlane." + +"Do you think I am anything like a puzzle?" + +"I think perhaps you mean to be," Daisy said, +innocently. But a shout from the whole tableful answered to +this chance hit. Daisy didn't know what they could mean. + +"I have done!" said Gary. "I have got more than my match. But +I know who will plague people worse than a puzzle, if she gets +well educated. There's a pair of gloves, you little fencer." + +It was a nice little thick pair of riding or driving gloves; +beautifully made and ornamented. These came from Eloise, +Daisy's other cousin. Mrs. Gary had brought her two beautiful +toilet bottles of Bohemian glass. Daisy's end of the table was +growing full. + +"What is this?" said Mrs. Gary, taking from the ιpergne a +sealed note directed to Daisy. + +"That is Ransom's present. Give her mine first," said Mr. +Randolph. + +"Which is yours? I don't see anything more." + +"That little Proserpine in the middle." + +"_This?_ Are you going to give this to Daisy? But why is she +called Proserpine? I don't see." + +"Nor I," said Mr. Randolph, "only that everything must have a +name. And this damsel is supposed to have been carrying a +basket, which might easily have been a basket of flowers, I +don't see how the statement could be disproved. And Daisy is +fonder of the little nymph, I believe, than any one else in +the house. + +"Oh, papa! thank you," exclaimed Daisy, whose eyes sparkled. +"I like to have her very much!" + +"Well, here she goes," said Mrs. Gary. "Hand her over. You +have a variety, Daisy. Chinese playthings and Grecian art." + +"_Some_ modern luxury," said Gary McFarlane. "Just a little." + +"Egyptian art, too," said Captain Drummond. + +"Oh, where's my spoon?" cried Daisy. "Has papa got it?" + +"Here is Ransom's present," said her aunt, handing the note. +"Nobody knows what it is. Are we to know?" + +Daisy opened and read, read over again, looked very grave, and +finally folded the note up in silence. + +"What is it?" said her aunt. + +Daisy hesitated, wishing, but in doubt if she would be +permitted to keep it to herself. Her father answered for her. + +"It is all of Ransom's part, share, and possession in a +certain small equipage known about these premises; the intent +and understanding being, that henceforth the pony carriage and +pony are Daisy's sole property, and to be by her used and +appropriated without any other person's interference +whatever." + +"But, papa " Ransom began. + +"I think it is a very poor arrangement, Mr. Randolph," said +Ransom's mother. "Daisy cannot use the pony half enough for +his good." + +"She will make more use of him now," said Mr. Randolph. + +Ransom looked very glum. His mother rose, with the ladies, and +went to the drawing-room. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A SOLDIER. + + +A day or two after the birthday, it happened that Captain +Drummond was enjoying the sunshine in a way that gentlemen +like to enjoy it; that is, he was stretched comfortably on the +grass under the shade of some elm trees, looking at it. +Perhaps it was not exactly the sunshine that he was enjoying, +but the soft couch of short grass, and the luxurious warm +shadow of the elms, and a little fanciful breeze which played +and stopped playing, and set the elm trees all a flutter and +let them be still, by turns. But Captain Drummond was having a +good time there, all by himself, and lying at length in a most +lazy luxurious fashion; when he suddenly was "ware" of a fold +of white drapery somewhere not very far from his left ear. He +raised himself a little up, and there to be sure, as he had +guessed, was Daisy. She was all alone too, and standing there +looking at him. + +Now Captain Drummond was a great favourite of Daisy's. In the +first place he was a handsome fellow, with a face which was +both gentle and manly; and his curly light brown hair and his +slight well-trimmed moustache set off features that were +pleasant for man or woman to look upon. Perhaps Daisy liked +him partly for this, but I think she had other reasons. At any +rate, there she stood looking at him. + +"Can you command me, Daisy?" said the young officer. + +"Are you at leisure, Captain Drummond?" + +"Looks like it!" said the gentleman rousing himself. "What +shall I give you? a camp-chair? or will you take the Oh! +that is a better arrangement." + +For Daisy had thrown on the ground a soft shawl for a carpet, +and took her place upon it beside Captain Drummond, who looked +at her in a pleased kind of way. + +"Are you quite at leisure, Captain Drummond?" + +"Gentlemen always are when ladies' affairs are to be +attended to." + +"Are they?" said Daisy. + +"They ought to be!" + +"But I am not a lady." + +"What do you call yourself?" + +"I don't know," said Daisy, gravely. "I suppose I am a little +piece of one." + +"Is that it?" said Captain Drummond, laughing. "Well, I will +give you as large a piece of my leisure as you can make use of + without regard to proportions. What is on hand, Daisy?" + +"Captain Drummond," said Daisy, with a very serious face, +"do soldiers have a very hard time?" + +"Not always. Not when they are lying out under the trees at +Melbourne, for example." + +"But I mean, when they are acting like soldiers?" + +He was ready with a laughing answer again, but seeing how +earnest Daisy's face was, he controlled himself; and leaning +on his elbow, with just a little smile of amusement on his +face, he answered her. + +"Well, Daisy sometimes they do." + +"How, Captain Drummond?" + +"In a variety of ways." + +"Will you please tell me about it?" + +He looked up at her. "Why, Daisy, what makes you curious in +the matter? Have you a friend in the army?" + +"No other but you," said Daisy. + +"That is a kind speech. To reward you for it, I will tell you +anything you please. What is the question, Daisy?" + +"I would like to know in what way soldiers have a hard time?" + +"Well, Daisy, to begin with, a soldier can't do what he has a +mind." + +"Not about anything?" + +"Well no; not unless he gets leave. I am only at Melbourne +now because I have got leave; and I must go when my leave is +up. A soldier does not belong to himself." + +"To whom does he belong?" + +"To his commander! He must go and come, do or not do things, +just as his General bids him; and ask no questions." + +"Ask no questions?" said Daisy. + +"No; only do what he is ordered." + +"But why mayn't he ask questions?" + +"That isn't his business. He has nothing to do with the reason +of things; all he has got to do is his duty. The _reason_ is his +General's duty to look after." + +"But suppose he had a very good General then that wouldn't +be much of a hardship," said Daisy. + +"Well, that is a very material point," said the Captain. +"_Suppose_ he has a good General as you say; that would make a +great difference, certainly." + +"Is that all, Captain Drummond?" + +"Not quite all." + +"What else?" + +"Well, Daisy, a soldier, even under a good General, is often +ordered to do hard things." + +"What sort of things?" + +"What do you think," said the Captain, lolling comfortably on +the green bank, "of camping out under the rain-clouds with +no bed but stones or puddles of mud and wet leaves and rain +pouring down all night, and hard work all day; and no better +accommodations for week in and week out?" + +"But Captain Drummond!" said Daisy, horrified, "I thought +soldiers had tents?" + +"So they do in fine weather " said the Captain. "But just +where the hardest work is to do, is where they can't carry +their tents." + +"Couldn't that be prevented?" + +"I'm afraid not." + +"I should think they'd get sick?" + +"_Think_ they would! Why, they do, Daisy, by hundreds and +hundreds. What then? A soldier's life isn't his own; and if he +has to give it up in a hospital instead of on the field, why +it's good for some other fellow." + +So this it was, not to belong to oneself! Daisy looked on the +soldier before her who had run, or would run, such risks, very +tenderly; but nevertheless the child was thinking her own +thoughts all the while. The Captain saw both things. + +"What is the 'hard work' they have to do?" she asked, +presently. + +"Daisy, you wouldn't like to see it." + +"Why, sir?" + +"Poor fellows digging and making walls of sand or sods to +shelter them from fire when every now and then comes a shot +from the enemy's batteries, ploughs up their work, and knocks +over some poor rascal who never gets up again. That's one kind +of hard work." + +Daisy's face was intent in its interest; but she only said, +"Please go on." + +"Do you like to hear it?" + +"Yes, I like to know about it." + +"I wonder what Mrs. Randolph would say to me?" + +"Please go on, Captain Drummond!" + +"I don't know about that. However, Daisy, work in the trenches +is not the hardest thing nor living wet through or frozen +half through nor going half fed about the hardest thing I +know, is in a hurried retreat to be obliged to leave sick and +wounded friends and poor fellows to fall into the hands of the +enemy. That's hard." + +"Isn't it hard to fight a battle?" + +"You would not like to march up to the fire of the enemy's +guns, and see your friends falling right and left of you +struck down?" + +"Would you?" said Daisy. + +"Would I what?" + +"Don't _you_ think it is hard, to do that?" + +"Not just at the time, Daisy. It is a little tough afterwards, +when one comes to think about it. It is hard to see fellows +suffer too, that one cannot help." + +Daisy hardly knew what to think of Captain Drummond. His +handsome pleasant face looked not less gentle than usual, and +_did_ look somewhat more sober. Daisy concluded it must be +something about a soldier's life that she could not +understand, all this coolness with which he spoke of dreadful +things. A deep sigh was the testimony of the different +feelings of her little breast. Captain Drummond looked up at +her. + +"Daisy, women are not called to be soldiers." + +Daisy passed that. + +"Have you told me all you can tell me, Captain Drummond?" + +"I should not like to tell you all I could tell you." + +"Why? Please do! I want to know all about soldiers." + +He looked curiously at her. "After all," he said, "it is not +so bad as you think, Daisy. A good soldier does not find it +hard to obey orders." + +"What sorts of orders does he have to obey?" + +"All sorts." + +"But suppose they were wrong orders?" + +"Makes no difference." + +"_Wrong_ orders?" + +"Yes," said Captain Drummond, laughing. "If it is something he +can do, he does it; if it is something he can't do, he loses +his head trying." + +"Loses his head, sir?" + +"Yes by a cannon ball; or his heart, by a musket ball; or +maybe he gets off with losing a hand or a leg; just as it +happens. That makes no difference, either." He watched Daisy +as he spoke, seeing a slight colour rise in her cheeks, and +wondering what made the child's quiet grey eyes look at him so +thoughtfully. + +"Captain Drummond, is he ever told to do anything he _can't_ +do?" + +"A few years ago, Daisy, the English and the French were +fighting the Russians in the Crimea. I happened to be there on +business, and I saw some things. An order was brought one day +to an officer commanding a body of cavalry you know what +cavalry is?" + +"Yes, I know." + +"The order was brought in Hallo! what's that?" For a voice +was heard shouting at a little distance, "Drummond! Ho, +Drummond! Where are you?" + +"It's Mr. McFarlane!" said Daisy. "He'll come here. I'm very +sorry." + +"Don't be sorry," said the Captain. "Come, let us disappoint +him. He can't play hide and seek." + +He jumped up and caught Daisy's willing hand, with the other +hand caught up her shawl, and drew her along swiftly under +cover of the trees and shrubbery towards the river, and away +from the voice they heard calling. Daisy half ran, half flew, +it seemed to her; so fast the strong hand of her friend pulled +her over the ground. At the edge of the bank that faced the +river, at the top of a very steep descent of a hundred feet or +near that, under a thick shelter of trees, Captain Drummond +called a halt and stood listening. Far off, faint in the +distance, they could still hear the shout, "Drummond! +where are you? Hallo!" + +"We'll go down to the river," said the Captain; "and he is too +lazy to look for us there. We shall be safe. Daisy, this is a +retreat but it is not a hardship, is it?" + +Daisy looked up delighted. The little face so soberly +thoughtful a few minutes ago was all bright and flushed. The +Captain was charmed too. + +"But we can't get down there," said Daisy, casting her eye +down the very steep pitch of the bank. + +"That is something," said the Captain, "with which as a +soldier you have nothing to do. All you have to do is to obey +orders; and the orders are that we charge down hill." + +"I shall go head first, then," said Daisy, "or over and over. +I couldn't keep my feet one minute." + +"Now you are arguing," said the Captain; "and that shows +insubordination, or want of discipline. But we have got to +charge, all the same; and we'll see about putting you under +arrest afterwards." + +Daisy laughed at him, but she could not conceive how they +should get to the bottom. It was very steep, and strewn with +dead leaves from the trees which grew thick all the way. +Rolling down was out of the question, for the stems of the +trees would catch them; and to keep on their feet seemed +impossible. Daisy found, however, that Captain Drummond could +manage what she could not. He took hold of her hand again; and +then Daisy hardly believed it while she was doing it, but +there she was, going down that bank in an upright position; +not falling nor stumbling, though it is true she was not +walking neither. The Captain did not let her fall, and his +strong hand seemed to take her like a feather over the stones +and among the trees, giving her flying leaps and bounds down +the hill along with him. How he went and kept his feet +remained always a marvel to Daisy; but down they went, and at +the bottom they were in a trifle of time. + +"Do you think he will come down there after us?" said the +Captain. + +"I am sure he won't," said Daisy. + +"So am I sure. We are safe, Daisy. Now I am your prisoner, and +you are my prisoner; and we will set each other at any work we +please. This is a nice place." + +Behind them was the high, steep, wooded bank, rising right up. +Before them was a little strip of pebbly beach, and little +wavelets of the river washing past it. Beyond lay the broad +stream, all bright in the summer sunshine, with the great blue +hills rising up misty and blue in the distance. Nothing else; +a little curve in the shore on each side shut them in from all +that was above or below near at hand. + +"Why, this is a fine place," repeated the Captain. "Were you +ever here before?" + +"Not in a long time," said Daisy. "I have been here with +June." + +"June! Aren't we here with June now?" + +"_Now?_ Oh, I don't mean the month I mean mamma's black +June," said Daisy, laughing. + +"Well, that is the first time I ever heard of a black June!" +muttered the Captain. "Does she resemble her name or her +colour?" + +"She isn't much like the month of June," said Daisy. "I don't +think she is a very cheerful person." + +"Then I wouldn't come here any more with her or anywhere +else." + +"I don't," said Daisy. "I don't go with her, or with anybody +else much. Only I go with Sam and the pony." + +"Where's Ransom. Don't he go with you?" + +"Oh, Ransom's older, you know; and he's a boy." + +"Ransom don't know his advantages. This is pleasant, Daisy. +Now let us see. What were you and I about?" + +"You were telling me something, Captain Drummond." + +"What was it? Oh, I know. Daisy, you are under arrest, you +know, and sentenced to extra duty. The work you are to +perform, is to gather as many of these little pebbles together + these white ones as you can in five minutes." + +Daisy went to work; so did the Captain; and very busy they +were, for the Captain gathered as many pebbles as she did. He +made her fetch them to a place where the little beach was +clean and smooth, and in the shadow of an overhanging tree +they both sat down. Then the Captain, throwing off his cap, +began arranging the white pebbles on the sand in some +mysterious manner lines of them here and lines of them there + whistling as he worked. Daisy waited with curious patience; +watched him closely, but never asked what he was doing. At +last he stopped, looked up at her, and smiled. + +"Well! " he said. + +"What is it all, Captain Drummond?" + +"This is your story, Daisy." + +"My story!" + +"Yes. Look here these rows of white stones are the Russians; + these brown stones are the English," said he, beginning to +marshal another set into mysterious order some distance from +the white stones. "Now what shall I do for some guns?" + +Daisy, in a very great state of delight, began to make search +for something that would do to stand for artillery; but +Captain Drummond presently solved the question by breaking +some twigs from the tree overhead and cutting them up into +inch lengths. These little mock guns he distributed liberally +among the white stones, pointing their muzzles in various +directions; and finally drew some lines in the sand which he +informed Daisy were fortifications. Daisy looked on; it was +better than a fairy tale. + +"Now Daisy, we are ready for action. This is the battle of +Balaklava; and these are part of the lines. An order was +brought to an officer commanding a body of cavalry stationed +up here you know what cavalry is." + +"Yes, I know." + +"The order was brought to him to charge upon the enemy down +_there_, in a place where he could do no good and must be cut +to pieces; the enemy had so many guns in that place and he +had so few men to attack them with. The order was a mistake. +He knew it was a mistake, but his General had sent it there +was nothing for him to do but to obey. So he charged." + +"And his men?" + +"Every one. They knew they were going to their death and +everybody else knew it that saw them go but they charged!" + +"Did you see it, Captain Drummond?" + +"I saw it." + +"And did they go to their death?" said Daisy, awe-stricken, +for Captain Drummond's look said that he was thinking of +something it had been grave to see. + +"Why, yes. Look here, Daisy here were cannon; there were +cannon; there were more cannon; cannon on every side of them +but one. They went into death they knew, when they went in +there." + +"How many of them went there?" + +"Six hundred." + +"Six hundred! were they _all_ killed?" + +"No. There were a part of them that escaped and lived to come +back." + +Daisy looked at the pebbles and the guns in profound silence. + +"But if the officer knew the order was a mistake, why must he +obey it?" + +"That's a soldier's duty, Daisy. He can do nothing but follow +orders. A soldier can't know, very often, what an order is +given for; he cannot judge; he does not know what his General +means to accomplish. All he has to think of is to obey orders; +and if every soldier does that, all is right." + +What was little Daisy thinking of? She sat looking at her +friend the Captain. He was amused. + +"Well, Daisy what do you think? will it do? Do you think +you will stand it and be a soldier?" + +Daisy hesitated a good deal, and looked off and on at the +Captain's face. Then she said very quietly, "Yes." + +"You will!" he said. "I wish you would join my branch of the +service. Suppose you come into my company?" + +"Suppose you join mine?" + +"With all my heart!" said the Captain, laughing; "if it is not +inconsistent with my present duties. So you have enlisted +already? Are you authorised to receive recruits?" + +Daisy shook her head, and did not join in his laugh. + +"Honestly, Daisy, tell me true; what did you want to know +about soldiers for? I have answered you; now answer me. I am +curious." + +Daisy did not answer, and seemed in doubt. + +"Will you not honour me so far?" + +Daisy hesitated still, and looked at the Captain more than +once. But Captain Drummond was a great favourite, and had +earned her favour partly by never talking nonsense to her; a +great distinction. + +"I will tell you when we get back to the house," she said, +"if you will not speak of it, Captain Drummond." + +The Captain could get no nearer his point; and he and Daisy +spent a good while longer by the river-side, erecting +fortifications and studying the charge of the Light brigade. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +GEOGRAPHY. + + +The Captain was not able to claim Daisy's promise immediately. +On their return to the house he was at once taken up with some +of the older people, and Daisy ran off to her long delayed +dinner. + +The next day in the course of her wanderings about the +grounds, which were universal, Daisy came upon her cousin +Preston. He sat in the shade of a clump of larches under a +great oak, making flies for fishing; which occupation, like a +gentlemanly boy as he was, he had carried out there where the +litter of it would be in nobody's way. Preston Gary was a very +fine fellow; about sixteen, a handsome fellow, very spirited, +very clever, and very gentle and kind to his little cousin +Daisy. Daisy liked him much, and was more entirely free with +him perhaps than with any other person in the family. Her +seeing him now was the signal for a joyous skip and bound +which brought her to his side. + +"Oh, Preston, are you going fishing?" + +"Perhaps if I have a good day for it." + +"When?" + +"To-morrow." + +"Who's going with you?" + +"Nobody, I reckon. Unless you want to go, Daisy." + +"Oh, Preston, may I go with you? Where are you going?" + +"Daisy, I'm bound for the Hillsdale woods, back of Crum Elbow + they say there are first-rate trout streams there; but I am +afraid you can't go so far." + +"Oh, I can go anywhere, Preston! with Loupe, you know. +You're going to ride, aren't you?" + +"Yes, but Loupe! What shall we do with Loupe? You see, I shall +be gone the whole day, Daisy it's likely. You'd get tired." + +"Why, we could find somewhere to put Loupe Sam could take +care of him. And I should like to go, Preston, if you think I +would not frighten the fish." + +"Oh, if Sam's going along, that is another matter," said +Preston. "You frighten the fish, Daisy! I don't believe you +can do that for anything. But I won't let you get into +mischief." + +So it was settled, and Daisy's face looked delighted; and for +some time she and Preston discussed the plan, the fish, and +his flies. Then suddenly Daisy introduced another subject. + +"Preston, where is the Crimea?" + +"The Crimea!" said Preston. + +"Yes; where the English and the French were fighting with the +Russians." + +"The Crimea! Why, Daisy, don't you know where it is? You'll +find it in the Black Sea somewhere." + +Daisy hesitated. + +"But Preston, I don't know where the Black Sea is." + +"Why, Daisy, what has become of your geography?" + +"I never had much," said Daisy, humbly, and looking serious; +"and lately mamma hasn't wanted me to do anything but run +about." + +"Well, if you take the map of Europe, and set out from the +north of Russia and walk down, you'll find yourself in the +Crimea after a while. Just hold that, Daisy, will you." + +Daisy held the ends of silk he put in her fingers; but while +he worked, she thought. Might it not be possible that a good +knowledge of geography might have something to do with the use +or the improvement of her _talents?_ And if a knowledge of +geography, why not also a knowledge of history, and of +arithmetic, and of everything! There could not be a reasonable +doubt of it. What would Preston be, what would Mr. Dinwiddie +or Captain Drummond be, if they knew nothing? And by the +same reasoning, what would Daisy Randolph be? What could she +do with her talents, if she let them lie rusty with ignorance? +Now this was a very serious thought to Daisy, because she did +not like study. She liked knowledge right well, if she could +get it without trouble, and if it was entertaining knowledge; +but she did not think geography at all entertaining, nor +arithmetic. Yet Daisy forgot all about Preston's artificial +flies, and her face grew into a depth of sobriety. + +"Preston " she began, slowly, "is it hard?" + +"Not just that," said Preston, busy in finishing a piece of +work, "it is a little ticklish to stroke this into order +but it isn't hard, if you have the right materials, and know +how." + +"Oh, no I don't mean flies I mean geography." + +"Geography!" said Preston. "Oh, you are at the Crimea yet, are +you? I'll show it to you, Daisy, when we go in." + +"Preston, is the use of geography only to know where places +are?" + +"Well, that's pretty convenient," said Preston. "Daisy, just +look for that bunch of grey silk I had it here a minute +ago." + +"But Preston, tell me what _is_ the use of it?" + +"Why, my dear little Daisy thank you! you'd be all abroad +without it." + +"All abroad!" exclaimed Daisy. + +"It comes to about that, I reckon. You wouldn't understand +anything. How can you? Suppose I show you my pictures of the +North American Indians they'll be as good as Chinese to you, +if you don't know geography." + +Daisy was silent, feeling puzzled. + +"And," said Preston, binding his fly, "when you talk of the +Crimea, you will not know whether the English came from the +east or the west, nor whether the Russians are not living +under the equator and eating ripe oranges." + +"Don't they eat oranges?" said Daisy, seriously. But that +question set Preston off into a burst of laughter, for which +he atoned as soon as it was over by a very gentle kiss to his +little cousin. + +"Never mind, Daisy," he said; "I think you are better without +geography. You aren't just like everybody else that's a +fact." + +"Daisy," said Captain Drummond, coming upon the scene, "do you +allow such things?" + +"It is Preston's manner of asking my pardon, Captain +Drummond," Daisy answered, looking a little troubled, but in +her slow, womanly way. The Captain could not help laughing in +his turn. + +"What offence has he been guilty of? tell me, and I will +make him ask pardon in another manner. But, Daisy, do you +reckon such a liberty no offence?" + +"Not if I am willing he should take it," said Daisy. + +The Captain seemed much amused. "My dear little lady!" he +said, "it is good for me you are not half a score of years +wiser. What were you talking about the Crimea? I heard the +word as I came up." + +"I asked Preston to show it to me on the map or he said he +would." + +"Come with me, and I'll do it. You shouldn't ask anybody but +me about the Crimea." + +So getting hold affectionately of Daisy's hand, he and she +went off to the house. No one was in the library. The Captain +opened a large map of Russia; Daisy got up in a chair, with +her elbows on the great library table, and leaned over it, +while the Captain drew up another chair and pointed out the +Crimea and Sebastopol, and showed the course by which the +English ships had come, for Daisy took care to ask that. Then, +finding so earnest a listener, he went on to describe to her +the situation of other places on the Peninsula, and the +character of the country, and the severities of the climate in +the region of the great struggle. Daisy listened, with her +eyes varying between Captain Drummond's face and the map. The +Black Sea became known to Daisy thence and forever. + +"I never thought geography was so interesting!" she remarked +with a sigh, as the Captain paused. He smiled. + +"Now, Daisy, you have something to tell me," he said. + +"What?" said Daisy, looking up suddenly. + +"Why, you wanted to know about soldiers don't you remember +your promise?" + +The child's face all changed; her busy, eager, animated look +became on the instant thoughtful and still. Yet changed, as +the Captain saw with some curiosity, not to lesser but to +greater intentness. + +"Well, Daisy?" + +"Captain Drummond, if I tell you, I do not wish it talked +about." + +"Certainly not!" he said, suppressing a smile, and watched her +while she got down from her chair and looked about among the +book-shelves. + +"Will you please put this on the table for me?" she said "I +can't lift it." + +"A Bible!" said the Captain to himself. "This is growing +serious." But he carried the great quarto silently and placed +it on the table. It was a very large volume, fall of +magnificent engravings, which were the sole cause and +explanation of its finding a place in Mr. Randolph's library. +He put it on the table and watched Daisy curiously, who, +disregarding all the pictures, turned over the leaves +hurriedly, till near the end of the book; then stopped, put +her little finger under some words, and turned to him. The +Captain looked and read over the little finger "Thou +therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." + +It gave the Captain a very odd feeling. He stopped, and read +it two or three times over. + +"But Daisy!" he said. + +"What, Captain Drummond?" + +"What has this to do with what we were talking about?" + +"Would you please shut this up and put it away, first." + +The Captain obeyed, and as he turned from the bookshelves +Daisy took his hand again, and drew him, child-fashion, out of +the house and through the shrubbery. He let her alone till she +had brought him to a shady spot, where, under the thick growth +of magnificent trees a rustic seat stood, in full view of the +distant mountains and the river. + +"Where is my answer, Daisy?" he said, as she let go his hand +and seated herself. + +"What was your question, Captain Drummond?" + +"Now you are playing hide and seek with me. What have those +words you showed me, what have they to do with our +yesterday's conversation?" + +"I would like to know," said Daisy, slowly, "what it means, to +be a good soldier?" + +"Why?" + +"I think I have told you," she said. + +She said it with the most unmoved simplicity. The Captain +could not imagine what made him feel uncomfortable. He +whistled. + +"Daisy, you are incomprehensible!" he exclaimed, and, catching +hold of her hand, he began a race down towards the river. Such +a race as they had taken the day before. Through shade and +through sun, down grassy steeps and up again, flying among the +trees as if some one were after them, the Captain ran; and +Daisy was pulled along with him. At the edge of the woods +which crowned the river bank, he stopped and looked at Daisy +who was all flushed and sparkling with exertion and merriment. + +"Sit down there!" said he, putting her on the bank and +throwing himself beside her. "Now you look as you ought to +look!" + +"I don't think mamma would think so," said Daisy, panting and +laughing. + +"Yes, she would. Now tell me do you call yourself a +soldier?" + +"I don't know whether there can be such little soldiers," said +Daisy. "If there can be, I am." + +"And what fighting do you expect to do, little one?" + +"I don't know," said Daisy. "Not very well." + +"What enemies are you going to face?" + +But Daisy only looked rather hard at the Captain, and made him +no answer. + +"Do you expect to emulate the charge of the Light Brigade, in +some tilt against fancied wrong?" + +Daisy looked at her friend; she did not quite understand him, +but his last words were intelligible. + +"I don't know," she said, meekly. "But if I do, it will not be +because the order is a _mistake_, Captain Drummond." + +The Captain bit his lip. "Daisy," said he, "are you the only +soldier in the family?" + +Daisy sat still, looking up over the sunny slopes of ground +towards the house. + +The sunbeams showed it bright and stately on the higher +ground; they poured over a rich luxuriant spread of greensward +and trees, highly kept; stately and fair; and Daisy could not +help remembering that in all that domain, so far as she knew, +there was not a thought in any heart of being the sort of +soldier she wished to be. She got up from the ground and +smoothed her dress down. + +"Captain Drummond," she said, with a grave dignity that was at +the same time perfectly childish too, "I have told you about +myself I can't tell you about other people." + +"Daisy, you are not angry with me!" + +"No, sir." + +"Don't you sometimes permit other people to ask your pardon in +Preston Gary's way?" + +Daisy was about to give a quiet negative to this proposal, +when perceiving more mischief in the Captain's face than might +be manageable, she pulled away her hand from him, and dashed +off like a deer. The Captain was wiser than to follow. + +Later in the day, which turned out a very warm one, he and +Gary McFarlane went down again to the edge of the bank, hoping +to get if they could a taste of the river breeze. Lying there +stretched out under the trees, after a little while they heard +voices. The voices were down on the shore. Gary moved his +position to look. + +"It's that child what under the sun is she doing! I beg +pardon for naming anything warm just now, Drummond but she +is building fortifications of some sort, down there." + +Captain Drummond came forward too. Down below them, a little +to the right, where a tiny bend in the shore made a spot of +shade, Daisy was crouching on the ground apparently very busy. +Back of her a few paces was her dark attendant, June. + +"There's energy," said Gary. "What a nice thing it is to be a +child and play in the sand!" + +The talk down on the shore went on; June's voice could +scarcely be heard, but Daisy's words were clear "Do, June! +Please try." Another murmur from June, and then Daisy "Try, +June do, please!" The little voice was soft, but its +utterances were distinct; the words could be heard quite +plainly. And Daisy sat back from her sand-work, and June began +to sing something. _What_, it would have been difficult to tell +at the top of the bank, but then Daisy's voice struck in. With +no knowledge that she had listeners, the notes came mounting +up to the top of the bank, clear, joyous and strong, with a +sweet power that nobody knew Daisy's voice had. + +"Upon my word, that's pretty!" said the Captain. + +"A pretty thing, too, faith," said Gary. "Captain, let's get +nearer the performers. Look out, now, and don't strike to +windward." + +They went, like hunters, softly down the bank, keeping under +shelter, and winding round so as to get near before they +should be seen. They succeeded. Daisy was intent upon her +sand-work again, and June's back was towards them. The song +went on more softly; then in a chorus Daisy's voice rang out +again, and the words were plain. + + +"Die in the field of battle, +Die in the field of battle, +Die in the field of battle, +Glory in your view." + + +"Spirited!" whispered Gary. + +"I almost think it is a Swedish war song," said the Captain. +"I am not sure." + +"Miss Daisy!" said June "the gentlemen " + +Daisy started up. The intruders came near. On the ground +beside her lay an open map of Europe; in the sand before her +she had drawn the same outlines on a larger scale. The shore +generally was rough and pebbly; just in this little cove there +was a space of very fine sand, left wetted and adhesive by the +last tide. Here the battle of Inkermann had been fought, and +here Daisy's geography was going on. Captain Drummond, who +alone had the clue to all this, sat down on a convenient stone +to examine the work. The lines were pretty fairly drawn, and +Daisy had gone on to excavate to some depth the whole area of +the Mediterranean and Black Seas, and the region of the +Atlantic to some extent; with the course of the larger rivers +deeply indented. + +"What is all this gouging for, Daisy?" he said. "You want +water here now, to fill up." + +"I thought when the tide came, Captain Drummond, I could let +it flow in here, and see how it would look." + +"It's a poor rule that don't work both ways," said the +Captain. "I always heard that 'time and tide wait for no man;' +and we won't wait for the tide. Here Gary make yourself +useful fetch some water here; enough to fill two seas and +a portion of the Atlantic Ocean." + +"What shall I bring it in, if you please?" + +"Anything! your hands, or your hat, man. Do impossibilities +for once. It is easy to see you are not a soldier." + +"The fates preserve me from being a soldier under you!" said +Gary "if that's your idea of military duty! What are you +going to do while I play Neptune in a bucket." + +"I am going to build cities and raise up mountains. Daisy, +suppose we lay in a supply of these little white stones, and +some black ones." + +While this was done, and Daisy looked delighted, Mr. McFarlane +seized upon a tin dipper which June had brought, and filled it +at the river. Captain Drummond carefully poured out the water +into the Mediterranean, and opened a channel through the +Bosphorus and Dardanelles, which were very full of sand, into +the Black Sea. Then he sent Gary off again for more; and began +placing the pebbles. + +"What is that for, Captain Drummond?" asked Daisy. + +"These are the Alps white, as they should be, for the snow +always lies on them." + +"Is it so cold there?" + +"No, but the mountains are so high. Their tops are always +cold, but flowers grow down in the valleys. These are very +great mountains, Daisy." + +"And what are those black ones, Captain Drummond?" + +"This range is the Pyrιnιes between France and Spain; they +are great too, and beautiful. And here go the Carpathians +and here the Ural mountains, and these must stand for the +Apennines." + +"Are they beautiful too?" + +"I suppose so but I can't say, never having been there. Now +what shall we do for the cities? As they are centres of +wealth, I think a three-cent piece must mark them. Hand over, +Gary; I have not thrips enough. There is St. Petersburg here +is Constantinople here is Rome now here is Paris. Hallo! +we've no England! can't leave London out. Give me that spoon, +Daisy " and the Captain, as he expressed it, went to work in +the trenches. England was duly marked out, the channel filled, +and a bit of silver planted for the metropolis of the world. + +"Upon my word!" said Gary, "I never knew geography before. I +shall carry away some ideas." + +"Keep all you can get," said the Captain. "Now, there's +Europe." + +"And here were the battles," said Daisy, touching the little +spot of wet sand which stood for the Crimea. + +"_The_ battles!" said Gary. "What battles?" + +"Why, where the English and French fought the Russians." + +"_The_ battles! Shades of all the heroes! Why, Daisy, Europe has +done nothing but fight for a hundred thousand years. There +isn't a half inch of it that hasn't had a battle. See, _there_ +was one, and there was another tremendous; and there, +and there, and there, and there, and all over! This +little strip here that is getting swallowed up in the +Mediterranean there has been blood enough shed on it to make +it red from one end to the other, a foot deep. That's because +it has had so many great men belonging to it." + +Daisy looked at Captain Drummond. + +"It's pretty much so, Daisy," he said; "all over the south of +Europe, at any rate." + +"Why over the south and not the north?" + +"People in the north haven't anything to fight for," said +Gary. "Nobody wants a possession of ice and snow more than +will cool his butter." + +"A good deal so, Daisy," said Captain Drummond, taking the +silent appeal of her eyes. + +"Besides," continued Gary, "great men don't grow in the north. +Daisy, I want to know which is the battle-field you are going +to die on." + +Daisy sat back from the map of Europe, and looked at Gary with +unqualified amazement. + +"Well?" said Gary. "I mean it." + +"I don't know what you mean." + +"I hear you are going to die on the field of battle and I +want to be there that I may throw myself after you, as Douglas +did after the Bruce's locket; saying 'Go thou first, brave +heart, as thou art wont, and I will follow thee!' " + +"Daisy," said the Captain, "you were singing a battle-song as +we came down the hill that is what he means." + +"Oh! " said Daisy, her face changing from its amazed look. +But her colour rose, too, a little. + +"What was it?" + +"That?" said Daisy. "Oh, that was a hymn." + +"A hymn!" shouted Gary. "Good! A hymn! That's glorious! Where +did you get it, Daisy? Have you got a collection of Swedish +war-songs? They used to sing and fight together, I am told. +They are the only people I ever heard of that did except +North American Indians. Where did you get it?" + +"I got it from June." + +"June! what, by inspiration? June is a fine month, I know +for strawberries but I had no idea " + +"No, no," said Daisy, half laughing, "I mean my June there +she is; I got it from her." + +"Hollo!" cried Gary. "Come here, my good woman Powers of +Darkness! Is your name June?" + +"Yes sir, if you please," the woman said, in her low voice, +dropping a courtesy. + +"Well, nobody offers more attractions in a name," said Gary; + "I'll say that for you. Where did you get that song your +little mistress was singing when we came down the hill? Can +you sing it?" + +June's reply was unintelligible. + +"Speak louder, my friend. What did you say?" + +June made an effort. "If you please, sir, I can't sing," she +was understood to say. "They sings it in camp meeting." + +"In camp meeting!" said Gary. "I should think so! What's that! +You see I have never been there, and don't understand." + +"If you please, sir the gentleman knows" June said, +retreating backwards as she spoke, and so fast that she soon +got out of their neighbourhood. The shrinking, gliding action +accorded perfectly with the smothered tones and subdued face +of the woman. + +"Don't _she_ know!" said Gary. "Isn't that a character now? But, +Daisy, are you turning Puritan?" + +"I don't know what that is," said Daisy. + +"Upon my word, you look like it! It's a dreadful disease, +Daisy; generally takes the form of I declare I don't know! + fever, I believe, and delirium; and singing is one of the +symptoms." + +"You don't want to stop her singing?" said Captain Drummond. + +"That sort? yes I do. It wouldn't be healthy, up at the house. +Daisy, sing that gipsy-song from 'The Camp in Silesia,' that I +heard you singing a day or two ago." + +" 'The Camp in Silesia'?" said Captain Drummond. "Daisy, can +you sing _that?_" + +"Whistles it off like a gipsy herself," said Gary. "Daisy, +sing it." + +"I like the other best," said Daisy. + +But neither teasing nor coaxing could make her sing again, +either the one or the other. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +AFTER TROUT. + + +It was bright morning, the pony-chaise at the door, and Daisy +in it; standing to arrange matters. + +"Now, Daisy, have you got all in there? I don't believe it." + +"Why don't you believe it?" + +"How much will that concern hold?" + +"A great deal more than you want. There's a big box under all +the seat." + +"What have you got in it?" + +Daisy went off into a laugh, such a laugh of glee as did her +father's heart good. Mr. Randolph was standing in the doorway +to see the expedition set forward. + +"What's the matter, Daisy?" he said. + +"Papa, he don't think anybody is a person of forethought but +himself." + +It was Preston's turn to laugh, and Mr. Randolph joined him. + +"Shows he don't know you, Daisy, as well as I do. When do you +expect to be home again?" + +Mr. Randolph had come down to the side of the chaise, and was +looking with a very pleased face at what was in it. Daisy said +she supposed they would stay till Preston had caught as many +fish as he wanted. + +"And won't you be tired before that?" + +"Oh, no, papa! I am going to fish too." + +"I'll have all you catch, Daisy, for my own eating!" + +He bent his head down as he spoke, to kiss the little +fisherwoman; but Daisy, answering some unusual tenderness of +face or manner, sprung up and threw her arms round his neck, +and only released him after a very close pressure. + +"She is in a fair way to be cured of her morbid seriousness," + Mr. Randolph thought as he saw the cavalcade set forth; and, +well pleased, he went in to breakfast. Daisy and Preston had +breakfasted already, before the family; and now were off to +the hills just as other people were stirring sugar into cups +of coffee. + +Preston led the way on a fine bay of his uncle's; taking good +gallops now and then to ease his own and his horse's spirits, +and returning to go quietly for a space by the side of the +pony-chaise. Loupe never went into anything more exciting than +his waddling trot; though Daisy made him keep that up briskly. + +"What a thing it is, to have such short legs!" said Preston, +watching the movements of the pony. + +"_You_ go over the road without seeing it," said Daisy. + +"I don't want to see it. What I want to see is Hillsdale." + +"So do I; but I want to see everything." + +Preston smiled, he could not help it, at the very happy and +busy little face and spirit down in the pony-chaise. + +"What do you see, Daisy, that you have not seen a hundred +times before?" + +"That makes no difference," said Daisy. "I have seen you a +hundred times before." + +Preston laughed, set spurs to his horse, and went off for +another gallop. + +Daisy enjoyed her morning's drive. The light was clear and the +air was fresh; Preston galloping before and Sam jogging on +behind; everything was fine! Then it was quite true that she +liked to see everything; those grey eyes of hers were +extremely busy. All the work going on in the fields had +interest for her, and all the passers-by on the road. A +strange interest, often, for Daisy was very apt to be +wondering whether any of them knew and loved the name she +loved best; wondering who among all those rough-looking, +unknown people, might be her fellow-servants. And with that a +thought which, if Mr. Randolph had known it, would have +checked his self-congratulations. He had not guessed what made +the clasp of Daisy's arms round his neck so close that +morning. + +Till they passed through Crum Elbow everything had been, as +Preston said, seen a hundred times before. A little way beyond +that everything became new. Mrs. Randolph's carriage never +came that road. The country grew more rough and broken, and +the hills in their woody dress showed more and more near. + +"Do you see that break in the woods?" said Preston, pointing +with his whip; "that is where the brook comes out, that is +where we are going." + +"What time is it, Preston?" + +"Time? it is half past nine. What about it?" + +"I'm hungry that's all. I wanted to know what time it was." + +"Hungry! Oh, what a fisher you will make, Daisy! Can't stand +fasting for two hours and a half." + +"No, but Preston, I didn't eat much breakfast. And I've had +all this ride since. I am going to stand fasting; but I am +going to be hungry too." + +"No, you aren't," said Preston. "Just let Loupe take you up to +that little gate, will you? I'll see if we can leave the +horses here. Sam! take this fellow!" + +Preston jumped down from the saddle and went into the house, +to the front yard of which the little gate opened. Daisy +looked after him. It was a yard full of grass and weeds, among +which a few poppies and hollyhocks and balsams grew straggling +up where they could. Nothing kept them out of the path but the +foot-tread of the people that went over it; hoe and rake were +never known there since the walk was first made. The house was +a little, low, red-front house, with one small window on each +side the door. + +"All right!" said Preston, coming back. "Sam, take the horses +round to the barn; and bring the baskets out of the chaise- +box, and wait at this gate for us." + +"Why is he to wait? where are we going?" + +"Going in to get some breakfast." + +"_Here_, Preston? Oh, I can't." + +"What's the matter?" + +"I can't eat anything in there. I can wait." + +"Why, it looks clean," said Preston; "room and table and woman +and all." But Daisy still shook her head, and was not to be +persuaded; and Preston, laughing, went back to the house. But +presently he came out again, bearing a tray in his hand, and +brought it to Daisy. On the tray was very nice looking brown +and white bread, and milk and cheese and a platter of +strawberries. Preston got into the chaise and set the tray on +his knees. After him had come from the house a woman in a fly- +away cap and short-gown. She stood just inside the gate, +leaning her arms on it. If she had not been there, perhaps +Daisy would still have refused to touch the food; but she was +afraid of offending or hurting the woman's feelings; so first +she tried a strawberry, and found it of rare flavour; for it +was a wild one; then she broke a morsel of bread, and that was +excellent. Daisy discovered that breakfast in a pony-chaise, +out in the air, was a very fine thing. So did Preston. + +"So you're agoin' afishin'?" said the woman at the gate. + +"Yes, ma'am," Preston said. + +"And that little one too?" + +"Certainly." + +"I declare! I never see nobody so little and gauzy as was +willin' to do such indelicate work! But I shouldn't wonder, +now, if she was to catch some. Fishes and all things is +curious creeturs, and goes by contrairies." + +"Hope they won't to-day!" said Preston, who was eating +strawberries and bread and milk at a great rate. + +"Where's the rest of your party?" the woman went on. + +"We're all here, ma'am," said Preston. + +"Well, I see a horse there that haint nobody on top of him?" + +"I was on top of him a little while ago," said Preston. + +"Well, I expect that little creetur hain't druv herself?" + +"Drove the pony, anyhow," said Preston. "Now, ma'am, what do +we owe you, besides thanks, for your excellent hospitality?" + +"I reckon you don't owe me much," said the woman, as Preston +got out of the chaise. "You can set the tray in there on the +table, if you're a mind to. We always calculate to set a good +meal, and we're allowed to; but we don't never calculate to +live by it, and we've no dispensary. There's only my husband +and me, and there's a plenty for more than us." + +Preston had handed the tray to Sam to carry in, and as soon as +he could get a chance bade good morning, and went forward with +Daisy. On foot now they took their way to the woods, and +presently plunged into then. It was very pleasant under the +deep shade, for the sun had grown warm, and there was hardly +air enough to flutter the leaves in the high branches. But +Daisy and Preston pushed on briskly, and soon the gurgle of +the brook gave its sweet sound to their ears. They followed up +the stream then, over stones and rocks, and crossing from side +to side on trunks of trees that had fallen across the water; +till a part of the brook was reached far enough back among the +hills to be wild and lonely; where the trout might be supposed +to be having a good time. + +"Now, Daisy," said Preston, "I think this will do. Can't have +a better place. I'll try and get you to work here." + +"And now, how must I manage, Preston?" said Daisy, anxiously. + +"I'll show you." + +Daisy watched while Preston took out and put together the +light rod which she was to use, and fixed a fly for the bait. + +"Do you see that little waterfall, Daisy?" + +"Yes." + +"And you see where the water curls round just under the fall?" + +"Yes." + +"That is where you must cast your fly. I should think there +must be some speckled fellows there. What glory, Daisy, if you +should catch one!" + +"Well, what must I do, Preston?" + +"Throw your fly over, so that it may light just there, and +then watch; and if a fish jumps up and catches it, you pull +your line away and catch the fish." + +"But I can't throw it from here? I must go nearer." + +"No, you mustn't you're near enough; stand just here. Try if +you can't throw your fly there. If you went nearer, you would +frighten the fish. They are just about as shy as if they were +Daisies. Now I will go a little further off, and see what I +can do. You'll catch the first fish!" + +"No, I shall not," said Daisy, gravely. She tried with a +beating heart to throw her line; she tried very hard. The +first time it landed on the opposite side of the brook. The +next time it landed on a big stone this side of the waterfall. +The third trial fastened the hook firmly in Daisy's hat. In +vain Daisy gently sought to release it; she was obliged at +last to ask help of Sam. + +"That ar's no good, Miss Daisy," said Sam, as he got the fly +out of its difficulty. + +"If I could only throw it in," said Daisy. And this time, with +a very great effort she did succeed in swinging the bait by a +gentle motion to the very spot. No statue was more motionless +than Daisy then. She had eyes and ears for nothing but the +trout in the brook. Minutes went by. The brook leaped and sang +on its way the air brought the sweet odours of mosses and +ferns; the leaves flapped idly overhead; you could hear every +little sound. For there sat Daisy, and there stood Sam, as +still as the stones. Time went by. At last a sigh came from +Daisy's weary little body, which she had not dared to move an +inch for half an hour. + +"Tain't no good, Miss Daisy," whispered Sam. + +"I can't keep it still," said Daisy, under her breath, as if +the fishes would hear and understand her. + +"Suppos'n you try t'other bait, Miss Daisy." + +"What bait?" + +"Oh, t'other kind, Miss Daisy. Will I put it on for you to +try?" + +Daisy sat awhile longer, however, in silence and watching, +until every joint was weary and her patience too. Then she +left the rod in Sam's hands, and went up to see what Preston +was doing. He was some distance higher up the stream. Slowly +and carefully Daisy crept near, till she could see his basket, +and find out how much he had in it. That view loosed her +tongue. + +"Not one yet, Preston!" she exclaimed. + +"Not a bite," said Preston. + +"I hadn't either." + +"I don't believe that there are any fish," said Preston. + +"Oh, but Sam said he saw lots of them." + +"Lots of them! It's the flies then. Sam! Hollo, Sam! Sam! +" + +"Here, sir," said Sam, coming up the brook. + +"Just find me some worms, will you? and be spry. I can't get +a bite." + +Daisy sat down to look about her, while Preston drew in his +line and threw the fly away. It was a pretty place! The brook +spread just there into a round pool several feet across; deep +and still; and above it the great trees towered up as if they +would hide the sun. Sam came presently with the bait. Preston +dressed his hook, and gave his line a swing, to cast the bait +into the pool; rather incautiously, seeing that the trees +stood so thick and so near. Accordingly the line lodged in the +high branches of an oak on the opposite side of the pool. +Neither was there any coaxing it down. + +"What a pity!" said Daisy. + +"Not at all," said Preston. "Here, Sam just go up that tree +and clear the line will you?" + +Sam looked at the straight high stem of the oak, which had +shot up high before it put forth a single branch, and he did +not like the job. His slow motions said so. + +"Come!" said Preston, "be alive and do it quick, will you." + +"He can't " said Daisy. + +"Yes, he can," said Preston. "If he can't, he isn't worth his +bread and salt. That's it, Sam hand over hand, and you'll be +there directly." + +Sam showed what he _could_ do, if he did not like it; for he +worked himself up the tall tree like a monkey. It was not so +large but he could clasp it; so after a little rough work on +his part, and anxious watching on Daisy's, he got to the +branches. But now the line was caught in the small forks at +the leafy end of the branch. Sam lay out upon it as far as he +dared; he could not reach the line. + +"Oh, he'll fall!" cried Daisy, softly. "Oh, Preston, let him +come down! he can't get it." + +"He'll come to no harm," said Preston, coolly. "A little +further, Sam it's oak wood, it will hold you; a little +further, and you will have it a little further! " + +And Daisy saw that Sam had gone too far. The bough swayed, +Sam made a lunge after the line, lost his hold, and the next +minute his dark body was falling through the air and splashed +into the pool. The water flew all over the two fishers who +stood by its side; Preston awe-struck for the moment, Daisy +white as death. But before either of them could speak or move, +Sam's head reappeared above water. + +"Oh, get him out! get him out, Preston!" was Daisy's +distressed cry. Preston spoke nothing, but he snatched a long +stick that lay near, and held it out to Sam; and so in a few +minutes drew him to the shore and helped him out. Sam went to +a little distance and stood dripping with water from head to +foot; he did not shake himself, as a Newfoundland dog would +have done. + +"Are you hurt, Sam?" said Preston. + +"No, sir " Sam answered, in a tone as if he felt very wet. + +"Well, you've cleared the line for me at last," said Preston. +"All's well that ends well. Hollo! here's my hook gone, +broken off, float and all. Where's that basket, Sam?" + +"It's below, sir." + +"Below? where? just fetch it here, will you? This misfortune +can be mended." + +Sam moved off, dripping from every inch of him. + +"Oh, Preston," said Daisy, "he's all wet as he can be do let +him go right down to that house and dry himself! We can get +the basket." + +"Do him good to move about," said Preston. "Nonsense, Daisy! +a ducking like that won't do anybody any harm in a summer's +day." + +"I don't think _you'd_ like it," said Daisy; "and all his +clothes are full of water, and the sun don't come down here. +Tell him to go and get dry!" + +"I will, as soon as I've done with him. Here, Sam just bend +on this hook for me, while I see how the brook is further up. +I've no time to lose, and then you can go sun yourself +somewhere." + +Preston bounded off; Sam stood with the tackle in hand, +silently at work. Daisy sat still on a stone near by, looking +at him. + +"Were you hurt, Sam?" she asked, tenderly. + +"No, Miss Daisy." This answer was not discontented, but +stoical. + +"As soon as you have done that, Sam, run down to Mrs. +Dipper's, and maybe she can give you something dry to put on +while your clothes can be hung out." + +Silence on Sam's part. + +"Have you almost finished that?" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Then run off, Sam! Make haste to Mrs. Dipper's and get +yourself dry and don't come back till you are quite dry, +Sam." + +Sam finished his piece of work, flung down the line, and with +a grateful "Thank you, Miss Daisy!" set off at a bound. Daisy +watched him running at full speed down the brook till he was +out of sight. + +"Has he done it?" said Preston returning. "The rascal hasn't +put any bait on. However, Daisy, it's no use coaxing the trout +in _this_ place at present and I haven't found any other good +spots for some distance up; suppose we have our lunch and +try again?" + +"Oh, yes!" said Daisy. "The other basket is down by my +fishing-place it's just as pleasant there, Preston." + +They went back to the basket, and a very convenient huge rock +was found on the edge of the brook, which would serve for +table and seats too, it was so large and smooth. Preston took +his place upon it, and Daisy at the other end with the basket +began to unpack. + +"Napkins?" said Preston "you have no right to be so +luxurious on a fishing party." + +"Why not?" + +"Why, because a fisher is a kind of a Spartan animal, while he +is about his business." + +"What kind of an animal is that?" said Daisy, looking up from +her arrangements. + +She had set out a plate of delicate rolls, and another with +bread and butter folded in a napkin; and still she paused with +her hand in the basket. + +"Go on, Daisy. I want to see what comes next." + +"I don't know," said Daisy. "Why, Joanna has made us a lemon +pie!" + +"Capital!" said Preston. "And what have you got in that dish?" + +"I know," said Daisy. "Joanna has put in some jelly for me. +What sort of an animal is that, Preston?" + +"It is a sort I shall not be to-day with jelly and lemon +pie. But what has Joanna put in for me? nothing but bread?" + +"Why, there are sandwiches." + +"Where?" + +"Why, there! Those rolls are stuffed with meat, Preston." + +"Splendid!" said Preston, falling foul of the rolls +immediately. "What sort of an animal is a Spartan? My dear +little Daisy, don't you know?" + +"I don't believe I know anything," said Daisy, humbly. + +"Don't you want to?" + +"Oh, yes, Preston! if I had anybody to help me, I do." + +"Well we'll see. How perfect these sandwiches are! when +one's hungry." + +"I am hungry too," said Daisy. "I think the sound of the water +makes me hungry. Oh, I wish I had given Sam some! I never +thought of it. How hungry he must be!" + +"He'll get along," said Preston, helping himself to another +roll. + +"But how could I forget!" said Daisy. "And _he_ did not have a +second breakfast either. I am so sorry!" Daisy's hands fell +from her own dainties. + +"There is nothing here fit for him," said Preston. "I dare say +he has his own pockets full." + +"They were full of water, the last thing," said Daisy, +quaintly. + +Preston could not help laughing. "My dear Daisy," he said, "I +hope you are not getting soft-hearted on the subject of +servants?" + +"How, Preston?" + +"Don't; because it is foolish." + +"But, Preston," said Daisy, looking earnestly at his handsome +pleasant face which she liked very much, "don't you know what +the Bible says?" + +"No." + +"It says, 'The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is +the maker of them all.' " + +"Well," said Preston, "that don't mean that He made them all +alike." + +"Then, if they are not made alike, what is the difference?" + +"Good gracious!" said Preston; "do you often ask such +questions, Daisy? I hope you are not going to turn out a Mrs. +Child, or a philanthropist, or anything of that sort?" + +"I am not going to be a Mrs. Anybody," said Daisy; "but why +don't you answer me?" + +"Where did you get hold of those words?" + +"What words?" + +"Those words that you quoted to me about rich and poor." + +"I was reading them this morning." + +"In what?" + +"Why, in the Bible of course," said Daisy, with a little check +upon her manner. + +"This morning! Before we started! How came you to be reading +the Bible so early in the morning?" + +"I like to read it." + +"Well, I'd take proper times for reading it," said Preston. +"Who set you to reading it at five o'clock in the morning?" + +"Nobody. Oh, Preston, it was a great deal after five o'clock. +What are proper times for reading it?" + +"Are you going to cut that lemon pie? or shall I? Daisy, I +thought you were hungry. What is the use of jelly, if you +don't eat it? You'll never catch fish at that rate. Fishers +must eat." + +"But, Preston, what do you mean by proper times for reading +the Bible?" + +"Daisy, eat some lemon pie. It's capital. It melts in your +mouth. Joanna Underwood is an excellent woman!" + +"But, Preston, what do you mean?" + +"I don't mean you shall be religious, Daisy, if I can help +it." + +"What do you mean by being religious?" + +"I declare!" said Preston, laughing at her grave little face, +"I believe you've begun already. I am come in good time. I +won't let you be anything but just what you ought to be, +Daisy. Come eat some jelly, or some pie, or something." + +"But, tell me then, Preston!" Daisy persisted. + +"It is something ridiculous, and you would not wish to be +ridiculous." + +"I do not think I have ever seen ridiculous religious people," +said Daisy, steadily; "and they couldn't be ridiculous _because_ +they were religious." + +"Couldn't they?" said Preston. "Look out well, Daisy I shall +watch you. But they won't like it much down at Melbourne +House, Daisy. If I were you, I would stop before you begin." + +Daisy was silent. One thing was clear, she and Preston were at +issue; and the value she set upon his favour was very high. +She would not risk it by contending. Another thing was as +clear, that Preston's last words were truth. Among her +opposers, Daisy must reckon her father and mother, if she laid +herself open at all to the charge of being "religious." And +what opposition that would be, Daisy did not let herself +think. She shrunk from it. The lunch was finished, and she set +her attention to pack the remainder of the things back into +the basket. Suddenly she stopped. + +"Preston, I wish you to consider my words confidential." + +"Perfectly!" said Preston. + +"You are honourable," said Daisy. + +"Oh, Daisy, Daisy! you ought to have lived hundreds of years +ago! You have me under command. Come," said he, kissing her +grave little face, "are all these things to go in here? Let me +help and then we will go up stream." + +He helped her with a delicate kind of observance which was not +like most boys of sixteen, and which Daisy fully relished. It +met her notions. Then she went to get her fishing-rod which +lay fallen into the water. + +"Oh, Preston!" she exclaimed, "there is something on it! +it's heavy! it's a fish!" + +"It _is_ a fish!" repeated Preston, as a jerk of Daisy's line +threw it out high and dry on the shore "and what's more, +it's a splendid one. Daisy, you've done it now!" + +"And papa will have it for breakfast! Preston, put it in a +pail of water till we come back. There's that tin pail we +don't want it for anything won't you. Oh, I have caught +one!" + +It was done; and Daisy and Preston set off on a charming walk +up the brook; but though they tried the virtue of their bait +in various places, however it was, that trout was the only one +caught. Daisy thought it was a fine day's fishing. + +They found Sam, sound and dry, mounting guard over the tin +pail when they came back to it. And I think Daisy held to her +own understanding of the text that had been in debate; for +there was a fine portion of lemon pie, jelly, and sandwiches, +laid by for him in the basket, and by Sam devoured with great +appreciation. + + +CHAPTER X. + +A FIELD OF BATTLE. + + +June came the next morning to dress her young mistress as +usual. Daisy was not soon done with that business on this +particular day; she would break off, half dressed, and go to +lean out of her window. There was a honey-suckle below the +window; its dewy sweet smell came up to her, and the breath of +the morning was sweet beside in all the trees and leaves +around; the sun shone on the short turf by glimpses, where the +trees would let it. Daisy leaned out of her window. June stood +as often before, with comb and brush in hand. + +"Miss Daisy it's late." + +"June," said Daisy, "it's Sunday." + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"It'll be hot too," Daisy went on. "June, are you glad when +Sunday comes?" + +"Yes ma'am," said June, shifting her position a little. + +"I am," said Daisy. "Jesus is King to-day. To be sure, He is +King always; but to-day _everything_ is His." + +"Miss Daisy, you won't be dressed." + +Daisy drew her head in from the window, and sat down to submit +it to June's brush; but she went on talking. + +"What part of the Bible do you like best to read, June." + +"Miss Daisy, will you wear your white muslin to-day or the +one with blue spots?" + +"White. But tell me, June which part of the Bible do you +like best?" + +"I like where it tells about all they had to go through," +June answered, rather unwillingly. + +"They? who?" + +"The people, Miss Daisy Christians, I s'pose." + +"What did they have to go through?" + +"Things, ma'am," said June, very confusedly. "Miss Daisy, +please don't turn your head round." + +"But what things? and what for? Where is it, June?" + +"I can't tell I can find it for you, Miss Daisy. But you +won't be ready." + +June, however, had to risk that and find the chapter; and then +Daisy read perseveringly all through the rest of her dressing, +till it was finished. All the while June was fastening her +frock, and tying her sash, and lacing her boots, Daisy stood +or sat with the Bible in her hands and her eyes on the +eleventh of Hebrews. + +"June, I wonder when all this happened?" + +"A great while ago, it's likely, Miss Daisy but it's good to +read now" June added, but half distinctly, as it was her +manner often to speak. Daisy was accustomed to her, and heard +it. She did not answer except by breaking out into the chorus +she had learnt from June: + + +"Die in the field of battle, +Die in the field of battle, +Die in the field of battle, +Glory in your view!" + + +"Miss Daisy I wouldn't sing that in the house," June +ventured. For the child's voice, clear and full, raised the +sweet notes to a pitch that might have been heard at least +through several of the large rooms. Daisy hushed her song. + +The trout was to be for breakfast, and Daisy, when she was +quite ready, went gaily down to see if it would be approved. +Her father was engaged to eat it all, and he held to his +promise; only allowing Daisy herself to share with him; and on +the whole Daisy and he had a very gay breakfast. + +"It is too hot to do anything," said Mrs. Randolph, as the +trout was very nearly reduced to a skeleton. "I shall not go +to church this morning." + +A shade passed over Daisy's face, but she did not look towards +her mother. + +"If you do not, I can't see why I should," said Mr. Randolph. +"The burden of setting a good example lies upon you." + +"Why?" said his wife, quickly. + +"Nobody will know whether _I_ am there or not." + +"Nobody will know that I am there at any rate," the lady +rejoined. "The heat will be insufferable." Mrs. Gary declared +herself of the same opinion. + +An hour after, Daisy came into her mother's room. + +"Mamma, may I go to church with Joanna?" + +"It's too hot, Daisy." + +"No, mamma I don't mind it. I would like to go." + +"Children don't mind anything! Please yourself. But how are +you going?" + +"On foot, mamma; under the shade of the trees. It is nice and +shady, all the way." + +"It is enough to kill you! But go." + +So Daisy's great flat set off alongside of Miss Underwood's +Sunday gown to walk to church. They set out all right, on the +way to the church by the evergreens. Preston Gary was a good +deal surprised to find them some time later in another part of +the grounds, and going in a different direction. + +"Where are you bound, Daisy." he asked. + +"To church, Preston." + +"Church is the other way." + +"Yes, but Mr. Pyne is sick, and the church is closed, and we +are going over to that little church on the other side of the +road." + +"Why, that is a dissenting chapel, isn't it?" + +"There's no more dissent amongst 'em than there is among other +folks!" broke in Miss Underwood, with a good deal of +expression. "I wish all other folks and churches was as +peaceable and kept as close to their business! Anyhow, it's a +church, and the other one won't let us in." + +Preston smiled and stepped back, and to Daisy's satisfaction +they met with no further stay. They got to the little church, +and took their places in the very front; that place was empty, +and Joanna said it was the only one that she could see. The +house was full. It was a plain little church, very neat, but +very plain compared with what Daisy was accustomed to. So were +the people. These were not rich people, not any of them, she +thought. At least there were no costly bonnets, nor exquisite +lace shawls, nor embroidered muslin dresses among them; and +many persons that she saw looked absolutely poor. Daisy, +however, did not see this at first; for the service began +almost as soon as they entered. + +Daisy was very fond of the prayers always in church, but she +seldom could make much of the sermon. It was not so to-day. In +the first place, when the prayers and hymns were over, and +what Daisy called "the good part" of the service was done, her +astonishment and delight were about equal to see Mr. Dinwiddie +come forward to speak. It is impossible to tell how glad Daisy +was; even a sermon she thought she could relish from his lips; +but when he began, she forgot all about it's being a sermon. +Mr. Dinwiddie was talking to her and to the rest of the +people; that was all she knew; he was not looking down at his +book, he was looking at them; his eyes were going right +through hers. And he did not speak as if he was preaching; his +voice sounded exactly as it did every day out of church. It +was delightful. Daisy forgot all about it's being a sermon, +and only drank in the words with her ears and her heart, and +never took her eyes from those bright ones that every now and +then looked down at her. For Mr. Dinwiddie was telling of Him +"who though He was rich yet for our sakes became poor." He +told how rich He was, in the glories and happiness of heaven, +where everything is perfect and all is His. And then he told +how Jesus made Himself poor; how He left all that glory and +everything that pleased Him; came where everything displeased +Him; lived among sin and sinners; was poor, and despised, and +rejected, and treated with every shame, and at last shamefully +put to death and His dead body laid in the grave. All this +because He loved us; all this because He wanted to make us +rich, and without His death to buy our forgiveness there was +no other way. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that +He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our +sins." + +Daisy forgot even Mr. Dinwiddie in thinking of that wonderful +One. She thought she had never seen before how good He is, or +how beautiful; she had never felt how loving and tender Jesus +is in His mercy to those that seek Him, and whom _He_ came to +seek first; she never saw "the kindness and love of God our +Saviour" before. As the story went on, again and again Daisy +would see a cloud or mist of tears come over the brightness of +those brilliant eyes; and saw the lips tremble; and Daisy's +own eyes filled and ran over, and her cheeks were wet with +tears, and she never knew it! + +But when Mr. Dinwiddie stopped, she was so full of gladness in +her little heart, gladness that this beautiful Saviour loved +her and that she loved Him, that although if she _could_ have +been sorry, she would have been very sorry that the sermon was +over, she was not; she could be nothing but glad. + +She thought they were going home then, after the hymn was +sung; but in her thoughts she had missed some words not spoken +by Mr. Dinwiddie. And now she perceived that not only it was +sacrament day, which she had seen before; but further, that +the people who would not share in that service were going, and +that Miss Underwood was staying, and by consequence she must +stay too. Daisy was pleased. She had never in her life, as it +happened, seen the observance of this ordinance; and she had, +besides a child's curiosity, a deep, deep interest in all that +Christians are accustomed to do. Was she not one? + +Mr. Dinwiddie had spoken about the service and the purpose of +it; he explained how the servants of Christ at His command +take the bread and wine in remembrance of Him and what He has +done for them; and as a sign to all the world that they +believe in Him and love Him, and wait for Him to come again. +Now some prayers were made, and there were spoken some grave +words of counsel and warning, which sounded sweet and awful in +Daisy's ears; and then the people came forward, a part of +them, and knelt around a low railing which was before the +pulpit. As they did this, some voices began to sing a hymn, in +a wonderfully sweet and touching music. Daisy was exceedingly +fond of every melody and harmony that was worthy the name; and +this plaintive, slow, simple seemed to go not only through +her ears, but down to the very bottom of her heart. They sang +but a verse and a chorus; and then, after an interval, when +those around the railings rose and gave place to others, they +sang a verse and a chorus again; and this is the chorus that +they sang. It dwelt in Daisy's heart for many a day; but I can +never tell you the sweetness of it. + + +"Oh, the Lamb! the loving Lamb! +The Lamb on Calvary; +The Lamb that was slain, but lives again, +To intercede for me." + + +It seemed to Daisy a sort of paradise while they were singing. +Again and again, after a pause the notes measuredly rose and +fell; and little Daisy who could take no other open part in +what was going on, responded to them with her tears. Nobody +was looking, she thought; nobody would see. + +At last it was all done; the last verses were sung; the last +prayers spoken; the little crowd turned to go. Daisy, standing +behind Joanna in the front place, was obliged to wait till the +aisle was clear. She had turned too when everybody else did, +and so was standing with her back to the pulpit, when a hand +was laid on her shoulder. The next minute Daisy's little +fingers were in Mr. Dinwiddie's clasp, and her face was +looking joyfully into his. + +"Daisy I am glad to see you." + +Another look, and a slight clasp of her little fingers, +answered him. + +"I wish you had been with us just now." + +"I am too little " was Daisy's humble and regretful reply. + +"Nobody is too little, who is old enough to know what Jesus +has done and to love Him for it, and to be His servant. Do you +love Him, Daisy?" + +"Yes, Mr. Dinwiddie." + +A very soft, but a very clear answer; and so was the answer of +the eyes raised to his. To Daisy's great joy, he did not let +go her hand when they got out of the church. Instead of that, +keeping it fast, he allowed Miss Underwood to go on a little +before them, and then he lingered with Daisy along the shady, +overarched walks of Melbourne grounds, into which they +presently turned. Mr. Dinwiddie lingered purposely, and let +Joanna get out of hearing. Then he spoke again. + +"If you love Jesus, you want to obey Him, Daisy." + +"Yes, Mr. Dinwiddie!" + +He felt the breathless manner of her answer. + +"What will you do, little one, when you find that to obey Him, +you may have a great deal of hard fighting to go through?" + +"I'll die on the field of battle, Mr. Dinwiddie." + +He looked at her a little curiously. It was no child's boast. +Her face was quiet, her eye steady; so had her tone been. It +was most unlike Daisy to make protestations of feeling; just +now she was speaking to the one person in the world who could +help her, whom in this matter she trusted; speaking to him, +maybe, for the last time, she knew; and moreover Daisy's heart +was full. She spoke as she might live years and not do again, +when she said, + +"I'll die on the field of battle." + +"That is as the Lord pleases," returned Mr. Dinwiddie; "but +how will you _fight_, Daisy? you are a weak little child. The +fight must be won, in the first place." + +"Please tell me, Mr. Dinwiddie." + +He sat down on a bank, and drew Daisy down beside him. + +"In the first place, you must remember that you are the +Lord's, and that everything you have belongs to Him; so that +His will is the only thing to be considered in every case. Is +it so, Daisy." + +"Yes, Mr. Dinwiddie! But tell me what you mean by 'everything +I have.' That is what I wanted to know." + +"I will tell you presently. In the next place whenever you +know the Lord's will, don't be afraid, but trust Him to help +you to do it. He always will, He always can. Only trust Him, +and don't be afraid." + +"Yes, Mr. Dinwiddie!" Daisy said; but with a gleam on her face +which even then reflected the light of those words. + +"That's all, Daisy." + +"Then, Mr. Dinwiddie, please tell me what you mean by +'everything.' " + +"If you love the Lord, Daisy, you will find out." + +"But I am afraid I don't know, Mr. Dinwiddie, what all my +talents are." + +"He is a wise man that does. But if you love the Lord Jesus +with all your heart, you will find that in everything you do +you can somehow please Him, and that He is first to be +pleased." + +They looked into each other again, those two faces, with +perfect understanding; grateful content in the child's eyes, +watchful tenderness in those of Mr. Dinwiddie, through all +their keenness and brightness. Then he rose up and offered his +hand to Daisy; just said 'good bye,' and was gone. He turned +off another way, Daisy followed Miss Underwood's steps. But +Joanna had got to the house long before she reached it; and +Daisy thought herself very happy that nobody saw her come home +alone. She got to her own room in safety. + +Daisy's heart was full of content. That day was the King's, to +be sure; the very air seemed to speak of the love of Jesus, +and the birds and the sunshine and the honeysuckle repeated +the song of "The Lamb on Calvary." There was no going to +church a second time; after luncheon, which was Daisy's +dinner, she had the time all to herself. She sat by her own +window, or sometimes she lay down for Daisy was not very +strong yet but sitting or lying, and whatever she was doing, +the thought that that King was hers, and that Jesus loved her, +made her happy; and the hours of the day rolled away as bright +as its own sunshine. + +"Well, mouse," said her mother, when Daisy came down to tea, +where have you been? What a mouse you are!" + +"Intelligent for a lower order of quadrupeds," said Mr. +McFarlane. + +"The day has been insufferable!" said Mrs. Randolph. "Have you +been asleep, Daisy?" + +"No, mamma." + +"You were lying down?" + +"Yes, mamma." + +Daisy had drawn up close to her mother who had thrown an arm +round her. The family were gathered in the library; the +windows open, the fresh air coming faintly in; the light +fading but no lamps needed yet. + +"I am glad the day is over!" said Mrs. Gary. "This morning I +did not know how I was going to live through it. There is a +little freshness now. Why is it always so much hotter on +Sundays than on any other day?" + +"Because you think about it," said Mr. Randolph, who was +moving from window to window, setting the glass doors wider +open. + +"There is nothing else to think about," said Mrs. Randolph +with a yawn. "Gary, do bring me a cup of tea." + +"You ought to think about your evil deeds," said Mr. +McFarlane, obeying the command. "Then you would have enough." + +"_You_ would, you mean." + +"I know it. I speak from experience. I tried it once, for a +whole afternoon; and you've no idea how good tea-time was when +it came!" + +"What _could_ set you about such a piece of work, Gary?" said +his hostess, laughing. + +"Conscience, my dear," said her sister. "I am not at all +surprised. I wonder if anybody has been to church to-day?" + +"I am sorry for the clergyman, if anybody has," remarked Gary. + +Mrs. Randolph's arm had slipped from Daisy, and Daisy slipped +away from her mother's sofa to the table; where she clipped +sponge biscuits in milk, and wondered at other people's +Sundays. A weight seemed settling down on her heart. She could +not bear to hear the talk; she ate her supper, and then sat +down on the threshold of one of the glass doors that looked +towards the west, and watched the beautiful colours on the +clouds over the mountains; and softly sung to herself the tune +she had heard in the morning. So the colours faded away, and +the light, and the dusk grew on, and still Daisy sat in the +window-door, humming to herself. She did not know that Gary +McFarlane had stolen up close behind her and gone away again. + +He went away just as company came in; some gay neighbours who +found the evening tempting, and came for a little diversion. +Lamps were lit, and talking and laughing went round, till Mrs. +Randolph asked where Daisy was. + +"In the window, singing to the stars," Gary McFarlane +whispered. "Do you know, Mrs. Randolph, how she can sing?" + +"No, how? She has a child's voice." + +"But not a child's taste or ear," said Gary. "I heard her the +other day warbling the gypsy song in 'The Camp in Silesia,' +and she did it to captivation. Do, Mrs. Randolph, ask her to +sing it. I was astonished." + +"Do!" said Captain Drummond; and the request spread and became +general. + +"Daisy " said Mrs. Randolph. Daisy did not hear; but the call +being repeated, she came from her window, and after speaking +to the strangers, whom she knew, she turned to her mother. The +room was all light and bright and full of gay talkers. + +"Daisy," said her mother, "I want you to sing that gypsy song +from the 'Camp in Silesia.' Gary says you know it so he is +responsible. Can you sing it?" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Then sing it. Never mind whether you succeed or not; that is +of no consequence." + +"Mamma," began Daisy. + +"Well, what?" + +Daisy was in great confusion. What to say to her mother she +did not know. + +"No matter how you get along with it," repeated Mrs. Randolph. +"That is nothing." + +"It isn't that, mamma, but " + +"Then sing. No more words, Daisy; sing." + +"Mamma, please don't ask me!" + +"I _have_ asked you. Come Daisy don't be silly." + +"Mamma," whispered Daisy, trembling, "I will sing it any other +night but to night!" + +"To-night? what's to-night?" + +"To-night is Sunday." + +"And is that the reason?" + +Daisy stood silent, very much agitated. + +"I'll have no nonsense of the kind, Daisy. Sing immediately!" +But Daisy stood still. + +"Do you refuse me?" + +"Mamma " said Daisy, pleadingly. + +"Go and fetch me a card from the table." + +Daisy obeyed. Mrs. Randolph rapidly wrote a word or two on it +with a pencil. + +"But where is the gypsy?" cried Gary McFarlane. + +"She has not found her voice yet. Take that to your father, +Daisy." + +Daisy's knees literally shook under her as she moved across +the room to obey this order. Mr. Randolph was sitting at some +distance talking with one of the gentlemen. He broke off when +Daisy came up with the card. + +"What is it your mother wishes you to sing?" he inquired, +looking from the writing to the little bearer. Daisy answered +very low. + +"A gypsy-song from an opera." + +"Can you sing it?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Then do so at once, Daisy." + +The tone was quiet but imperative. Daisy stood with eyes cast +down, the blood all leaving her face to reinforce some +attacked region. She grew white from second to second. + +"It is the charge of the Light Brigade," said Captain Drummond +to himself. He had heard and watched the whole proceeding, and +had the key to it. He thought good-naturedly to suggest to +Daisy an escape from her difficulty, by substituting for the +opera song something else that she _could_ sing. Rising and +walking slowly up and down the room, he hummed near enough for +her to hear and catch it, the air of "Die in the field of +battle." Daisy heard and caught it, but not his suggestion. It +was the thought of the _words_ that went to her heart, not the +thought of the tune. She stood as before, only clasped her +little hands close upon her breast. Captain Drummond watched +her. So did her father, who could make nothing of her. + +"Do you understand me, Daisy?" + +"Papa " + +"Obey me first, and then talk about it." + +Daisy was in no condition to talk; she could hardly breathe +that one word. She knew the tone of great displeasure in her +father's voice. He saw her condition. + +"You are not able to sing at this minute," said he. "Go to +your room I will give you ten minutes to recover yourself. +Then, Daisy, come here and sing if you like to be at peace +with me." + +But Daisy did not move; she stood there, with her two hands +clasped on her breast. + +"Do you mean that you will not?" said Mr. Randolph. + +"If it wasn't Sunday, papa " came from Daisy's parted lips. + +"Sunday?" said Mr. Randolph "is that it? Now we know where +we are. Daisy do you hear me? turn about and sing your +song. Do not give me another refusal!" + +But Daisy stood, growing paler and paler, till the whiteness +reached her lips, and her father saw that in another minute +she would fall. He snatched her from the floor, and placed her +upon his knee with his arm round her; but though conscious +that she was held against his breast, Daisy was conscious too +that there was no relenting in it; she knew her father; and +her deadly paleness continued. Mr. Randolph saw that there +would be no singing that night, and that the conflict between +Daisy and him must be put off to another day. Making excuse to +those near, that she was not well, he took his little daughter +in his arms, and carried her up stairs to her own room. There +he laid her on the bed and rang for June, and staid by her +till he saw her colour returning. Then without a word he left +her. + +Meanwhile Captain Drummond, downstairs, had taken a quiet seat +in a corner; his talking mood having deserted him. + +"Did I ever walk up to the cannon's mouth like that?" he said +to himself. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE WOUNDED HAND. + + +Daisy kept herself quite still while her father and June were +present. When Mr. Randolph had gone downstairs, and June, +seeing her charge better, ventured to leave her to get some +brandy and water, then Daisy seized that minute of being alone +to allow herself a few secret tears. Once opened, the fountain +of tears gushed out a river; and when June came back Daisy was +in an agony which prevented her knowing that anybody was with +her. In amaze, June set down the brandy and water, and looked +on. She had never in her life seen Daisy so. It distressed +her; but though June might be called dull, her poor wits were +quick to read some signs; and troubled as she was, she called +neither Daisy's father nor her mother. The child's state would +have warranted such an appeal. She never heard June's +tremulous "Don't, Miss Daisy!" She was shaken with the sense +of the terrible contest she had brought on herself; and +grieved to the very depths of her tender little heart that she +must bear the displeasure of her father and her mother. She +struggled with tears and agitation until she was exhausted, +and then lay quiet, panting and pale, because she had no +strength to weep longer. + +"Miss Daisy," said June, "drink this." + +"What is it?" + +"It is brandy and water. It is good for you." + +"I am not faint. I don't like it." + +"Miss Daisy, please! You want something. It will make you feel +better and put you to sleep." + +Disregarding the tumbler which June offered, Daisy slowly +crawled off the bed, and went and kneeled down before her open +window, crossing her arms on the sill. June followed her, with +a sort of submissive pertinacity. + +"Miss Daisy, you want to take some of this, and lie down and +go to sleep." + +"I don't want to go to sleep." + +"Miss Daisy, you're weak won't you take a little of this, to +strengthen you a bit?" + +"I don't want it, June." + +"You'll be sick to-morrow." + +"June," said Daisy, "I wish a chariot of fire would come for +me!" + +"Why, Miss Daisy?" + +"To take me right up. But I shall not be sick. You needn't be +afraid. You needn't stay." + +June was too much awed to speak, and dared not disobey. She +withdrew; and in her own premises stood as Daisy was doing, +looking at the moonlight; much wondering that storms should +pass over her little white mistress such as had often shaken +her own black breast. It was mysterious. + +Daisy did not wish to go to sleep; and it was for fear she +should, that she had crawled off the bed, trembling in every +limb. For the same reason she would not touch the brandy and +water. Once asleep, the next thing would be morning and waking +up; she was not ready for that. So she knelt by the window, +and felt the calm glitter of the moonlight, and tried to pray. +It was long, long since Daisy had withstood her father or +mother in anything. She remembered the last time; she knew now +they _would_ have her submit to them, and now she thought she +must not. Daisy dared not face the coming day. She would have +liked to sit up all night; but her power of keeping even upon +her knees was giving way when June stole in behind her, too +uneasy to wait for Daisy's ring. + +"Miss Daisy, you'll be surely sick to-morrow, and Mis' +Randolph will think I ought to be killed." + +"June, didn't the minister say this morning " + +"What minister?" + +"Oh, it wasn't you, it was Joanna. Where is Joanna? I want +to see her." + +"Most likely she's going to bed, Miss Daisy." + +"No matter I want to see her. Go and tell her, June no +matter if she is in her night-gown, tell her I want to speak +to her one minute." + +June went, and Daisy once more burst into tears. But she +brushed them aside when Joanna came back with June a few +minutes after. + +"Joanna didn't the minister say this morning, that when we +are doing what Jesus tells us, He will help us through?" + +"It's true," said Joanna, looking startled and troubled at the +pale little tear-stained face lifted to her; "but I don't +just know as that minister said it this morning." + +"Didn't he?" + +"Why, it's true, Miss Daisy; for I've heard other ministers +say it; but that one this morning was preaching about +something else don't you know?" + +"Was he? Didn't he say that?" + +"Why, no, Miss Daisy; he was preaching about how rich " + +"Oh, I know!" said Daisy "I remember; yes, it wasn't then +it was afterwards. Yes, he said it I knew it but it wasn't +in his sermon. Thank you, Joanna that's all; I don't want +you any more." + +"What ails her?" whispered Joanna, when June followed her out +with a light. + +But June knew her business better than to tell her little +mistress's secrets; and her face showed no more of them than +it showed of her own. When she returned, Daisy was on her +knees, with her face hidden in her hands, at the foot of the +bed. + +June stopped; and the little white figure there looked so +slight, the attitude of the bended head was so childlike and +pitiful, that the mulatto woman's face twinkled and twitched +in a way most unwonted to its usual stony lines. She never +stirred till Daisy rose up and submissively allowed herself to +be put to bed; and then waited on her with most reverent +gentleness. + +So she did next morning. But Daisy was very pale, and trembled +frequently, June noticed; and, when she was dressed, sat down +patiently by the window. She was not going down to breakfast, +she told June; and June went away to her own breakfast, very +ill satisfied. + +Breakfast was brought up to Daisy, as she expected; and then +she waited for her summons. She could not eat much. The tears +were very ready to start, but Daisy kept them back. It did not +suit her to go weeping into her father and mother's presence, +and she had self-command enough to prevent it. She could not +read; yet she turned over the pages of her Bible to find some +comfort. She did not know or could not remember just where to +look for it; and at last turned to the eleventh of Hebrews, +and with her eye running over the record there of what had +been done and borne for Christ's sake, felt her own little +heart beating hard in its own trial. + +June came at length to call her to her mother's room. + +Mrs. Randolph was half lying on a couch, a favourite position; +and her eye was full on Daisy as she came in. Daisy stopped at +a little distance; and June took care to leave the door ajar. + +"Daisy," said Mrs. Randolph, "I want in the first place an +explanation of last night's behaviour." + +"Mamma, I am very sorry to have offended you!" said Daisy, +pressing both hands together upon her breast to keep herself +quiet. + +"Looks like it," said Mrs. Randolph; and yet she did see and +feel the effect of the night's work upon the child. "Go on; +tell me why you disobeyed me last night." + +"It was Sunday " said Daisy, softly. + +"Sunday! well, what of that? what of Sunday?" + +"That song wasn't a Sunday song." + +"What do you mean by a Sunday song?" + +"I mean" Daisy was on dangerous ground, and she knew it, +"I mean, one of those songs that God likes to hear people sing +on His day." + +"Who is to be judge?" said Mrs. Randolph, "you or I?" + +"Mamma," said Daisy, "I will do everything else in the world +you tell me!" + +"You will have to do everything else and this too. Isn't there +a commandment about children obeying their mothers." + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"That is the very first commandment I mean you shall obey," +said Mrs. Randolph, rousing herself enough to bring one foot +to the floor. "You have no business to think whether a thing +is right or wrong, that I order you to do; if I order it, that +makes it right; and anybody but a fool would tell you so. You +will sing that song from the 'Camp in Silesia' for me next +Sunday evening, or I will whip you, Daisy you may depend +upon it. I have done it before, and I will again; and you know +I do not make believe. Now go to your father." + +"Where is he, mamma?" said Daisy, with a perceptible added +paleness in her cheek. + +"I don't know. In the library, I suppose." + +To the library Daisy went, with trembling steps, in great +uncertainty what she was to expect from her father. It was +likely enough that he would say the same as her mother, and +insist on the act of submission to be gone through next +Sunday; but Daisy had an inward consciousness that her father +was likely to come to a point with her sooner than that. It +came even sooner than she expected. + +Mr. Randolph was pacing up and down the library when Daisy +slowly opened the door. No one else was there. He stopped when +she came in, and stood looking at her as she advanced towards +him. + +"Daisy, you disobeyed me last night." + +"Yes, papa, but " + +"I have but one answer for that sort of thing," said Mr. +Randolph, taking a narrow ruler from the library table. + +"Give me your hand!" + +Daisy gave it, with a very vague apprehension of what he was +about to do. The sharp, stinging stroke of the ruler the next +moment upon her open palm, made her understand very +thoroughly. It drew from her one cry of mixed pain and terror; +but after that first forced exclamation Daisy covered her face +with her other hand, and did not speak again. Tears, that she +could not help, came plentifully; for the punishment was +sufficiently severe, and it broke her heart that her father +should inflict it; but she stood perfectly still, only for the +involuntary wincing that was beyond her control, till her hand +was released and the ruler was thrown down. Heart and head +bowed together then, and Daisy crouched down on the floor +where she stood, unable either to stand or to move a step +away. + +"There! that account's settled!" said Mr. Randolph, as he +flung down his ruler. And the next moment his hands came +softly about Daisy, and lifted her from the floor and placed +her on his knee; and his arms were wrapped tenderly round her. +Daisy almost wished he had let her alone; it seemed to her +that her sorrow was more than she could bear. + +"Is your heart almost broken?" said Mr. Randolph, softly, as +he felt rather than heard the heavy sobs so close to him. But +to speak was an impossibility, and so he knew, and did not +repeat his question; only he held Daisy fast, and it was in +his arms that she wept out the first overcharged fulness of +her heart. + +It was a long time before she could quiet those heavy sobs; +and Mr. Randolph sat quite still holding her. + +"Is your heart quite broken?" he whispered again, when he +judged that she could speak. Daisy did not speak, however. She +turned, and rising upon her knees, threw her arms round her +father's neck, and hid her soft little head there. If tears +came Mr. Randolph could not tell; he thought his neck was wet +with them. He let her alone for a little while. + +"Daisy " + +"Papa." + +"Can you talk to me?" + +Daisy sank back into her former position. Her father put his +lips down to hers for a long kiss. + +"That account is settled," said he; "do you understand? Now +Daisy, tell me what was the matter last night." + +"Papa, it was Sunday night." + +"Yes. Well?" + +"And that song that mamma wanted me to sing" Daisy spoke +very low, "was out of an opera; and it was good for any +other day, but not for Sunday." + +"Why not?" + +Daisy hesitated, and at last said, "It had nothing to do with +Sunday, papa." + +"But obedience is not out of place on Sunday, is it?" + +"No, papa, except " + +"Well, except what?" + +"Papa, if God tells me to do one thing, and you tell me +another, what shall I do?" Daisy had hid her face in her +father's breast. + +"What counter command have you to plead in this case?" + +"Papa, may I show it to you?" + +"Certainly." + +She got down off his lap, twinkling away a tear hastily, and +went to the bookcase for the big Bible aforesaid. Mr. Randolph +seeing what she was after, and that she could not lift it, +went to her help, and brought it to the library table. Daisy +turned over the leaves with fingers that trembled yet, +hastily, flurriedly; and paused and pointed to the words that +her father read, "Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath +day." + +Mr. Randolph read them, and the words following, and the words +that went before; then he turned from them, and drew Daisy to +her place in his arms again. + +"Daisy, there is another commandment there, 'Honour thy father +and thy mother.' Is there not ?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"Is not one command as good as the other?" + +"Papa, I think not," said Daisy. "One command tells me to obey +you, the other tells me to obey God." + +Childish as the answer was, there was truth in it; and Mr. +Randolph shifted his ground. + +"Your mother will not be satisfied without your obeying the +lesser command nor shall I!" + +Silence. + +"She will expect you to do next Sunday evening what you +refused to do last evening." + +Still silence, but a shiver ran over Daisy's frame. + +"Do you know it?" said Mr. Randolph, noticing also that +Daisy's cheek had grown a shade paler than it was. + +"Papa I wish I could die!" was the answer of the child's +agony. + +"Do you mean that you will not obey her, Daisy?" + +"How can I, papa? how can I!" exclaimed Daisy. + +"Do you think that song is so very bad, Daisy?" + +"No, papa, it is very good for other days; but it is not +holy." Her accent struck strangely upon Mr. Randolph's ear; +and sudden contrasts rushed together oddly in his mind. + +"Daisy, do you know that you are making yourself a judge of +right and wrong? over your mother and over me?" + +Daisy hid her face again in his breast; what could she answer? +Mr. Randolph unfolded the little palm, swollen and blistered +from the marks of his ruler. + +"Why did you offend me, Daisy?" he said, gravely. + +"Oh, papa!" said Daisy, beside herself, "I didn't I +couldn't I wouldn't, for anything in the world! but I +couldn't offend the Lord Jesus!" + +She was weeping again bitterly. + +"That will not do," said Mr. Randolph. "You must find a way to +reconcile both duties. I shall not take an alternative." But +after that he said no more, and only applied himself to +soothing Daisy; till she sat drooping in his arms, but still +and calm. She started when the sound of steps and voices came +upon the verandah. + +"Papa, may I go?" + +He let her go, and watched her measured steps through the long +room to the door, and heard the bound they made as soon as she +was outside of it. He rang the bell and ordered June to be +called. She came. + +"June," said Mr. Randolph, "I think Daisy wants to be taken +care of to-day I wish you would not lose sight of her." + +June courtesied her obedience. + +A few minutes afterwards her noiseless steps entered Daisy's +room. June's footfall was never heard about the house. As +noiseless as a shadow she came into a room; as stealthily as a +dark shadow she went out. Her movements were always slow; and +whether from policy or caution originally, her tread would not +waken a sleeping mouse. So she came into her little mistress's +chamber now. Daisy was there, at her bureau, before an open +drawer; as June advanced, she saw that a great stock of little +pairs of gloves was displayed there, of all sorts, new and +old; and Daisy was trying to find among them one that would do +for her purpose. One after another was tried on the fingers of +her right hand, and thrown aside; and tears were running over +the child's cheeks and dropping into the drawer all the time. +June came near, with a sort of anxious look on her yellow +face. It was strangely full of wrinkles and lines, that +generally never stirred to express or reveal anything. +Suddenly she exclaimed, but June's very exclamations were in a +smothered tone + +"Oh, Miss Daisy! what have you done to your hand?" + +"I haven't done anything to it," said Daisy, trying furtively +to get rid of her tears, "but I want a glove to put on, +June, and they are all too small. Is Cecilia at work here to- +day?" + +"Yes, Miss Daisy; but let me look at your hand! let me put +some liniment on." + +"No, I don't want it," said Daisy; and June saw the suppressed +sob that was not allowed to come out into open hearing; "but +June, just rip that glove, will you, here in the side seam; +and then ask Cecilia to make a strip of lace-work there so +that I can get it on." Daisy drew a fur glove over the wounded +hand as she spoke it was the only one large enough and put +on her flat hat. + +"Miss Daisy, Mr. Randolph said I was to go with you anywhere +you went to take care of you." + +"Then come down to the beach, June; I'll be there." + +Daisy stole down stairs and slipped out of the first door she +came to. What she wanted was to get away from seeing anybody; +she did not wish to see her mother, or Preston, or Captain +Drummond, or Ransom; and she meant even if possible to wander +off and not be at home for dinner. She could not bear the +thought of the dinner-table, with all the faces round it. She +stole out under the shrubbery, which soon hid her from view of +the house. + +It was a very warm day, the sun beating hot wherever it could +touch at all. Daisy went languidly along under cover of the +trees, wishing to go faster, but not able, till she reached +the bank. There she waited for June to join her, and together +they went down to the river shore. Safe there from pursuit, on +such a day, Daisy curled herself down in the shade with her +back against a stone, and then began to think. She felt very +miserable; not merely for what had passed, but for a long +stretch of trouble that she saw lying before her. Indeed where +or how it was to end, Daisy had no idea. Her father indeed, +she felt pretty sure would not willingly allow his orders to +come in conflict with what she thought her duty; though if he +happened to do it unconsciously, Daisy would not follow that +train of thought. But here she was now, at this moment, +engaged in a trial of strength with her mother; very unequal, +for Daisy felt no power at all for the struggle, and yet she +could not yield! + +Where was it to end? and how many other like occasions of +difference might arise, even after this one should somehow +have been settled? Had the joy of being a servant of Jesus so +soon brought trouble with it? Daisy had put the trunk of a +large tree between her and June; but the mulatto woman, where +she sat, heard the stifled sobs of the child. June's items of +intelligence, picked up by eye and ear, had given her by this +time an almost reverent feeling towards Daisy; she regarded +her as hardly earthly; nevertheless, this sort of distress +must not be suffered to go on, and she was appointed to +prevent it. + +"Miss Daisy it is luncheon time," she said, without moving. +Daisy gave no response. June waited, and then came before her +and repeated her words. + +"I am not going in." + +"But you want your dinner, Miss Daisy." + +"No, I don't, June. I don't want to go in." + +June looked at her a minute. "I'll get you your luncheon out +here, Miss Daisy. You'll be faint for want of something to +eat. Will you have it out here?" + +"You needn't say where I am, June." + +June went off, and Daisy was left alone. Very weary and +exhausted, she sat leaning her head against the stone at her +side, in a sort of despairing quiet. The little ripple of the +water on the pebbly shore struck her ear; it was the first +thing eye or ear had perceived to be pleasant that day. +Daisy's thoughts went to the hand that had made the glittering +river, with all its beauties and wonders; then they went to +what Mr. Dinwiddie had said, that God will help His people +when they are trying to do any difficult work for Him; He will +take care of them; He will not forsake them. Suddenly it +filled Daisy's soul like a flood, the thought that Jesus loves +His people; that she was His little child and that He loved +her; and all His wisdom and power and tenderness were round +her and would keep her. Her trouble seemed to be gone, or it +was like a cloud with sunlight shining all over it. The very +air was full of music, to Daisy's feeling, not her sense. +There never was such sunlight, or such music either, as this +feeling of the love of Jesus. Daisy kneeled down by the rock, +and rested her forehead against it, to pray for joy. + +She was there still, when June came back, and stopped and +looked at her, a vague expression of care sitting in her black +eyes, into which now an unwonted moisture stole. June had a +basket, and as soon as Daisy sat down again, she came up and +began to take things out of it. She had brought everything for +Daisy's dinner. There was a nice piece of beefsteak, just off +the gridiron; and rice and potatoes; and a fine bowl of +strawberries for dessert. June had left nothing; there was the +roll and the salt, and a tumbler and a carafe of water. She +set the other things about Daisy, on the ground and on the +rock, and gave the plate of beefsteak into her hand. + +"Miss Daisy, what will you do for a table?" + +"It's nicer here than a table. How good you are, June. I +didn't know I wanted it." + +"I know you do, Miss Daisy." + +And she went to her sewing, and sewed perseveringly, while +Daisy eat her dinner. + +"June, what o'clock is it." + +"It's after one, ma'am." + +"You haven't had your own dinner?" + +June mumbled something, of which nothing could be understood +except that it was a general abnegation of all desire or +necessity for dinner on her own part. + +"But you have not had it?" said Daisy. + +"No, ma'am. They've done dinner by this time." + +"June, I have eaten up all the beefsteak there is nothing +left but some potato, and rice, and strawberries; but you +shall have some strawberries." + +June in vain protested. Daisy divided the strawberries into +two parts, sugared them both, broke the remaining roll in two, +and obliged June to take her share. When this was over, Daisy +seated herself near June, and laid her head against her knee. +She could hardly hold it up. + +"June," she said presently, "I think those people in the +eleventh chapter of Hebrews you know." + +"Yes, Miss Daisy." + +"I think they were very happy, because they knew that Jesus +loved them." + +June made no audible answer; she mumbled something; and Daisy +sat still. Presently her soft breathing made June look over at +her; Daisy was asleep. In her hand, in her lap, lay a book. +June looked yet further, to see what book it was. It was Mr. +Dinwiddie's Bible. + +June sat up and went on with her work, but her face twitched. + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE HUNDRED DOLLARS. + + +Daisy was at the dinner-table. After having a good sleep on +June's knee, she had come home, and dressed as usual, and she +was in her place when the dessert was brought on. Mr. +Randolph, from his distant end of the table, watched her a +little; he saw that she behaved just as usual; she did not +shun anybody, though her mother shunned her. A glove covered +her right hand, yet Daisy persisted in using that hand rather +than attract notice, though from the slowness of her movements +it was plain it cost her some trouble. Gary McFarlane asked +why she had a glove on, and Mr. Randolph heard Daisy's +perfectly quiet and true answer, that "her hand was wounded, +and had to wear a glove," given without any confusion or +evasion. He called his little daughter to him, and giving her +a chair by his side, spent the rest of his time in cracking +nuts and preparing a banana for her; doing it carelessly, not +as if she needed but as if it pleased him to give her his +attention. + +After dinner, Daisy sought Preston, who was out on the lawn, +as he said, to cool himself; in the brightness of the setting +sun to be sure, but also in a sweet light air which was +stirring. + +"Phew! it's hot. And you, Daisy, don't look as if the sun and +you had been on the same side of the earth to-day. What do you +want now?" + +"I want a good talk with you, Preston." + +"I was going to say 'fire up,' " said Preston, "but, no, don't +do anything of that sort! If there is any sort of talking that +has a chilly effect, I wish you'd use it." + +"I have read of such talk, but I don't think I know how to do +it," said Daisy. "I read the other day of somebody's being +'frozen with a look.' + +Preston went off into a fit of laughter, and rolled himself +over on the grass, declaring that it was a splendid idea; then +he sat up and asked Daisy again what she wanted? Daisy cast a +glance of her eye to see that nobody was too near. + +"Preston, you know you were going to teach me." + +"Oh ay! about the Spartans." + +"I want to learn everything," said Daisy. "I don't know much." + +Preston looked at the pale, delicate child, whose doubtful +health he knew had kept her parents from letting her "know +much"; and it was no wonder that when he spoke again, he used +a look and manner that were caressing, and even tender. + +"What do you want to know, Daisy?" + +"I want to know everything," whispered Daisy; "but I don't +know what to begin at." + +"No!" said Preston, " 'everything' seems as big as the world, +and as hard to get hold of." + +"I want to know geography," said Daisy. + +"Yes. Well you shall. And you shall not study for it +neither; which you can't." + +"Yes I can." + +"No you can't. You are no more fit for it, little Daisy but +look here! I wish you would be a red daisy." + +"Then what else, Preston?" + +"Nothing else. Geography is enough at once." + +"Oh, no, it isn't. Preston, I can't do the least little bit of +a sum in the world." + +"Can't you? Well I don't see that that is of any very great +consequence. What sums do _you_ want to do?" + +"But I want to know how." + +"Why?" + +"Why, Preston, you know I _ought_ to know how. It might be very +useful, and I ought to know." + +"I hope it will never be of any use to you," said Preston; +"but you can learn the multiplication table if you like." + +"Then will you show it to me?" + +"Yes; but what has put you in such a fever of study, little +Daisy? It excites me, this hot weather." + +"Then won't you come in and show me the multiplication table +now, Preston?" + +In came Preston, laughing, and found an arithmetic for Daisy; +and Daisy, not laughing, but with a steady seriousness, sat +down on the verandah in the last beams of the setting sun to +learn that "twice two is four." + +The same sort of sweet seriousness hung about all her +movements this week. To those who knew what it meant, there +was something extremely touching in the gentle gravity with +which she did everything, and the grace of tenderness which +she had for everybody. Daisy was going through great trouble. +Not only the trouble of what was past, but the ordeal of what +was to come. It hung over her like a black cloud, and her +fears were like muttering thunder. But the sense of right, the +love of the Master in whose service she was suffering, the +trust in His guiding hand, made Daisy walk with that strange, +quiet dignity between the one Sunday and the other. Mr. +Randolph fancied sometimes when she was looking down, that he +saw the signs of sadness about her mouth; but whenever she +looked up again, he met such quiet, steady eyes, that he +wondered. He was puzzled; but it was no puzzle that Daisy's +cheeks grew every day paler, and her appetite less. + +"I do not wish to flatter you" said Mrs. Gary, one evening +"but that child has very elegant manners! Really, I think they +are very nearly perfect. I don't believe there is an English +court beauty who could show better." + +"The English beauty would like to be a little more robust in +her graces," remarked Gary McFarlane. + +"That is all Daisy wants," her aunt went on; "but that will +come, I trust, in time." + +"Daisy would do well enough," said Mrs. Randolph, "if she +could get some notions out of her head." + +"What, you mean her religious notions? How came she by them, +pray?" + +"Why, there was a person here a connexion of Mrs. Sandford's + that set up a Sunday school in the woods; and Daisy went to +it for a month or two, before I thought anything about it, or +about him. Then I found she was beginning to ask questions, +and I took her away." + +"Is asking questions generally considered a sign of danger?" +said Gary McFarlane. + +"What was that about her singing the other night?" said Mrs. +Gary "that had something to do with the same thing, hadn't +it?" + +"Refused to sing an opera song because it was Sunday." + +"Ridiculous!" said Mrs. Gary. "I'll try to make her see it so +herself if I get a chance. She is a sensible child." + +Mr. Randolph was walking up and down the room, and had not +spoken a word. A little time after, he found himself nearly +alone with Mrs. Randolph, the others having scattered away. He +paused near his wife's sofa. + +"Daisy is failing," he said. "She has lost more this week than +she had gained in the two months before." + +Mrs. Randolph made no answer, and did not even move her +handsome head, or her delicate hands. + +"Can't you get out of this business, Felicia?" + +"In the way that I said I would. You expect your words to be +obeyed, Mr. Randolph; and I expect it for mine." + +Mr. Randolph resumed his walk. + +"Daisy has got some things in her head that must get out of +it. I would as lieve not have a child, as not to have her mind +me." + +Mr. Randolph passed out upon the verandah, and continuing his +walk there, presently came opposite the windows of the +library. There he saw Daisy seated at the table, reading. Her +hand was over her brow, and Mr. Randolph did not feel +satisfied with the sober lines of the little mouth upon which +the lamplight shone. Once, too, Daisy's head went down upon +her book, and lay there a little while. Mr. Randolph did not +feel like talking to her just then, or he would have liked to +go in and see what she was studying. But while he stood +opposite the window, Captain Drummond came into the library. + +"You here, Daisy! What are you busy about?" he said, kindly. +"What are you studying now?" + +"I am reading the History of England, Captain Drummond." + +"How do you like it?" + +"I have not got very far. I do not like it very much." + +"Where are you?" + +"I have just got to where it tells about Alfred." + +"Why do you read it, Daisy? Is it a lesson?" + +"No, Captain Drummond, but I think proper to read it." + +"It is proper," said the Captain. "Come, Daisy, suppose we go +down on the sand-beach to-morrow, and we will play out the +Saxon Heptarchy there as we played out the Crimea. Shall we?" + +Daisy's face changed. "Oh, thank you, Captain Drummond! that +will be nice! Shall we?" + +"If you will, I will," said the Captain. + +Mr. Randolph moved away. + +The next day, after luncheon, Daisy followed her father when +he left the table. She followed till they were got quite away +from other ears. + +"Papa, I would like to go to Mrs. Harbonner's again. You said +I must not go without leave." + +"Who is Mrs. Harbonner?" + +"Papa, it is the place where I took the ham, do you +remember? Joanna has enquired about her, and found that she is +respectable." + +"What do you want to go there again for, Daisy?" + +"Joanna has found some work for her, papa. She would not have +the ham unless she could work to pay for it. I want to see her +to tell her about it." + +Mr. Randolph had it on his tongue to say that somebody else +might do that; but looking down at Daisy, the sight of the +pale face and hollow eyes stopped him. He sat down, and drew +Daisy up to his side. + +"I will let you go." + +"Thank you, papa!" + +"Do you know," said Mr. Randolph, "that your mother is going +to ask you to sing that song again when Sunday evening comes?" + +The smile vanished from Daisy's face; it grew suddenly dark; +and a shuddering motion was both seen and felt by Mr. +Randolph, whose arm was round her. + +"Daisy," said he, not unkindly, "do you know that I think you +a little fool?" + +She lifted her eyes quickly, and in their meeting with her +father's there was much much that Mr. Randolph felt without +stopping to analyse, and that made his own face as suddenly +sober as her own. There was no folly in that quick grave look +of question or appeal; it seemed to carry the charge in +another direction. + +"You think it is not right to sing such a song on a Sunday?" +he asked. + +"No, papa." + +"But, suppose, by singing it, you could do a great deal of +good, instead of harm." + +"How, papa?" + +"I will give you a hundred dollars for singing it, which you +may spend as you please for all the poor people about +Melbourne or Crum Elbow." + +It was very singular to him to see the changes in Daisy's +face. Light and shadow came and went with struggling +quickness. He expected her to speak, but she waited for +several minutes; then she said in a troubled voice, "Papa, I +will think of it." + +"Is that all, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, disappointed. + +"I am going to Mrs. Harbonner's, papa, and I will think, and +tell you." + +Mr. Randolph was inclined to frown and suspect obstinacy; but +the meek little lips which offered themselves for a kiss +disarmed him of any such thought. He clasped Daisy in his +arms, and gave her kisses, many a one, close and tender. If he +had known it, he could have done nothing better for the +success of his plan; under the pressure of conscience Daisy +could bear trouble in doing right, but the argument of +affection went near to trouble her conscience. Daisy was +obliged to compound for a good many tears, before she could +get away and begin her drive. And when she did, her mind was +in a flutter. A hundred dollars! how much good could be done +with a hundred dollars. Why, would it not be right to do +something, even sing such a song on Sunday, when it was sung +for such a purpose and with such results? But Daisy could not +feel quite sure about it; while at the same time the prospect +of getting quit of her difficulties by this means escaping +her mother's anger, and the punishment with which it was sure +to be accompanied, and also pleasing her father shook +Daisy's very soul. What should she do? She had not made up her +mind when she got to the little brown house where Mrs. +Harbonner lived. + +She found mother and daughter both in the little bare room; +the child sitting on the floor and cutting pieces of calico +and cloth into strips, which her mother was sewing together +with coarse thread. Both looked just as when Daisy had seen +them before slim and poor and uncombed; but the room was +clean. + +"I thought you warn't coming again," said Mrs. Harbonner. + +"I couldn't come till to-day," said Daisy, taking a chair. "I +came as soon as I could." Partly from policy, partly because +she felt very sober, she left it to Mrs. Harbonner to do most +of the talking. + +"I never see more'n a few folks that thought much of doing +what they said they'd do without they found their own +account in it. If I was living in a great house, now, I'd have +folks enough come to see me." + +Daisy did not know what answer to make to this, so she made +none. + +"I used to live in a better house once," went on Mrs. +Harbonner; "I didn't always use to eat over a bare floor. I +was well enough, if I could ha' let well alone; but I made a +mistake, and paid for it; and what's more, I'm paying for it +yet. 'Taint _my_ fault, that Hephzibah sits there cuttin' rags, +instead of going to school." + +Again Daisy did not feel herself called upon to decide on the +mistakes of Mrs. Harbonner's past life; and she sat patiently +waiting for something else that she could understand. + +"What are you come to see me for now?" said the lady. "I +suppose you're going to tell me you haven't got no work for me +to do, and I must owe you for that ham?" + +"I have got something for you to do," said Daisy. "The boy has +got it at the gate. The housekeeper found some clothes to make + and you said that was your work." + +"Tailoring," said Mrs. Harbonner. "I don't know nothing about +women's fixtures, except what'll keep me and Hephzibah above +the savages. I don't suppose I could dress a doll so's it +would sell." + +"This is tailoring work," said Daisy. "It is a boy's suit +and there will be more to do if you like to have it." + +"Where is it? at the gate, did you say? Hephzibah, go and +fetch it in. Who's got it?" + +"The boy who is taking care of the horses." + +"I declare, have you got that little covered shay there again? + it's complete! I never see a thing so pretty! And Hephzibah +says you drive that little critter yourself. Ain't you +afraid?" + +"Not at all," said Daisy. "The pony won't do any harm." + +"He looks skeery," said Mrs. Harbonner. "I wouldn't trust him. +What a tremendous thick mane he's got! Well, I s'pect you have +everything you want, don't you?" + +"Of such things " said Daisy. + +"That's what I meant. Gracious! I s'pose every one of us has +wishes whether they are in the air or on the earth. Wishes +is the butter to most folks' bread. Here, child." + +She took the bundle from Hephzibah, unrolled it, and examined +its contents with a satisfied face. + +"What did _you_ come along with this for?" she said, suddenly, +to Daisy. "Why didn't you send it?" + +"I wanted to come and see you," said Daisy, pleasantly. + +"What ails you? You ain't so well as when you was here +before," said Mrs. Harbonner, looking at her narrowly. + +"I am well," said Daisy. + +"You ain't fur from bein' something else then. I suppose +you're dyin' with learning while my Hephzibah can't get +schooling enough to read her own name. That's the way the +world's made up!" + +"Isn't there a school at Crum Elbow?" said Daisy. + +"Isn't there! And isn't there a bench for the rags? No, my +Hephzibah don't go to show none." + +Mrs. Harbonner was so sharp and queer, though not unkindly +towards herself, that Daisy was at a loss how to go on; and, +moreover, a big thought began to turn about in her head. + +"Poverty ain't no shame, but it's an inconvenience," said Mrs. +Harbonner. "Hephzibah may stay to home and be stupid, when +she's as much right to be smart as anybody. That's what I look +at; it ain't having a little to eat now and then." + +"Melbourne is too far off for her to get there, isn't it?" +said Daisy. + +"What should she go there for?" + +"If she could get there," said Daisy, "and would like it, I +would teach her." + +"_You_ would?" said Mrs. Harbonner. "What would you learn her?" + +"I would teach her to read," said Daisy, colouring a little; +"and anything else I could." + +"La, she can read," said Mrs. Harbonner, "but she don't know +nothing, for all that. Readin' don't tell a person much, +without he has books. I wonder how long it would hold out, if +you begun? 'Taint no use to begin a thing and then not go +on." + +"But could she get to Melbourne?" said Daisy. + +"I don't know. Maybe she can. Who'd she see at your house?" + +"Nobody, but the man at the lodge, or his mother." + +"Who's that?" + +"He's the man that lives in the lodge, to open the gate." + +"Open the gate, hey? Who pays him for it?" + +"Papa pays him, and he lives in the lodge." + +"I shouldn't think it would take a man to open a gate. Why, +Hephzibah could do it as well as anybody." + +Daisy did not see the point of this remark, and went on. +"Hephzibah wouldn't see anybody else, but me." + +"Well, I believe you mean what you say," said Mrs. Harbonner, +"and I hope you will when you're twenty years older but I +don't believe it. I'll let Hephzibah come over to you on +Sundays I know she's jumpin' out of her skin to go she +shall go on Sundays, but I can't let her go other days, 'cause +she's got work to do; and anyhow it would be too fur. What +time would you like to see her?" + +"As soon as it can be after afternoon church, if you please. I +couldn't before." + +"You're a kind little soul!" said the woman. "Do you like +flowers?" + +Daisy said yes. The woman went to a back door of the room, +and, opening it, plucked a branch from a great rosebush that +grew there. + +"We hain't but one pretty thing about this house," said she, +presenting it to Daisy, "but that's kind o' pretty." + +It was a very rich and delicious white rose, and the branch +was an elegant one, clustered with flowers and buds. Daisy +gave her thanks and took leave. + +"As we have opportunity, let us do good unto all men." There +was a little warm drop of comfort in Daisy's heart as she +drove away. If she could not go to Sunday-school herself, she +might teach somebody else, yet more needy; that would be the +next best thing. Sunday afternoon it looked bright to Daisy; +but then her heart sank; Sunday evening would be near. What +should she do? She could not settle it in her mind what was +right; between her mother's anger and her father's love, Daisy +could not see what was just the plumb-line of duty. Singing +would gain a hundred dollars' worth of good; and not singing +would disobey her mother and displease her father; but then +came the words of one that Daisy honoured more than father and +mother "Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day;" and +she could not tell what to do. + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +OBEDIENCE. + + +Daisy had gone but a little way out of the village, when she +suddenly pulled up. Sam was at the side of the chaise +immediately. + +"Sam, I want a glass of water; where can I get it?" + +"Guess at Mrs. Benoit's, Miss Daisy. There's a fine spring of +cold water." + +"Who is Mrs. Benoit?" + +"It's Juanita Miss Daisy has heard of Mrs. St. Leonard's +Juanita. Mr. St. Leonard built a house for her, just the +other side o' them trees." + +Daisy knew who Juanita was. She had been brought from the West +Indies by the mother of one of the gentlemen who lived in the +neighbourhood; and upon the death of her mistress had been +established in a little house of her own. Daisy judged that +she would be quite safe in going there for water. + +"If I turn into that road, can I go home round that way, Sam?" + +"You can, Miss Daisy; but it's a ways longer." + +"I like that;" said Daisy. + +She turned up the road that led behind the trees, and +presently saw Juanita's cottage. A little grey stone house, +low-roofed, standing at the very edge of a piece of woodland, +and some little distance back from the road. Daisy saw the old +woman sitting on her doorstep. A grassy slope stretched down +from the house to the road. The sun shone up against the grey +cottage. + +"You take care of Loupe, Sam, and I'll go in," said Daisy a +plan which probably disappointed Sam, but Daisy did not know +that. She went through a little wicket and up the path. + +Juanita did not look like the blacks she had been accustomed +to see. Black she was not, but of a fine olive dark skin; and +though certainly old, she was still straight and tall, and +very fine in her appearance and bearing. Daisy could see this +but partially while Juanita was sitting at her door; she was +more struck by the very grave look her face wore just then. It +was not turned towards her little visitor, and Daisy got the +impression that she must be feeling unhappy. + +Juanita rose, however, with great willingness to get the +water, and asked Daisy into her house. Daisy dared not, after +her father's prohibition, go in, and she stood at the door +till the water was brought. Then, with a strong feeling of +kindness towards the lonely and perhaps sorrowful old woman, +and remembering to "do good as she had opportunity," Daisy +suddenly offered her the beautiful rose-branch. + +"Does the lady think I want pay for a glass of water?" said +the woman, with a smile that was extremely winning. + +"No," said Daisy, "but I thought, perhaps, you liked +flowers." + +"There's another sort of flowers that the Lord likes," said +the woman looking at her; "they be His little children." + +Daisy's heart was tender, and there was something in Juanita's +face that won her confidence. Instead of turning away, she +folded her hands unconsciously, and said, more wistfully than +she knew, "I want to be one!" + +"Does my little lady know the Lord Jesus?" said the woman, +with a bright light coming into her eye. + +Daisy's heart was sore as well as tender; the question touched +two things, the joy that she did know Him, and the trouble +that following Him had cost her; she burst into tears. Then, +turning away, and with a great effort throwing off the tears, +she went back to the chaise. There stood Sam, with the pony's +foot in his hand. + +"Miss Daisy, this fellow has kicked one of his shoes half off; +he can't go home so; it's hanging. Could Miss Daisy stop a +little while at Mrs. Benoit's, I could take the pony to the +blacksmith's it ain't but a very little ways off and get +it put on, in a few minutes." + +"Well, do, do, Sam," said Daisy after she had looked at the +matter; and while he took Loupe out of harness, she turned +back to Juanita. + +"What is gone wrong?" said the old woman. + +"Nothing is wrong," said Daisy; "only the pony has got his +shoe off, and the boy is taking him to the blacksmith's." + +"Will my lady come into my house?" + +"No, thank you. I'll stay here." + +The woman brought out a low chair for her, and set it on the +grass; and took herself her former place on the sill of the +door. She looked earnestly at Daisy; and Daisy on her part had +noticed the fine carriage of the woman, her pleasant features, +and the bright handkerchief which made her turban. Through the +open door she could see the neat order of the room within, and +her eye caught some shells arranged on shelves; but Daisy did +not like to look, and she turned away. She met Juanita's eye; +she felt she must speak. + +"This is a pleasant place." + +"Why does my lady think so?" + +"It looks pleasant," said Daisy. "It is nice. The grass is +pretty, and the trees; and it is a pretty little house, I +think." + +The woman smiled. "I think it be a palace of beauty," she +said, "for Jesus is here." + +Daisy looked, a little wondering but entirely respectful; the +whole aspect of Juanita commanded that. + +"Does my little lady know, that the presence of the King makes +a poor house fine?" + +"I don't quite know what you mean," said Daisy, humbly. + +"Does my little lady know that the Lord Jesus loves His +people?" + +"Yes," said Daisy, "I know it." + +"But she know not much. When a poor heart say any time, 'Lord, +I am all Thine!' then the Lord comes to that heart, and He +makes it the house of a King for He comes there Himself. And +where Jesus is, all is glory. Do not my little lady read +that in the Bible?" + +"I don't remember" said Daisy. + +The woman got up, went into the cottage, and brought out a +large-print Testament which she put into Daisy's hands, open +at the fourteenth chapter of John. Daisy read with curious +interest the words to which she was directed: "Jesus answered +and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: +and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him and +make Our abode with him." + +Daisy looked at the promise, with her heart beating under +troublesome doubts; when the voice of Juanita broke in upon +them by saying, tenderly, "Does my little lady keep the Lord's +words?" + +Down went the book, and the tears rushed into Daisy's eyes. +"Don't call me so," she cried, "I am Daisy Randolph; and I +do want to keep His words! and I don't know how." + +"What troubles my love?" said the woman, in the low tones of a +voice that was always sweet. "Do not she know what the words +of the Lord be?" + +"Yes," said Daisy, hardly able to make herself understood, +"but " + +"Then do 'em," said Juanita. "The way is straight. What He +say, do." + +"But suppose " said Daisy. + +"Suppose what? What do my love suppose?" + +"Wouldn't it make it right, if it would do a great deal of +good?" + +This confused sentence Juanita pondered over. "What does my +love mean?" + +"If it would do a great deal of good wouldn't that make it +right to do something?" + +"Right to do something that the Lord say not do?" + +"Yes." + +"If you love Jesus, you not talk so," said Juanita, +sorrowfully. But that made Daisy give way altogether. + +"Oh, I do love Him! I do love Him!" she cried; "but I +don't know what to do." And tears came in a torrent. + +Juanita was watchful and thoughtful. When Daisy had very soon +checked herself, she said in the same low, gentle way in which +she had before spoken, "What do the Lord say to do that some +good thing, or to keep His words?" + +"To keep His words." + +"Then keep 'em and the Lord will do the good thing Himself; +that same or another. He can do what He please; and He tell +you, only keep His words. He want you to show you love Him +and He tell you how." + +Daisy sat quite still to let the tears pass away, and the +struggle in her heart grow calm; then when she could safely +she looked up. She met Juanita's eye. It was fixed on her. + +"Is the way straight now?" she asked. + +Daisy nodded, with a little bit of a smile on her poor little +lips. + +"But there is trouble in the way?" said Juanita. + +"Yes," said Daisy, and the old woman saw the eyes redden +again. + +"Has the little one a good friend at home to help?" + +Daisy shook her head. + +"Then let Jesus help. My little lady keep the Lord's words, +and the sweet Lord Jesus will keep her." And rising to her +feet, and clasping her hands, where she stood, Juanita poured +forth a prayer. It was for her little visitor. It was full of +love. It was full of confidence too; and of such clear +simplicity as if, like Stephen, she had seen the heavens open. +But the loving strength of it won Daisy's heart; and when the +prayer was finished she came close to the old woman and threw +her arms round her as she stood, and wept with her face hid in +Juanita's dress. Yet the prayer had comforted her too, +greatly. And though Daisy was very shy of intimacies with +strangers, she liked to feel Juanita's hand on her shoulder; +and after the paroxysm of tears was past, she still stood +quietly by her, without attempting to increase the distance +between them; till she saw Sam coming down the lane with the +pony. + +"Good-bye," said Daisy, "there's the boy." + +"My lady will come to see old Juanita again?" + +"I am Daisy Randolph. I'll come," said the child, looking +lovingly up. Then she went down the slope to Sam. + +"The blacksmith couldn't shoe him, Miss Daisy he hadn't a +shoe to fit. He took off the old shoe so Miss Daisy please +not drive him hard home." + +Daisy wanted nothing of the kind. To get home soon was no +pleasure; so she let Loupe take his own pace, anything short +of walking; and it was getting dusk when they reached +Melbourne. Daisy was not glad to be there. It was Friday +night; the next day would be Saturday. + +Mrs. Randolph came out into the hall to see that nothing was +the matter, and then went back into the drawing-room. Daisy +got her dress changed, and came there too, where the family +were waiting for tea. She came in softly, and sat down by +herself at a table somewhat removed from the others, who were +all busily talking and laughing. But presently Captain +Drummond drew near, and sat down at her side. + +"Have you had a good drive, Daisy?" + +"Yes, Captain Drummond." + +"We missed our history to-day, but I have been making +preparations. Shall we go into the Saxon Heptarchy to-morrow +you and I and see if we can get the kingdom settled?" + +"If you please. I should like it very much." + +"What is the matter with you, Daisy?" + +Daisy lifted her wise little face, which indeed looked as if +it were heavy with something beside wisdom, towards her +friend; she was not ready with an answer. + +"You aren't going to die on the field of battle yet, Daisy?" +he said, half lightly, and half he knew not why. + +It brought a rush of colour to the child's face; the self- +possession must have been great which kept her from giving way +to further expression of feeling. She answered with curious +calmness, "I don't think I shall, Captain Drummond." + +The Captain saw it was a bad time to get anything from her, +and he moved away. Preston came the next minute. + +"Why, Daisy," he whispered, drawing his chair close, "where +have you been all day? No getting a sight of you. What have +you been about?" + +"I have been to Crum Elbow this afternoon." + +"Yes, and how late you stayed. Why did you?" + +"Loupe lost a shoe. I had to wait for Sam to go to the +blacksmith's with him." + +"Really. Did you wait in the road?" + +"No. I had a place to wait." + +"I dare say you are as hungry as a bear," said Preston. "Now +here comes tea and waffles, Daisy; you shall have some +waffles and cream. That will make you feel better." + +"Cream isn't good with waffles," said Daisy. + +"Yes, it is. Cream is good with everything. You shall try. I +know! I am always cross myself when I am hungry." + +"I am not hungry, Preston; and I don't think I am cross." + +"What are you, then? Come, Daisy, here is a cup of tea, and +here is a waffle. First the sugar there, then the cream. +So." + +"You have spoiled it, Preston." + +"Eat it and confess you are hungry and cross too." + +Daisy could have laughed, only she was too sore-hearted, and +would surely have cried. She fell to eating the creamed +waffle. + +"Is it good?" + +"Very good!" + +"Confess you are hungry and cross, Daisy." + +"I am not cross. And Preston, please! don't!" Daisy's fork +fell; but she took it up again. + +"What is the matter, then, Daisy?" + +Daisy did not answer; she went on eating as diligently as she +could. + +"Is it that foolish business of the song?" whispered Preston. +"Is that the trouble, Daisy?" + +"Please don't, Preston!" + +"Well, I won't, till you have had another waffle. Sugar and +cream, Daisy?" + +"Yes." + +"That's brave! Now eat it up and tell me, Daisy, is _that_ the +trouble with you?" + +He spoke affectionately, as he almost always did to her; and +Daisy did not throw him off. + +"You don't understand it, Preston," she said. + +"Daisy, I told you my uncle and aunt would not like that sort +of thing." + +Daisy was silent, and Preston wondered at her. Mrs. Gary drew +near at this moment, and placed herself opposite Daisy's tea- +cup, using her eyes in the first place. + +"What are you talking about?" said she. + +"About Daisy's singing, ma'am." + +"That's the very thing," said Mrs. Gary, "that I wanted to +speak about. Daisy, my dear, I hope you are going to sing it +properly to your mother the next time she bids you?" + +Daisy was silent. + +"I wanted to tell you, my dear," said Mrs. Gary, impressively, +"what a poor appearance your refusal made, the other evening. +You could not see it for yourself; but it made you seem +awkward, and foolish, and ill-bred. I am sure everybody would +have laughed, if it had not been for politeness towards your +mother; for the spectacle was ludicrous, thoroughly. You like +to make a graceful appearance, don't you?" + +Daisy answered in a low voice, "Yes, ma'am; when I can." + +"Well, you can, my dear, for your behaviour is generally +graceful, and unexceptionable; only the other night it was +very rough and uncouth. I expected you to put your finger in +your mouth the next thing, and stand as if you had never seen +anybody. And Daisy Randolph! the heiress of Melbourne and +Cranford!" + +The heiress of Melbourne and Cranford lifted to her aunt's +face a look strangely in contrast with the look bent on her; +so much worldly wisdom was in the one, so much want of it in +the other. Yet those steady grey eyes were not without a +wisdom of their own; and Mrs. Gary met them with a puzzled +feeling of it. + +"Do you understand me, Daisy, my dear?" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"Do you see that it is desirable never to look ridiculous, and +well-bred persons never do?" + +"Yes, aunt Gary." + +"Then I am sure you won't do it again. It would mortify me for +your father and mother." + +Mrs. Gary walked away. Daisy looked thoughtful. + +"Will you do it, Daisy?" whispered Preston. + +"What?" + +"Will you sing the song for them next time? You will, won't +you?" + +"I'll do what I can" said Daisy. But it was said so soberly, +that Preston was doubtful of her. However, he, like Captain +Drummond, had got to the end of his resources for that time; +and seeing his uncle approach, Preston left his seat. + +Mr. Randolph took it, and drew Daisy from her own to a place +in his arms. He sat then silent a good while, or talking to +other people; only holding her close and tenderly. Truth to +tell, Mr. Randolph was a little troubled about the course +things were taking; and Daisy and her father were a grave pair +that evening. + +Daisy felt his arms were a pleasant shield between her and all +the world; if they might only _keep_ round her! And then she +thought of Juanita's prayer, and of the invisible shield, of a +stronger and more loving arm, that the Lord Jesus puts between +His children and all real harm. + +At last Mr. Randolph bent down his head, and brought his lips +to Daisy's, asking her if she had had a nice time that +afternoon. + +"Very, papa!" said Daisy, gratefully; and then added, after a +little hesitation, "Papa, do you know old Juanita? Mrs. St. +Leonard's woman, that Mr. St. Leonard built a little house +for?" + +"I do not know her. I believe I have heard of her." + +"Papa, would you let me go into her house? She has some +beautiful shells that I should like to see." + +"How do you know?" + +"I saw them, papa, through the doorway of her house, I waited +there while Sam went with Loupe to the blacksmith's." + +"And you did not go in?" + +"No, sir you said I must not, you know." + +"I believe Juanita is a safe person, Daisy. You may go in, if +ever you have another opportunity." + +"Thank you, papa." + +"What are you going to do with the hundred dollars?" said Mr. +Randolph, putting his head down, and speaking softly. + +Daisy waited a minute, checked the swelling of her heart, +forbade her tears, steadied her voice to speak; and then said, +"I sha'n't have them, papa." + +"Why not?" + +"I can't fulfil the conditions." Daisy spoke again, after +waiting a minute. + +"Don't you mean to sing?" + +Every time Daisy waited. "I can't, papa." + +"Your mother will require it." + +Silence, only Mr. Randolph saw that the child's breath went +and came under excitement. + +"Daisy, she will require it." + +"Yes, papa" was said, rather faintly. + +"And I think you must do it." + +No response from Daisy; and no sign of yielding. + +"How do you expect to get over it?" + +"Papa, won't you help me?" was the child's agonised cry. She +hid her face in her father's breast. + +"I have tried to help you. I will give you what will turn your +fancied wrong deed into a good one. It is certainly right to +do charitable things on Sunday." + +There was silence, and it promised to last some time. Mr. +Randolph would not hurry her: and Daisy was thinking, "If ye +love Me, keep My commandments. _If ye love Me_." + +"Papa," said she at last, very slowly, and pausing between +her words, "would you be satisfied, if I should disobey +you for a hundred dollars?" + +This time it was Mr. Randolph that did not answer, and the +longer he waited the more the answer did not come. He put +Daisy gently off his knee, and rose at last without speaking. +Daisy went out upon the verandah, and sat down on the step; +and there the stars seemed to say to her "If a man love Me, +he will keep My words." They were shining very bright; so was +that saying to Daisy. She sat looking at them, forgetting all +the people in the drawing-room; and though troubled enough, +she was not utterly unhappy. The reason was, she loved her +King. + +Somebody came behind her, and took hold of her shoulders. "My +dear little Daisy!" said the voice of Preston, "I wish you +were an India-rubber ball, that I might chuck you up to the +sky and down again a few times!" + +"Why? I don't think it would be nice." + +"Why? why, because you want shaking; you are growing dull, +yes, absolutely you are getting heavy! you, little Daisy! of +all people in the world. It won't do." + +"I don't think such an exercise would benefit me," said Daisy. + +"I'd find something else then. Daisy, Daisy," said he, shaking +her shoulders gently, "this religious foolery is spoiling you. +Don't you go and make yourself stupid. Why I don't know you. +What is all this ridiculous stuff? You aren't yourself." + +"What do you want me to do, Preston?" said Daisy, standing +before him, not without a certain childish dignity. It was +lost on him. + +"I want you to be my own little Daisy," said he, coaxingly. +"Come! say you will, and give up these outlandish notions you +have got from some old woman or other. What is it they want +you to do? sing? Come, promise you will. Promise me!" + +"I will sing any day but Sunday." + +"Sunday? Now, Daisy! I'm ashamed of you. Why, I never heard +such nonsense. Nobody has such notions but low people. It +isn't sensible. Give it up, Daisy, or I shall not know how to +love you." + +"Good night, Preston " + +"Daisy, Daisy! come and kiss me, and be good." + +"Good night" repeated Daisy, without turning; and she walked +off. + +It half broke June's heart that night to see that the child's +eyes were quietly dropping tears all the while she was getting +undressed. Preston's last threat had cut very close. But Daisy +said not a word; and when, long after June had left her, she +got into bed, and lay down, it was not Preston's words, but +the reminder of the stars that was with her, and making +harmony among all her troubled thoughts "If a man love Me, +he will keep My words." + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SUNDAY EVENING. + + +In spite of the burden that lay on Daisy's heart, she and +Captain Drummond had a good time the next morning over the +Saxon Heptarchy. They went down to the shore for it, at +Daisy's desire, where they would be undisturbed; and the +morning was hardly long enough. The Captain had provided +himself with a shallow tray filled with modelling clay; which +he had got from all artist friend living a few miles further +up the river. On this the plan of England was nicely marked +out, and by the help of one or two maps which he cut up for +the occasion, the Captain divided off the seven kingdoms +greatly to Daisy's satisfaction and enlightenment. Then, how +they went on with the history! introduced Christianity, +enthroned Egbert, and defeated the Danes under Alfred. They +read from the book, and fought it all out on the clay plan as +they went along. At Alfred they stopped a good while, to +consider the state of the world in the little island of +Britain at that time. The good king's care for his people, his +love for study and encouragement of learning; his writing +fables for the people; his wax candles to mark time; his +building with brick and stone; his founding the English navy, +and victories with the same; no less than his valour and +endurance in every time of trial; all these things Captain +Drummond, whose father had been an Englishman, duly enlarged +upon, and Daisy heard them with greedy ears. Truth to tell, +the Captain had read up a little for the occasion, being a +good deal moved with sympathy for his little friend, who he +saw was going through a time of some trial. Nothing was to be +seen of that just now, indeed, other than the peculiarly soft +and grave expression which Daisy's face had worn all this +week; and which kept reminding the Captain to be sorry for +her. + +They got through with Alfred at last by the way, the Captain +had effaced the dividing lines of the seven kingdoms and +brought all to one in Egbert's time and now they went on +with Alfred's successors. A place was found on the sand for +Denmark and Norway to show themselves; and Sweyn and Canute +came over; and there was no bating to the interest with which +the game of human life went on. In short, Daisy and the +Captain having tucked themselves away in a nook of the beach +and the tenth and eleventh centuries, were lost to all the +rest of the world and to the present time; till a servant at +last found them with the information that the luncheon bell +had rung, and Mrs. Randolph was ready to go out with the +Captain. And William the Conqueror had just landed at +Hastings! + +"Never mind, Daisy," said the Captain; "we'll go on with it, +the next chance we get." + +Daisy thanked him earnestly, but the thought that Sunday must +come and go first, threw a shadow over her thanks. The Captain +saw it; and walked home thinking curiously about the "field of +battle" not Hastings. + +Daisy did not go in to luncheon. She did not like meeting all +the people who felt so gay, while she felt so much trouble. +Nor did she like being with her mother, whose manner all the +week had constantly reminded Daisy of what Daisy never forgot. +The rest of Saturday passed soberly away. There was a cloud in +the air. + +And the cloud was high and dark Sunday morning, though it was +as fair a summer day as might be seen. Some tears escaped +stealthily from Daisy's eyes, as she knelt in the little +church beside her mother; but the prayers were deep and sweet +and strong to her, very much. Sadly sorry was Daisy when they +were ended. The rest of the service was little to her. Mr. +Pyne did not preach like Mr. Dinwiddie; and she left the +church with a downcast heart, thinking that so much of the +morning was past. + +The rest of the day Daisy kept by herself, in her own room; +trying to get some comfort in reading and praying. For the +dread of the evening was strong upon her; every movement of +her mother spoke displeasure and determination. Daisy felt her +heart beating gradually quicker and quicker, as the hours of +the day wore on. + +"Ye ain't well, Miss Daisy," said June, who had come in as +usual without being heard. + +"Yes I am, June," said Daisy. But she had started when the +woman spoke, and June saw that now a tear sprang. + +"Did you eat a good lunch, Miss Daisy?" + +"I don't know, June. I guess I didn't eat much." + +"Let me bring you something!" said the woman, coaxingly +"some strawberries, with some good cream to 'em." + +"No I can't, June I don't want them. What o'clock is it?" + +"It is just on to five, Miss Daisy." + +Five! Daisy suddenly recollected her scholar, whom she had +directed to come to her at this hour. Jumping up, she seized +her hat, and rushed off down stairs and through the shrubbery, +leaving June lost in wonder and concern. + +At a Belvedere, some distance from the house, and nearer the +gate, Daisy had chosen to meet her pupil; and she had given +orders at the Lodge to have her guided thither when she should +come. And there she was; Daisy could see the red head of hair +before she got to the place herself. Hephzibah looked very +much as she did on week days; her dress partially covered with +a little shawl; her bonnet she had thrown off; and if the hair +had been coaxed into any state of smoothness before leaving +home, it was all gone now. + +"How do you do, Hephzibah?" said Daisy. "I am glad to see +you." + +Hephzibah smiled, but unless that meant a civil answer, she +gave none. Daisy sat down beside her. + +"Do you know how to read, Hephzibah?" + +The child first shook her shaggy head then nodded it. What +that meant, Daisy was somewhat at a loss. + +"Do you know your letters?" + +Hephzibah nodded. + +"What is that letter?" + +Daisy had not forgotten to bring a reading book, and now put +Hephzibah through the alphabet, which she seemed to know +perfectly, calling each letter by its right name. Daisy then +asked if she could read words; and getting an assenting nod +again, she tried her in that. But here Hephzibah's education +was defective; she could read indeed, after a fashion; but it +was a slow and stumbling fashion; and Daisy and she were a +good while getting through a page. Daisy shut the book up. + +"Now, Hephzibah," said she, "do you know anything about what +is in the Bible?" + +Hephzibah shook her head in a manner the reverse of +encouraging. + +"Did you never read the Bible, nor have any one read it to +you?" + +Another shake. + +Daisy thereupon began to tell her little neighbour the grand +story which concerned them both so nearly, making it as clear +and simple as she could. Hephzibah's eyes were fixed on her +intently all the while; and Daisy, greatly interested herself, +wondered if any of the interest had reached Hephzibah's heart, +and made the gaze of her eyes so unwavering. They expressed +nothing. Daisy hoped, and went on, till at a pause Hephzibah +gave utterance to the first words (of her own) that she had +spoken during the interview. They came out very suddenly, like +an unexpected jet of water from an unused fountain. + +"Mother says, you're the fus'ratest little girl she ever see!" + +Daisy was extremely confounded. The thread of her discourse +was so thoroughly broken, indeed, that she could not directly +begin it again; and in the minute of waiting she saw how low +the sun was. She dismissed Hephzibah, telling her to be at the +Belvedere the same hour next Sunday. + +As the shaggy little red head moved away through the bushes, +Daisy watched it, wondering whether she had done the least bit +of good. Then another thought made her heart beat, and she +turned again to see how low the sun was. Instead of the sun, +she saw Gary McFarlane. + +"Who is that, Daisy?" said he, looking after the disappearing +red head. + +"A poor little girl " said Daisy. + +"So I should think, very poor! looks so indeed! How came +she here?" + +"She came by my orders, Mr. McFarlane." + +"By your orders! What have you got there, Daisy? Let's see! As +sure as I'm alive! a spelling book. Keeping school, Daisy? +Don't say no!" + +Daisy did not say no, nor anything. She had taken care not to +let Gary get hold of her Bible; the rest she must manage as +she could. + +"This is benevolence!" went on the young man. "Teaching a +spelling lesson in a Belvedere with the thermometer at ninety +degrees in the shade? What sinners all the rest of us are! I +declare, Daisy, you make me feel bad." + +"I should not think it, Mr. McFarlane." + +"Daisy, you have _ΰ plomb_ enough for a princess, and gravity +enough for a Puritan! I should like to see you when you are +grown up, only then I shall be an old man, and it will be of +no consequence. What _do_ you expect to do with that little red +head? now do tell me." + +"She don't know anything, Mr. McFarlane." + +"No more don't I! Come Daisy have pity on me. You never saw +anybody more ignorant than I am. There are half a dozen things +at this moment which I don't know and which you can tell me. +Come, will you?" + +"I must go in, Mr. McFarlane." + +"But tell me first. Come, Daisy! I want to know why is it so +much more wicked to sing a song than to make somebody else +sing-song? for that's the way they all do the spelling-book, +I know. Eh, Daisy?" + +"How did you know anything about it, Mr. McFarlane?" + +"Come, Daisy, explain. I am all in a fog or else you are. +This spelling-book seems to me a very wicked thing on Sunday." + +"I will take it, if you please, Mr. McFarlane." + +"Not if I know it! I want my ignorance instructed, Daisy. I am +persuaded you are the best person to enlighten me but if +not, I shall try this spelling-book on Mrs. Randolph. I regard +it as a great curiosity, and an important question in +metaphysics." + +Poor Daisy! She did not know what to do; conscious that Gary +was laughing at her all the while, and most unwilling that the +story of the spelling-book should get to Mrs. Randolph's ears. +She stood hesitating and troubled, when her eye caught sight +of Preston near. Springing to him she cried, "Oh, Preston, get +my little book from Mr. McFarlane he won't give it to me." + +There began then a race of the most uproarious sort between +the two young men springing, turning, darting round among +the trees and bushes, shouting to and laughing at each other. +Daisy another time would have been amused; now she was almost +frightened, lest all this boisterous work should draw +attention. At last, however, Preston got the spelling-book, or +Gary let himself be overtaken and gave it up. + +"It's mischief, Preston!" he said; "deep mischief occult +mischief. I give you warning." + +"What is it, Daisy?" said Preston. "What is it all about?" + +"Never mind. Oh, Preston! don't ask anything, but let me have +it!" + +"There it is then; but Daisy," he said, affectionately, +catching her in his arms, "you are going to sing to-night, +aren't you?" + +"Don't Preston don't! let me go," cried Daisy, struggling to +escape from him; and she ran away as soon as he let her, +hardly able to keep back her tears. She felt it very hard. +Preston and Gary, and her mother and her father, all against +her in different ways. Daisy kneeled down by her window-sill +in her own room, to try to get comfort and strength; though +she was in too great tumult to pray connectedly. Her little +heart was beating sadly. But there was no doubt at all in +Daisy's mind as to what she should do. "If a man love Me, he +will keep My words." She never questioned now about doing +that. + +The dreaded tea bell rang, and she went down; but utterly +unable to eat or drink through agitation. Nobody seemed to +notice her particularly, and she wandered out upon the +verandah; and waited there. There presently her father's arms +came round her before she was aware. + +"What are you going to do, Daisy?" + +"Nothing, papa," she whispered. + +"Are you not going to sing?" + +"Papa, I can't!" cried Daisy, dropping her face against his +arm. Her father raised it again, and drawing her opposite one +of the windows, looked into the dark-ringed eyes and white +face. + +"You are not well," said he. "You are not fit to be up; and my +orders to you, Daisy, are to go immediately to bed. I'll send +you some medicine by and by. Good night!" + +He kissed her, and Daisy needed no second bidding. She sprang +away, getting into the house by another door; and lost no +time. Her fear was that her mother might send for her before +she could get undressed. But no summons came; June was speedy, +thinking and saying it was a very good thing for Daisy to do; +and then she went off, and left her alone with the moonlight. +Daisy was in no hurry then. She knelt by her beloved window, +where the scent of the honeysuckle was strong in the dewy air; +and with a less throbbing heart prayed her prayer. But she was +not at ease yet; it was very uncertain in her mind how her +mother would take this order of her father's; and what would +come after, if she was willing to let it pass. So Daisy could +not go to sleep, but lay wide awake and fearing in the +moonlight, and listening to every sound in the house that came +to her ears. + +The moonlight shone in peacefully, and Daisy, lying there and +growing gradually calmer, began to wonder in herself that +there should be so much difficulty made about anybody's doing +right. If she had been set on some wrong thing, it would have +made but a very little disturbance if any; but now, when she +was only trying to do right, the whole house was roused to +prevent her. Was it so in those strange old times that the +eleventh chapter of Hebrews told of? when men, and women, +were stoned, and sawn asunder, and slain with the sword, and +wandered like wild animals in sheepskins and goatskins and in +dens and caves of the earth? all for the name of Jesus. But if +they suffered once, they were happy now. Better anything, at +all events, than to deny that name! + +The evening seemed excessively long to Daisy, lying there on +her bed awake, and listening with strained ears for any sound +near her room. She heard none; the hours passed, though so +very slowly, as they do when all the minutes are watched; and +Daisy heard nothing but dim distant noises, and grew pretty +quiet. She had heard nothing else, when, turning her head from +the moonlight window, she caught the sight of a white figure +at her bedside; and by the noble form and stately proportions +Daisy knew instantly whose figure it was. Those soft flowing +draperies had been before her eyes all day. A pang shot +through the child, that seemed to go from the crown of her +head to the soles of her feet. + +"Are you awake, Daisy?" + +"Yes, mamma," she said, feebly. + +"Get up. I want to speak to you." + +Daisy got off the bed, and the white figure, in the little +night dress, stood opposite the other white figure, robed in +muslin and laces that fell around it like a cloud. + +"Why did you come to bed?" + +"Papa papa ordered me." + +"It's all the same. If you had not come to bed, Daisy if you +had been well, would you have sung when I ordered you to- +night?" + +Daisy hesitated, and then said in a whisper + +"No, mamma not that." + +"Think before you answer me, for I shall not ask twice. Will +you promise to sing the gypsy-song, because I command you, +next Sunday in the evening? Answer, Daisy." + +Very low it was, for Daisy trembled so that she did not know +how she could speak at all, but the answer came, "I can't, +mamma." + +Mrs. Randolph stepped to the bell, and rang it. Almost at the +same instant June entered, bearing a cup in her hand. + +"What is that?" said Mrs. Randolph. + +"Master sent Miss Daisy some medicine." + +"Set it down. I have got some here better for her. June, take +Daisy's hands." + +"Oh, mamma, no!" exclaimed Daisy. "Oh, please send June away!" + +The slight gesture of command to June which answered this, was +as imperious as it was slight. It was characteristically like +Mrs. Randolph; graceful and absolute. June obeyed it, as old +instinct told her to do; though sorely against her will. She +had held hands before, though not Daisy's; and she knew very +well the look of the little whip with which her mistress +stepped back into the room, having gone to her own for it. In +a Southern home that whip had been wont to live in Mrs. +Randolph's pocket. June's heart groaned within her. + +The whip was small, but it had been made for use, not for +play; and there was no play in Mrs. Randolph's use of it. This +was not like her father's ferule, which Daisy could bear in +silence, if tears would come; her mother's handling forced +cries from her; though smothered and kept under in a way that +showed the child's self-command. + +"What have you to say to me?" Mrs. Randolph responded, without +waiting for the answer. But Daisy had none to give. At length +her mother paused. + +"Will you do what I bid you?" + +Daisy was unable to speak for tears and perhaps for fear. +The wrinkles on June's brow were strangely folded together +with agitation; but nobody saw them. + +"Will you sing for me next Sunday?" repeated Mrs. Randolph. + +There was a struggle in the child's heart, as great almost as +a child's heart can bear. The answer came, when it came, +tremblingly: "I can't, mamma." + +"You cannot?" said Mrs. Randolph. + +"I can't, mamma." + +The chastisement which followed was so severe, that June was +moved out of all the habits of her life, to interfere in +another's cause. The white-skinned race were no mark for +trouble in June's mind; least of them all, her little charge. +And if white skin was no more delicate in reality than dark +skin, it answered to the lash much more speakingly. + +"Missus, you'll kill her!" June said, using in her agitation a +carefully disused form of speech; for June was a freed-woman. + +A slight turn of the whip brought the lash sharply across her +wrist, with the equally sharp words, "Mind your own business!" + +A thrill went through the woman, like an electric spark, +firing a whole life-train of feeling and memory; but the lines +of her face never moved, and not the stirring of a muscle told +what the touch had reached, besides a few nerves. She had done +her charge no good by her officiousness, as June presently saw +with grief. It was not till Mrs. Randolph had thoroughly +satisfied her displeasure at being thwarted, and not until +Daisy was utterly exhausted, that Mrs. Randolph stayed her +hand. + +"I will see what you will say to me next Sunday!" she +remarked, calmly. And she left the room. + +It was not that Mrs. Randolph did not love her daughter, in +her way; for in her way she was fond of Daisy; but the habit +of bearing no opposition to her authority was life-strong, and +probably intensified in the present instance by perceiving +that her husband was disposed to shield the offender. The only +person in whose favour the rule ever relaxed, was Ransom. June +was left with a divided mind, between the dumb indignation +which had never known speech, and an almost equally speechless +concern. + +Daisy, as soon as she was free, had made her way to the +window; there the child was, on her knees, her head on her +window sill, and weeping as if her very heart were melting and +flowing away drop by drop. And June stood like a dark statue, +looking at her; the wrinkles in her forehead scarce testifying +to the work going on under it. She wanted first of all to see +Daisy in bed; but it seemed hopeless to speak to her; and +there the little round head lay on the window-sill, and the +moonbeams poured in lovingly over it. June stood still and +never stirred. + +It was a long while before Daisy's sobs began to grow fainter, +and June ventured to put in her word, and got Daisy to lay +herself on the bed again. Then June went off after another +sort of medicine of her own devising, despising the drops +which Mr. Randolph had given her. Without making a confidant +of the housekeeper, she contrived to get from her the +materials to make Daisy a cup of arrowroot, with wine and +spices. June knew well how to be a cook when she pleased; and +what she brought to Daisy was, she knew, as good as a cook +could make it. + +She found the child lying white and still on the bed, and not +asleep, nor dead, which June had almost feared at first sight +of her. She didn't want the arrowroot, she said. + +"Miss Daisy, s'pose you take it?" said June. "It won't do you +no hurt maybe it'll put you to sleep." + +Daisy was perhaps too weak to resist. She rose half up and eat +the arrowroot, slowly, and without a word. It did put a little +strength into her, as June had said. But when she gave back +the cup, and let herself fall again upon her pillow, Daisy +said, "June, I'd like to die." + +"Oh, why, Miss Daisy?" said June. + +"Jesus knows that I love Him now; and I'd like " said the +child, steadying her voice "I'd like to be in heaven!" + +"Oh, no, Miss Daisy not yet; you've got a great deal to do +in the world first." + +"Jesus knows I love Him " repeated the child. + +"Miss Daisy, He knowed it before He's the Lord." + +"Yes, but He wants people to _show_ they love Him, June." + +"Do, don't! Miss Daisy," said June, half crying. "Can't ye go +to sleep? Do, now!" + +It was but three minutes more, and Daisy had complied with her +request. June watched, and saw that the sleep was real; went +about the room on her noiseless feet; came back to Daisy's +bed, and finally went off for her own pillow, with which she +lay down on the matting at the foot of the bed, and there +passed the remainder of the night. + + +CHAPTER XV. + +SCHROEDER'S MOUNTAIN. + + +The sun was shining bright the next morning, and Daisy sat on +one of the seats under the trees, half in sunshine, half in +shadow. It was after breakfast, and she had been scarcely seen +or heard that morning before. Ransom came up. + +"Daisy, do you want to go fishing?" + +"No, I think not." + +"You don't! What are you going to do?" + +"I am not going to do anything." + +"I don't believe it. What ails you? Mother said I was to ask +you and there you sit like a wet feather. I am glad I am not +a girl, however!" + +Ransom went off, and a very faint colour rose in Daisy's +cheek. + +"Are you not well, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, who had also +drawn near. + +"I am well, papa." + +"You don't look so. What's the matter, that you don't go a- +fishing, when Ransom has the consideration to ask you?" + +Daisy's tranquillity was very nearly overset. But she +maintained it, and only answered without the change of a +muscle, "I have not the inclination, papa." Indeed her face +was _too_ quiet; and Mr. Randolph, putting that with its +colourless hue, and the very sweet upward look her eyes had +first given him, was not satisfied. He went away to the +breakfast room. + +"Felicia," said he, in a low tone, bending down by his wife, +"did you have any words with Daisy last night?" + +"Has she told you about it?" said Mrs. Randolph. + +"Told me what? What is there to tell?" + +"Nothing, on my part," answered the lady, nonchalantly. "Daisy +may tell you what she pleases." + +"Felicia," said Mr. Randolph, looking much vexed, "that child +has borne too much already. She is ill." + +"It is her own fault. I told you, Mr. Randolph, I would as +lief not have a child as not have her mind me. She shall do +what I bid her, if she dies for it." + +"It won't come to that," said Mrs. Gary. Mr. Randolph turned +on his heel. + +Meantime, another person who had seen with sorrow Daisy's pale +face, and had half a guess as to the cause of it, came up to +her side and sat down. + +"Daisy, what is to be done to-day?" + +"I don't know, Captain Drummond." + +"You don't feel like storming the heights, this morning?" + +Again, to him also, the glance of Daisy's eye was so very +sweet, and so very wistful, that the captain was determined in +a purpose he had half had in his mind. + +"What do you say to a long expedition, Daisy?" + +"I don't feel like driving, Captain Drummond." + +"No, but suppose I drive, and we will leave Loupe at home +for to-day. I want to go as far as Schroeder's Hill, to look +after trilobites; and I do not want anybody with me but you. +Shall we go?" + +"What are those things, Captain Drummond?" + +"Trilobites?" + +"Yes. What are they?" + +"Curious things, Daisy! They are a kind of fish that are found +on land." + +"Fish on land! But then they can't be fish, Captain Drummond?" + +"Suppose we go and see," said the captain; "and then, if we +find any, we shall know more about them than we do now." + +"But how do you catch them?" + +"With my hands, I suppose." + +"With your hands, Captain Drummond?" + +"Really I don't know any other way, unless your hands will +help. Come! shall we go and try?" + +Daisy slowly rose up, very mystified, but with a little light +of interest and curiosity breaking on her face. The Captain +moved off on his part to get ready, well satisfied that he was +doing a good thing. + +It went to the Captain's heart, nevertheless, for he had a +kind one, to see all the way how pale and quiet Daisy's face +was. She asked him no more about trilobites, she did not talk +about anything; the subjects the Captain started were soon let +drop. And not because she was too ill to talk, for Daisy's eye +was thoughtfully clear and steady, and the Captain had no +doubt but she was busy enough in her own mind with things she +did not bring out. What sort of things? he was very curious to +know. For he had never seen Daisy's face so exceeding sweet in +its expression as he saw it now; though the cheeks were pale +and worn, there was in her eye whenever it was lifted to his, +a light of something hidden that the Captain could not read. +It was true. Daisy had sat stunned and dull all the morning +until he came with his proposal for the drive; and with the +first stir of excitement in getting ready, a returning tide of +love had filled the dry places in Daisy's heart; and it was +full now of feelings that only wanted a chance to come out. +Meanwhile she sat as still as a mouse and as grave as a judge. + +The hill for which they were bound was some dozen or more +miles away. It was a wild rough place. Arrived at the foot of +it, they could go no further by the road; the Captain tied his +horse to a tree, and he and Daisy scrambled up the long +winding ascent, thick with briars and bushes, or strewn with +pieces of rock, and shaded with a forest of old trees. This +was hard walking for Daisy today; she did not feel like +struggling with any difficulties, and her poor little feet +almost refused to carry her through the roughnesses of the +last part of the way. She was very glad when they reached the +ground where the Captain wanted to explore, and she could sit +down and be still. It was quite on the other side of the +mountain; a strange-looking place. The face of the hill was +all bare of trees, and seemed to be nothing but rock; and +jagged and broken as if quarriers had been there cutting and +blasting. Nothing but a steep surface of broken rock; bare +enough; but it was from the sun, and Daisy chose the first +smooth fragment to sit down upon. Then what a beautiful place! +For, from that rocky seat, her eye had a range over acres and +acres of waving slopes of tree tops; down in the valley at the +mountain foot, and up and down so many slopes and ranges of +swelling and falling hillsides and dells, that the eye +wandered from one to another and another, softer and softer as +the distance grew, or brighter and more varied as the view +came nearer home. A wilderness all, no roof of a house nor +smoke from a chimney even; but those sunny ranges of hills, +over which now and then a cloud shadow was softly moving, and +which finished in a dim blue horizon. + +"Well, are you going to sit here?" said the Captain, "or will +you help me to hunt up my fishes?" + +"Oh, I'll sit here," said Daisy. She did not believe much in +the success of the Captain's hunt. + +"Won't you be afraid, while I am going all over creation?" + +"Of what?" said Daisy. + +The Captain laughed a little and went off; thinking, however, +not so much of his trilobites as of the sweet fearless look +the little face had given him. Uneasy about the child too, for +Daisy's face looked not as he liked to see it look. But where +got she that steady calm, and curious fearlessness. "She is a +timid child," thought the Captain, as he climbed over the +rocks; "or she was, the other night." + +But the Captain and Daisy were looking with different eyes; no +wonder they did not find the same things. In all that sunlit +glow over hill and valley, which warmed every tree-top, Daisy +had seen only another light, the love of the Lord Jesus +Christ. With that love round her, over her, how could she fear +anything. She sat a little while, resting and thinking; then, +being weary and feeling weak, she slipped down on the ground, +and like Jacob taking a stone for her pillow, she went to +sleep. + +So the Captain found her, every time he came back from his +hunt to look after his charge; he let her sleep, and went off +again. He had a troublesome hunt. At last he found some traces +of what he sought; then he forgot Daisy in his eagerness, and +it was after a good long interval the last time that he came +to Daisy's side again. She was awake. + +"What have you got?" she said, as he came up with his hands +full. + +"I have got my fish." + +"Have you! Oh, where is it?" + +"How do you do?" said the Captain, sitting down beside her. + +"I do very well. Where is the fish? You have got nothing but +stones there, Captain Drummond?" + +The Captain, without speaking, displayed one of the stones he +had in his hand. It looked very curious. Upon a smooth flat +surface, where the stone had been split, there was a raised +part which had the appearance of some sort of animal; but +this, too, seemed to be stone, and was black and shining, +though its parts were distinct. + +"What is that, Captain Drummond? It is a stone." + +"It is a fish." + +"That?" + +"That." + +"But you are laughing." + +"Am I?" said the Captain, as grave as a senator. "It's a fish +for all that." + +"This curious black thing?" + +"Precisely." + +"What sort of a fish?" + +"Daisy, have you had any luncheon?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then you had better discuss that subject first. Soldiers +cannot get along without their rations, you'll find." + +"What is that?" said Daisy. + +"Rations?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Daily bread, Daisy. Of one sort or another, as the case may +be. Where is that basket?" + +Daisy had charge of it, and would not let him take it out of +her hands. She unfolded napkins, and permitted the Captain to +help himself when she had all things ready. Then bread-and- +butter and salad were found to be very refreshing. But while +Daisy ate, she looked at the trilobite. + +"Please tell me what it is, Captain Drummond." + +"It is a Crustacean." + +"But, you know, I don't know what a Crustacean is." + +"A Crustacean is a fellow who wears his bones on the outside." + +"Captain Drummond! What do you mean?" + +"Well, I mean that, Daisy. Did you never hear of the way +soldiers used to arm themselves for the fight in old times in +plates of jointed armour?" + +"Yes, I know they did." + +"Well, these fellows are armed just so only they do not put +on steel or brass, but hard plates of bone or horn, that do +exactly as well, and are jointed just as nicely." + +"And those are Crustaceans?" + +"Those are Crustaceans." + +"And was this thing armed so?" + +"Splendidly. Don't you see those marks? those show the rings +of his armour. Those rings fitted so nicely, and played so +easily upon one another, that he could curl himself all up +into a ball if he liked, and bring his armour all round him; +for it was only on his back, so to speak." + +"And how came he into this rock, Captain Drummond?" + +"Ah! how did he?" said the Captain, looking contentedly at the +trilobite. "That's more than I can tell you, Daisy. Only he +lived before the rock was made, and when it was made, it +wrapped him up in it, somehow; and now we have got him!" + +"But, Captain Drummond! " + +"What is it?" + +"When do you suppose this rock was made?" + +"Can't just say, Daisy. Some rocks are young, and some are +old, you know. This is one of the old rocks." + +"But how do you know, Captain Drummond?" + +"I know by the signs," said the Captain. + +"What is an old rock? how old?" + +"I am sure I can't say, Daisy. Only that a young rock is apt +to be a good deal older than Adam and Eve." + +"How can you tell that?" + +"When you see a man's hair grey, can't you tell that he is +old?" + +"But there are no grey hairs in rocks?" said Daisy. + +"Yes, there are. Trilobites do just as well." + +"But, I _say_," said Daisy, laughing, "how can you tell that the +rock is old? You wouldn't know that grey hairs were a sign, if +you saw them on young people." + +"Pretty well, Daisy!" said the Captain, delighted to see her +interested in something again; "pretty well! But you will +have to study something better than me, to find out about all +that. Only it is true." + +"And you were not laughing?" + +"Not a bit of it. That little fellow, I suppose, lived a +thousand million years ago; may as well say a thousand as +anything." + +"I can't see how you can tell," said Daisy, looking puzzled. + +"That was a strange old time, when he was swimming about or +when most of them were. There were no trees, to speak of; and +no grass or anything but sea-weed and mosses; and no living +things but fishes and oysters and such creatures?" + +"Where were the beasts then, and the birds?" + +"They were not made yet. That's the reason, I suppose, there +was no grass for them to eat." + +Daisy looked down at the trilobite; and looked profoundly +thoughtful. That little, shiny, black, stony thing, _that_ had +lived and flourished so many ages ago! Once more she looked up +into the Captain's face to see if he were trifling with her. +He shook his head. + +"True as a book, Daisy." + +"But, Captain Drummond, please, how do you know it?" + +"Just think, Daisy, this little fellow frolicked away in the +mud at the bottom of the sea, with his half-moons of eyes +and round him swam all sorts of fishes that do not live +nowadays; fishes with plate armour like himself; everybody was +in armour." + +"Half-moons of eyes, Captain Drummond?" + +"Yes. He had, or some of them had, two semi-circular walls of +eyes one looked before and behind and all round to the +right, and the other looked before and behind and all round at +the left; and in each wall were two hundred eyes." + +The Captain smiled to himself to see Daisy's face at this +statement, though outwardly he kept perfectly grave. Daisy's +own simple orbs were so full and intent. She looked from him +to the fossil. + +"But, Captain Drummond " she began, slowly. + +"Well, Daisy? After you have done, I shall begin." + +"Did you say that this thing lived at the bottom of the sea." + +"Precisely." + +"But then how could he get up here?" + +"Seems difficult, don't it?" said the Captain. "Well, Daisy, +the people that know, tell us that all the land we have was +once at the bottom of the sea; so these rocks had their turn." + +"All the land?" said Daisy. "Oh, that is what the Bible says!" + +"The Bible!" said the Captain, in his turn. "Pray where, if +you please?" + +"Why, don't you know, Captain Drummond? when God said, 'Let +the waters be gathered together into one place, and let the +dry land appear.' " + +The Captain whistled softly, with an amused face, and +stealthily watched Daisy, whose countenance was full of the +most beautiful interest. Almost lovingly she bent over the +trilobite, thinking her own thoughts; while her friend +presently, from observing the expression of her face, began to +take notice anew of the thin and pale condition of the cheeks, +that had been much healthier a week ago. + +"You like to look at armour, Daisy?" he said. + +She made no answer. + +"Are you still in the mind to 'die on the field of battle'?" + +He guessed the question would touch her, but curiosity got the +better of sympathy with him. He was not prepared for the +wistful, searching look that Daisy gave him instantly, nor for +the indescribable tenderness and sorrow that mingled in it. As +before, she did not answer. + +"Forgive me, Daisy," said the Captain, involuntarily "You know +you told me you were a soldier." + +Daisy's heart was very tender, and she had been living all the +morning in that peculiar nearness to Christ which those know +who suffer for Him. She looked at the Captain, and burst into +tears. + +"You told me you were a soldier " he repeated, not quite +knowing what to say. + +"Oh, Captain Drummond!" said Daisy, weeping, "I wish you +were!" + +It stung the Captain. He knew what she meant. But he quietly +asked her why? + +"Because then," said Daisy, "you would know Jesus; and I want +you to be happy." + +"Why, Daisy," said Captain Drummond, though his conscience +smote him, "you don't seem to me very happy lately." + +"Don't I?" she said. "But I am happy. I only wish everybody +else was happy too." + +She presently wiped her eyes, and stood up. "Captain +Drummond," said she, "don't you think we can find another of +these things?" + +Anything to change the course matters had taken, the Captain +thought, so he gave ready assent; and he and Daisy entered +upon a most lively renewed quest among the rocks that covered +all that mountain-side. Daisy was more eager than he; she +wanted very much to have a trilobite for her own keeping; the +difficulty was, she did not know how to look for it. All she +could do was to follow her friend, and watch all his doings, +and direct him to new spots in the mountain that he had not +tried. In the course of this business the Captain did some +adventurous climbing; it would have distressed Daisy if she +had not been so intent upon his object; but as it was she +strained her little head back to look at him, where he picked +his way along at a precipitous height above her, sometimes +holding to a bramble or sapling, and sometimes depending on +his own good footing and muscular agility. In this way of +progress, while making good his passage from one place to +another, the Captain's foot in leaping struck upon a loosely +poised stone or fragment of rock. It rolled from under him. A +spring saved the Captain, but the huge stone, once set a- +going, continued its way down the hill. + +"Daisy look out!" he shouted. + +"Have you got one?" said Daisy, springing forward. She +misunderstood his warning; and her bound brought her exactly +under the rolling stone. She never saw it till it had reached +her, and knocked her down. + +"Hollo, Daisy!" shouted Captain Drummond, "is all right?" + +He got no answer, listened, shouted again, and then made two +jumps from where he stood to the bottom. Daisy lay on the +ground, her little foot under the stone; her eyes closed, her +face paler than ever. Without stopping to think how heavy the +stone was, with a tremendous exertion of strength the young +man pushed it from where it lay, and released the foot; but he +was very much afraid damage was done. "I couldn't help it" +said the Captain to himself, as he looked at the great piece +of rock; but the first thing was to get Daisy's eyes open. +There was no spring near that he knew of; he went back to +their lunch basket and brought from it a bottle of claret +all he could find and with it wetted Daisy's lips and brow. +The claret did perhaps as well as cold water; for Daisy +revived; but as soon as she sat up and began to move, her +words were broken off by a scream of pain. + +"What is it, Daisy?" said the Captain. "Your foot? that +confounded stone! can't you move it?" + +"No," said Daisy, with a short breath, "I can't move it. +Please excuse me, Captain Drummond I couldn't help crying +out that minute; it hurt me so. It doesn't hurt me so much now +when I keep still." + +The Captain kept still too, wishing very much that he and +Daisy and the trilobites were all back in their places again. +How long could they sit still up there on the mountain? He +looked at the sun; he looked at his watch. It was three +o'clock. He looked at Daisy. + +"Let me see," said he, "if anything is the matter. Hard to +find out, through this thick boot! How does it feel now?" + +"It pains me very much, these two or three minutes." + +The Captain looked at Daisy's face again, and then, without +more ado, took his knife and cut the lacings of the boot. "How +is that?" he asked. + +"That is a _great_ deal better." + +"If it hadn't been, you would have fainted again directly. Let +us see Daisy, I think I had better cut the boot off. You +have sprained the ankle, or something, and it is swollen." + +Daisy said nothing, and the Captain went on very carefully and +tenderly to cut the boot off. + +It was a very necessary proceeding. The foot was terribly +swollen already. Again the Captain mused, looking from the +child's foot to her face. + +"How is the pain now?" + +"It aches a good deal." + +He saw it was vastly worse than her words made it. + +"My little soldier," said he, "how do you suppose I am going +to get you down the hill, to where we left our carriage?" + +"I don't know," said Daisy. "You can't carry me." + +"What makes you think so?" + +"I don't _know_," said Daisy, "but I don't think you can." And +she was a little afraid, he saw. + +"I will be as careful as I can, and you must be as brave as +you can, for I don't see any other way, Daisy. And I think, +the sooner we go the better; so that this foot may have some +cold or hot lotion or something." + +"Wait a minute," said Daisy, hastily. + +And raising herself up to a sitting position, she bent over +her little head, and covered her eyes with her hand. The +Captain felt very strangely. He guessed in a minute what she +was about; that in pain and fear, Daisy was seeking an unseen +help, and trusting in it; and in awed silence the young +officer was as still as she, till the little head was raised. + +"Now," she said, "you may take me." + +The Captain always had a good respect for Daisy; but he +certainly felt now as if he had the dignity of twenty-five +years in his arms. He raised her as gently as possible from +the ground; he knew the changed position of the foot gave her +new pain, for a flush rose to Daisy's brow, but she said not +one word either of suffering or expostulation. Her friend +stepped with her as gently as he could over the rough way; +Daisy supported herself partly by an arm round his neck, and +was utterly mute, till they were passing the place of +luncheon; then she broke out, + +"Oh! the trilobite!" + +"Never mind the trilobite." + +"But are you going to lose it, Captain Drummond?" + +"Not if you want it. I'll come back for it another day if I +break my furlough." + +"I could hold it in my other hand if I had it." + +The Captain thought the bottle of claret might chance to be +the most wanted thing; nevertheless he stopped, stooped, and +picked up the fossil. Daisy grasped it; and they went on their +way down the mountain. It was a very trying way to both of +them. The Captain was painfully anxious to step easily, which +among rocks and bushes he could not always do, especially with +a weight in his arms; and Daisy's foot hanging down, gave her +dreadful pain because of the increased rush of blood into it. +Her little lips were firmly set together many a time, to avoid +giving her friend the distress of knowing how much she +suffered; and once the Captain heard a low whisper not meant +for his ear but uttered very close to it, "O Lord Jesus, +help me." It went through and through the Captain's mind and +heart. But he only set his teeth too, and plunged on, as fast +as he could softly, down the rough mountain side. And if ever +anybody was glad, that was he when they reached the wagon. + +There was a new difficulty now, for the little vehicle had no +place in which Daisy could remain lying down. The seat was +fast; the Captain could not remove it. He did the best he +could. He put Daisy sideways on the seat, so that the hurt +foot could be stretched out and kept in one position upon it; +and he himself stood behind her, holding the reins. In that +way he served as a sort of support for the little head, which +he sometimes feared would sink in a swoon; for while she lay +on the ground, and he was trying measures with the wagon, the +closed eyes and pale cheeks had given the Captain a good many +desperately uneasy thoughts. Now Daisy sat still, leaning +against him, with her eyes open; and he drove as tenderly as +he could. He had a frisky horse to manage, and the Captain +congratulated himself for this occasion at least that he was a +skilled whip. Still the motion of the wagon was very trying to +Daisy, and every jar went through the Captain's foot up to his +heart. + +"How is it, Daisy?" he asked, after they had gone some +distance. + +"It isn't good, Captain Drummond," she said, softly. + +"Bad, isn't it?" + +"Rather." + +"I have to make this fellow go slowly, you see, or he would +shake you too much. Could you bear to go faster?" + +"I'll try." + +The Captain tried, cautiously. But his question, and possibly +Daisy's answer, were stimulated by the view of the western +horizon, over which clouds were gathering thick and fast. +Could they get home in time? That was the doubt in both minds. + +"Captain Drummond," said Daisy, presently, "I can't bear this +shaking." + +"Must I go slower?" + +"If you please." + +"Daisy, do you see how the sky bodes yonder? What do you +suppose we shall do if those clouds come up?" + +"I don't know," she answered. But she said it with such a +quiet tone of voice, that the Captain wondered anew. He had +hoped that her fears might induce her to bear the pain. + +"Daisy, do you think it will come up a storm?" + +"I think it will." + +"How soon? you know the signs better than I do. How soon will +it be here?" + +"It will come soon, I think." + +Yet there was no anxiety in Daisy's voice. It was perfectly +calm, though feeble. The Captain held his peace, looked at the +clouds, and drove on; but not as fast as he would have liked. +He knew it was a ride of great suffering to his little charge, +for she became exceedingly pale; still she said nothing, +except her soft replies to his questions. The western clouds +rolled up in great volumes of black and grey, rolling and +gathering and spreading at a magnificent rate. The sun was +presently hid behind the fringe of this curtain of blackness; +by and by the mountains were hid beneath a further fringe of +rain; a very thick fringe. Between, the masses of vapour in +the sky seemed charging for a tremendous outburst. It had not +come yet when the slow-going little wagon passed through Crum +Elbow; but by this time the Captain had seen distant darts of +lightning, and even heard the far-off warning growl of the +thunder. A new idea started up in the Captain's mind; his +frisky horse might not like lightning. + +"Daisy," said he, "my poor little Daisy we cannot get to +Melbourne we must stop and wait a little somewhere. Is there +any house you like better than another? I had best turn back +to the village." + +"No, don't, stop!" cried Daisy, "don't go back, Captain +Drummond; there is a place nearer. Turn up that road right +round there. It is very near." + +The Captain obeyed, but pulled in the reins presently as he +heard a nearer growl of the coming thunder. + +"Daisy, where is it? I don't see anything." + +"There it is, Captain Drummond that little house." + +"_That?_" said the Captain; but there was no more time now for +retreat or question. He sprang out, threw the reins two or +three times over the gate-post; then executed the very +difficult operation of taking Daisy out of the wagon. He could +not do it without hurting her; she fainted on his shoulder; +and it was in this state, white and senseless, that he carried +her into Mrs. Benoit's cottage. The old woman had seen them, +and met him at the door. Seeing the state of the case, she +immediately, and with great quickness, spread a clean covering +over a comfortable chintz couch which stood under the window, +and Daisy was laid there from her friend's arms. Juanita +applied water and salts, too, deftly; and then asked the +Captain, "What is it, sir?" + +"There's a foot hurt here," said the Captain, giving more +attention to the hurt than he had had chance to do before. +"Pray heaven it is not broken! I am afraid it is, the ankle, +or dislocated." + +"Then Heaven knows _why_ it is broken," said the old woman, +quietly. "The gentleman will go for a doctor, sir?" + +"Yes, that must be the first thing," said Captain Drummond, +gravely. "Where shall I find him?" + +"Dr. Sandford the gentleman knows the road to Mr. St. +Leonard's?" + +"Yes the Craigs I know." + +"Dr. Sandford is half way there where the gentleman +remembers a great brown house in the middle of the cedar +trees." + +The Captain beat his brain to remember, thought he did, and +was starting away, but turned back to see Daisy's eyes open +first; fearing lest she might be alarmed if he were not by her +when she came to herself. There was a bright flash and near +peal of thunder at the moment. Juanita looked up. + +"The gentleman will not fear the storm? There is work _here_" +touching the foot. + +The Captain remembered that Daisy herself had directed him to +the house, and dashed away again. The clouds were growing +blacker every moment. In the darkening light, Juanita bent +over Daisy and saw her eyes open. + +"Does my little lady know Juanita?" + +Daisy sighed, looked round the room, and then seemed to +recollect herself. + +"Oh, I am here!" she said. "Where is Captain Drummond?" + +"The gentleman is gone for the doctor, to see to the hurt +foot. How is it now, dear?" + +"It hurts me a good deal." + +Juanita's first business was to take off the stocking; this +could only be done by cutting it down. When it was removed, a +very sorrowful-looking little foot was seen. Juanita covered +it up lightly, and then turned her attention again to Daisy's +pale face. + +"What can I give my little lady?" + +"I am Daisy Randolph." + +"What may I do for Miss Daisy, to give her some comfort?" + +"Juanita, I wish you would pray for me again." + +"What does Miss Daisy want of the Lord?" + +"My foot hurts me very much, and I want to be patient. And, +Juanita, I want to thank Him too." + +"What for, Miss Daisy?" + +"Because I love Him; and He has made me so happy." + +"Praise the Lord!" came with a most glad outburst from +Juanita's lips; but then she knelt down, and so uttered her +warm petitions for help needed, and so her deep thanksgiving +for help rendered, that Daisy was greatly overcome, and poured +out her tears as the prayer went on. When it was ended, +Juanita went about her room for a little while, making certain +arrangements that she foresaw would be necessary; then came +and sat down. All this while the storm had been furious; the +lightning hardly ceased, or the thunder, and both were near; +but the two inmates of the little cottage seemed hardly to be +conscious what was going on outside its walls. There was a +slight lessening now of the storm's fury. + +"Has it gone well with my little lady then, since she gave +Juanita the rose-branch?" + +This was the new opening of conversation. Daisy hesitated a +little what to answer; not for want of confidence, for there +was something about the fine old woman that had won her +completely. + +"I don't know" she said at length, slowly. "It has been very +hard to do right, Juanita." + +"But has my little lady kept her Lord's words?" + +"Yes, Juanita, I did; but I don't know whether I should, if it +hadn't been for what you said." + +"And did she meet the trouble too." + +Juanita saw that she had, for a flush rose on Daisy's poor +pale cheeks, and her face was strangely grave. She did not +answer the question, either; only as the flush passed away she +looked placidly up and said, "I am not in trouble now, +Juanita." + +"Bless the Lord!" was the utterance of Juanita's heart. "The +Lord knows how to deliver out of trouble, Miss Daisy." + +"Yes," said Daisy. "Oh!" she exclaimed, suddenly, with a new +light breaking all over her face but then she stopped. + +"What is it, my love?" + +"Nothing only I am so glad now that my foot is hurt." + +Juanita's thanksgiving rose to her lips again, but this time +she only whispered it; turning away, perhaps to hide the +moisture which had sprung to her eyes. For she understood more +of the case than Daisy's few words would have told most +people. + +Meantime, Captain Drummond and his frisky horse had a ride +which was likely to make both of them remember that +thunderstorm. They reached Dr. Sandford's house; but then the +Captain found that the doctor was not at home; where he was, +the servant could not say. The only other thing to do seemed +to be to go on to Melbourne, and at least let Daisy have the +counsel of her father and mother. To Melbourne the Captain +drove as fast as his horse's state of mind would permit. + +The drawing room was blazing with lights as usual, and full of +talkers. + +"Hollo!" cried Gary McFarlane, as the Captain entered, "here +he is. We had given you up for a fossil, Drummond and no +idea of your turning up again for another thousand years. +Shouldn't have known where to look for you either, after this +storm among the aqueous or the igneous rocks. Glad to see +you! Let me make you acquainted with Dr. Sandford." + +"I am glad to see you, sir," said the Captain, involuntarily, +as he shook hands with this latter. + +"You haven't left Daisy somewhere, changed into a stone lily?" +pursued McFarlane. + +"Yes," said the Captain. "Dr. Sandford, I am going to ask you +to get ready to ride with me. Mr. Randolph, I have left Daisy +by the way. She has hurt her foot I threw down a stone upon +it and the storm obliged her to defer getting home. I left +her at a cottage near Crum Elbow. I am going to take Dr. +Sandford to see what the foot wants." + +Mr. Randolph ordered the carriage, and then told his wife. + +"Does it storm yet?" she asked. + +"The thunder and lightning are ceasing, but it rains hard." + +The lady stepped out of the room to get ready, and in a few +minutes she and her husband, Captain Drummond and the doctor, +were seated in the carriage and on their way to Mrs. Benoit's +cottage. Captain Drummond told how the accident happened; +after that he was silent; and so were the rest of the party, +till the carriage stopped. + +Mrs. Benoit's cottage looked oddly, when all these grand +people poured into it. But the mistress of the cottage never +looked more like herself, and her reception of the grand +people was as simple as that she had given to Daisy. Little +Daisy herself lay just where her friend the Captain had left +her, but looked with curious expression at the others who +entered with him now. The father and mother advanced to the +head of the couch; the Captain and Juanita stood at the foot. +The doctor kept himself a little back. + +"Are you suffering, Daisy?" Mr. Randolph asked. + +The child's eyes went up to him. "Papa _yes!_" + +She had begun quietly, but the last word was given with more +than quiet expression, and the muscles about her lips +quivered. + +Mr. Randolph stooped and pressed his own lips upon them. + +"I have brought Dr. Sandford to look at your foot, Daisy. He +will see what it wants." + +"Will he hurt me, papa?" said the child, apprehensively. + +"I hope not. No more than is necessary." + +"It hurts to have anybody touch it, papa." + +"He must touch it, Daisy. Can't you bear it bravely?" + +"Wait, papa!" + +And again the child clasped her two hands over her face, and +was still. Mr. Randolph had no idea what for, though he +humoured her, and waited. + +The Captain knew, for he had seen more of Daisy that day, and +he looked very grave indeed. The black woman knew, for as +Daisy's hands fell from her face, she uttered a deep, soft +"Amen!" which no one understood but one little heart. + +"Papa I am ready. He may look now." + +Juanita removed the covering from the foot, and the doctor +stepped forward. Daisy's eyes rested on him, and she saw +gratefully a remarkably fine and pleasant countenance. Mrs. +Randolph's eyes rested on the foot, and she uttered an +exclamation. It was the first word she had uttered. Everybody +else was still, while the doctor passed his hands over and +round the distressed ankle and foot, but tenderly, and in a +way that gave Daisy very little pain. Then he stepped back and +beckoned Juanita to a consultation. Juanita disappeared, and +Dr. Sandford came up to Mr. Randolph, and spoke in a low tone. +Then Mr. Randolph turned again to Daisy. + +"What is it, papa?" asked the child. + +"Daisy, to make your foot well, Dr. Sandford will be obliged +to do something that will hurt you a little will you try and +bear it? He will not be long about it." + +"What is the matter with my foot, papa?" + +"Something that the doctor can set right in a few minutes if +you will try and bear a little pain." + +A little pain! And Daisy was suffering so much all the while! +Again her lip trembled. + +"Must he touch me, papa?" + +"He must touch you." + +Daisy's hands were clasped to her face again for a minute; +after that she lay quite still and quiet. Mr. Randolph kept +his post, hardly taking his eye off her; Mrs. Randolph sat +down where she had stood; behind the head of Daisy's couch, +where her little daughter could not see her; and all the party +indulged in silence. At length the doctor was ready, and came +to the foot, attended by Juanita; and Mr. Randolph took one of +Daisy's hands in his own. With the other the child covered her +eyes, and so lay, perfectly still, while the doctor set the +ankle-bone which had been broken. As the foot also itself had +been very much hurt, the handling of necessity gave a great +deal of pain, more than the mere setting of the broken bone +would have caused. Mr. Randolph could feel every now and then +the convulsive closing of Daisy's hand upon his; other than +that she gave no sign of what she was suffering. One sign of +what another person was feeling, was given as Dr. Sandford +bound up the foot and finished his work. It was given in +Juanita's deep breathed "Thank the Lord!" The doctor glanced +up at her with a slight smile of curiosity. Captain Drummond +would have said "Amen," if the word had not been so +unaccustomed to his mouth. + +Mrs. Randolph rose then, and inquired of the doctor what would +be the best means of removing Daisy? + +"She must not be moved," the doctor said. + +"Not to-night?" + +"No, madam; nor to-morrow, nor for many days." + +"Must she be left _here?_" + +"If she were out in the weather, I would move her," said the +doctor; "not if she were under a barn that would shed the +rain." + +"What harm would it do?" + +The doctor could not take it upon him to say. + +"But I cannot be with her here," said Mrs. Randolph; "nor +anybody else, that I can see." + +"Juanita will take care of her," said the doctor. "Juanita is +worth an army of nurses. Miss Daisy cannot be better cared for +than she will be." + +"Will you undertake the charge?" said Mrs. Randolph, facing +round upon Daisy's hostess. + +"The Lord has given it to me, madam, and I love to do my +Lord's work," was Juanita's answer. She could not have given a +better one, if it had been meant to act as a shot, to drive +Mrs. Randolph out of the house. The lady waited but till the +doctor had finished his directions which he was giving to the +black woman. + +"I don't see," then she said to her husband, "that there is +anything to be gained by my remaining here any longer; and if +we are to go, the sooner we go the better, so that Daisy may +be quiet. Dr. Sandford says that is the best thing for her." + +"Captain Drummond will see you home," said her husband. "I +shall stay." + +"You can't do anything, in this box of a place." + +"Unless the child herself desires it, there is no occasion for +your remaining here over night," said the doctor. "She will be +best in quiet, and sleep, if she can. You might hinder, if +your presence did not help her to this." + +"What do you say, Daisy?" said her father tenderly, bending +over her; "shall I stay or go? Which do you wish?" + +"Papa, you would not be comfortable here. I am not afraid." + +"Do you want me to go?" said her father, putting his face down +to hers. + +Daisy clasped her two arms round his neck and kissed him, and +held him while she whispered, "No, papa, but maybe you had +better. There is no place for you, and I am not afraid." + +He kissed her silently and repeatedly, and then rose up and +went to look at the storm. It had ceased; the moon was +struggling out between great masses of cloud driving over the +face of the sky. Mrs. Randolph stood ready to go, putting on +her _capuche_ which she had thrown off, and Juanita laying her +shawl round her shoulders. The doctor stood waiting to hand +her to the carriage. The Captain watched Daisy, whose eye was +wistfully fixed on her mother. He watched, and wondered at its +very grave, soft expression. There was very little affection +in the Captain's mind at that moment towards Mrs. Randolph. + +The carriage was ready, and the lady turned round to give a +parting look at the child. A cold look it was, but Daisy's +soft eye never changed. + +"Mamma," said she, whisperingly, "won't you kiss me?" + +Mrs. Randolph stooped instantly, and gave the kiss; it could +not be refused, and was fully given; but then she immediately +took Doctor Sandford's arm, and went out of the house. The +Captain reverently bent over Daisy's little hand, and followed +her. + +The drive was a very silent one, till Dr. Sandford was left at +his own door. So soon as the carriage turned again, Mrs. +Randolph broke out. + +"How long did he say, Mr. Randolph, the child must be left at +that woman's cottage?" + +"He said she must not be moved for weeks." + +"She might as well stay forever," said Mrs. Randolph, "for +the effect it will have. It will take a year to get Daisy back +to where she was! I wish fanatics would confine their efforts +to children that have no one else to care for them." + +"What sort of fanaticism has been at work here, Mrs. +Randolph?" the Captain enquired. + +"The usual kind, of course; religious fanaticism. It seems to +be catching." + +"I have been in dangerous circumstances to day, then," said +the Captain. "I am afraid I have caught it. I feel as if +something was the matter with me." + +"It will not improve you," said Mrs. Randolph, dryly. + +"How has it wrought with Daisy?" + +"Changed the child so that I do not recognise her. She never +set up her own will before; and now she is as difficult to +deal with as possible. She is an impersonation of obstinacy." + +"Perhaps, after all, she is only following orders," said the +Captain, with daring coolness. "A soldier's duty makes him +terribly obstinate sometimes. You must excuse me, but you +see I cannot help appreciating military qualities." + +"Will you be good enough to say what you mean?" the lady +asked, with sufficient displeasure of manner. + +"Only, that I believe in my soul Daisy takes her orders from +higher authority, than we do. And I have seen today I +declare! I have seen a style of obedience and soldierly +following, that would win any sort of a field ay, and die in +it!" added the Captain, musingly. "It is the sort of thing +that gets promotion from the ranks." + +"How did all this happen to-day?" asked Mr. Randolph, as the +lady was now silent. "I have heard only a bit of it." + +In answer to which, Captain Drummond went into the details of +the whole day's experience; told it point by point, and bit by +bit; having a benevolent willingness that Daisy's father and +mother should know, if they would, with what sort of a spirit +they were dealing. He told the whole story; and nobody +interrupted him. + +"It is one thing," said the Captain, thoughtfully, as he +concluded, "it is one thing to kneel very devoutly and say +after the minister, 'Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all +these laws in our hearts;' I have done that myself; but it +gives one an entirely different feeling to see some one in +whose heart they are written!" + +"There is only one thing left for you, Captain Drummond," said +Mrs. Randolph slightly; "to quit the army and take orders." + +"I am afraid, if I did, you would never want to see me settled +in Mr. Pyne's little church over here," the Captain answered, +as he helped the lady to alight at her own door. + +"Not till Daisy is safely married," said Mrs. Randolph +laughing. + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +JUANITA'S COTTAGE. + + +Till the sound of the carriage wheels had died away in the +distance, Juanita stood at the door looking after them; +although the trees and the darkness prevented her seeing +anything along the road further than a few yards. When the +rustle of the breeze among the branches was the only thing +left to hear, beside the dripping of the rain drops shaken +from the leaves, Juanita shut the door, and came to Daisy. The +child was lying white and still, with her eyes closed. Very +white and thin the little face looked, indeed; and under each +eyelid lay a tear glistening, that had forced its way so far +into notice. Juanita said not a word just then; she bustled +about and made herself busy. Not that Juanita's busy ways were +ever bustling in reality; she was too good a nurse for that; +but she had several things to do. The first was to put up a +screen at the foot of Daisy's couch. She lay just a few feet +from the door, and everybody coming to the door, and having it +opened, could look in if he pleased; and so Daisy would have +no privacy at all. That would not do; Juanita's wits went to +work to mend the matter. Her little house had been never +intended for more than one person. There was another room in +it, to be sure, where Mrs. Benoit's own bed was; so that Daisy +could have the use and possession of this outer room all to +herself. Juanita went about her business too noiselessly to +induce even those closed eyelids to open. She fetched a +tolerably large clothes-horse from somewhere some shed or +out-building; this she set at the foot of the couch, and hung +an old large green moreen curtain over it. Where the curtain +came from, one of Mrs. Benoit's great locked chests knew; +there were two or three such chests in the inner room, with +more treasures than a green moreen curtain stowed away in +them. The curtain was too large for the clothes-horse to hold +up; it lay over the floor. Juanita got screws and cords; fixed +one screw in the wall, another in the ceiling, and at last +succeeded in stretching the curtain neatly on the cords and +the clothes-horse, where she wanted it to hang. That was done; +and Daisy's couch was quite sheltered from any eyes coming to +the door that had no business to come further. When it was +finished, and the screws and cords put away, Juanita came to +Daisy's side. The eyes were open now. + +"That is nice," said Daisy. + +"It'll keep you by yourself, my little lady. Now what will she +have?" + +"Nothing only I am thirsty," said Daisy. + +Juanita went to the well for some cold water, and mixed with +it a spoonful of currant jelly. It was refreshing to the poor +little dry lips. + +"What will my love have next?" + +"I don't know," said Daisy "my foot aches a good deal, and +all my leg. I think Juanita I would like it if you would +read to me." + +Juanita took a somewhat careful survey of her, felt her hands, +and finally got the book. + +"Is there too much air for my love from that window?" + +"No, it is nice," said Daisy. "I can see the stars so +beautifully, with the clouds driving over the sky. Every now +and then they get between me and the stars and then the +stars look out again so bright. They seem almost right over +me. Please read, Juanita." + +Mrs. Benoit did not consider that it made much difference to +Daisy where she read; so she took the chapter that came next +in the course of her own going through the New Testament. It +was the eighth chapter of Mark. She read very pleasantly; not +like a common person; and with a slight French accent. Her +voice was always sweet, and the words came through it as loved +words. It was very pleasant to Daisy to hear her; the long +chapter was not interrupted by any remark. But when Mrs. +Benoit paused at the end of it, Daisy said, "How can anybody +be _ashamed_ of Him, Juanita?" + +The last verse of the chapter has these words "Whosoever +therefore shall be ashamed of Me, and of My words, in this +adulterous and sinful generation; of Him also shall the Son of +man be ashamed, when He cometh in the glory of His Father with +the holy angels." + +"How can anybody be ashamed of him, Juanita?" + +"They not see the glory of the Lord, my lady." + +"But we do not see it yet." + +"My love will see it. Juanita has seen it. This little house +be all full of glory sometimes, when Jesus is here." + +"But that is because you love Him, Juanita." + +"Praise the Lord!" echoed the black woman. "He do show His +glory to His people, before He come with the holy angels." + +"I don't see how anybody can be ashamed of Him," Daisy +repeated, uttering the words as if they contained a simple +impossibility. + +"My little lady not know the big world yet. There be ways, +that the Lord know and that the people not know." + +"What do you mean, Juanita?" + +"My lady will find it," said the black woman folding her arms. +"When all the world go one way, then folks not like to go +another way and be looked at; they be ashamed of Christ's +words then, and they only think they do not want to be looked +at." + +A colour came all over Daisy's face a suffusion of colour; +and tears swam in her eyes. "I didn't like to be looked at, +the other night!" she said, in a self-accusing tone. + +"Did my love turn and go with the world?" + +"No, I didn't do that." + +"Then Jesus won't turn away neither," said the black woman. + +"But I ought not to have felt so, Juanita." + +"Maybe. My love is a little child. The good Lord shall +'stablish her, and keep her from evil. Now she must not talk +no more, but trust the Lord, and go to sleep." + +"I can't sleep, Juanita my leg aches so." + +"That will be better. Is my love thirsty again?" + +"Very thirsty! I wish I had some oranges." + +"They would be good," said Juanita, bringing another glass of +jelly and water for Daisy. + +And then she sat down, and sang softly; hymns in French and +English; sweet and low, and soothing in their simple and +sometimes wild melody. They soothed Daisy. After a time, +wearied and exhausted by all her long day of trial, she did +forget pain in slumber. The eyelids closed, and Juanita's +stealthy examination found that quiet soft breathing was +really proving her fast asleep. The singing ceased; and for a +while nothing was to be heard in the cottage but the low rush +and rustle of the wind which had driven away the storm clouds, +and the patter of a dislodged rain drop or two that were +shaken from the leaves. Daisy's breathing was too soft to be +heard, and Juanita almost held her own lest it should be too +soon disturbed. But the pain of the hurt foot and ankle would +not suffer a long sleep. Daisy waked up with a sigh. + +"Are you there, Juanita?" + +"I am here." + +"What o'clock is it?" + +Juanita drew back the curtain of the window by Daisy's couch, +that the moonlight might fall in and show the face of the +little clock. It was midnight. + +"It won't be morning in a great while, will it?" said Daisy. + +"Does my lady want morning?" + +"My foot hurts me dreadfully, Juanita the pain shoots and +jumps all up my leg. Couldn't you do something to it?" + +"My dear love, it will be better by and by there is no help +now for it, unless the Lord sends sleep. I s'pose it must +ache. Can't Miss Daisy remember who sends the pain?" + +The child answered her with a curious smile. It was not +strange to the black woman; she read it, and knew it, and had +seen such before; to anybody that had not, how strange would +have seemed the lovingness that spread over all Daisy's +features, and brightened on her brow as much as on her lips. +It was not patient submission; it was the light of joyful +affection shining out over all Daisy's little pale face. + +"Ay, it isn't hard with Jesus," said the black woman with a +satisfied face. "And the Lord is here now, praise his name!" + +"Juanita I have been very happy to-day," said Daisy. + +"Ay? how has that been, my love?" + +"Because I knew He was taking care of me. It seemed that Jesus +was so near me all the time. Even all that dreadful ride." + +"The Lord is good!" said the black woman, with strong +expression. "But my love must not talk." + +She began to sing again. + + +"Oh, what shall I do, my Saviour to praise, +So faithful and true, so plenteous in grace. +So good to deliver, so strong to redeem +The weakest believer that hangs upon him." + + +"Oh, that's good, Juanita!" said Daisy. "Hush! Juanita, it +is very late for anybody to be out riding!" + +"Who is out riding, Miss Daisy?" + +"I don't know I hear a horse's feet. Don't you hear. +there!" + +"It's some young gentleman, maybe, going home, from a dinner- +party." + +"Don't draw the curtain, Juanita, please! I like it so, I can +look out. The moonlight is nice. Somebody is very late, going +home from a dinner party." + +"They often be. Miss Daisy, the moonlight will hinder you +sleeping, I am afraid." + +"I can't sleep. It's so good to look out! Juanita there's +that horse's feet, stopping just here." + +Juanita went to her door, and perceived that Daisy spoke +truth. Somebody down at her little wicket had dismounted, and +was fastening his horse to the fence. Then a figure came up +the walk in the moonlight. + +"Juanita!" cried Daisy, with an accent of joy, though she +could not see the figure from where she lay, "it's papa!" + +"Is she asleep?" said the voice of Mr. Randolph the next +minute softly. + +"No, sir. She knows it's you, sir. Will his honour walk in?" + +Mr. Randolph, with a gentle footfall, came in and stood by the +side of the couch. + +"Daisy my poor little Daisy!" he said. + +"Papa! " + +This one word was rich in expression; joy and love so filled +it. Daisy added nothing more. She put her arms round her +father's neck as he stooped his lips to her face, held him +fast and returned his kisses. + +"Cannot you sleep?" The question was very tenderly put. + +"I did sleep, papa." + +"I did not wake you?" + +"No, papa. I was awake, looking at the moonlight." + +"Pain would not let you sleep, my poor darling?" + +The sympathy was a little too trying. Tears started to the +child's eyes. She said with a most gentle, loving accent, "I +don't mind, papa. It will be better by and by. I am very +happy." + +An indignant question as to the happiness which had been so +rudely shaken, was on Mr. Randolph's lips. He remembered Daisy +must not be excited; nevertheless, he wondered, for he saw the +child's eyes full, and knew that the brow was drawn with pain; +and the poor little thin face was as white as a sheet. What +did she mean by talking about being happy? + +"Daisy, I have brought you some oranges." + +"Thank you, papa! May I have one now?" + +Silently, and almost sternly, Mr. Randolph stood and pared the +orange with a fruit knife he had thought to bring that too +and fed Daisy with it, bit by bit. It was pleasant and novel +to Daisy to have her father serve her so; generally others had +done it when there had been occasion. Mr. Randolph did it +nicely, while his thoughts worked. + +"What are you going to do to-night, papa?" she said, when the +orange was finished and he stood looking at her. + +"Stay here with you." + +"But, papa, how can you sleep?" + +"I can do without sleeping, if it is necessary. I will take a +chair here in the doorway, and be near if you want anything." + +"Oh, I shall not want anything, papa, except what Juanita can +give me." + +He stood still, watching her. Daisy looked up at him with a +loving face; a wise little face it always was; it was gravely +considerate now. + +"Papa, I am afraid you will be uncomfortable." + +"Can nobody bear that but you?" said Mr. Randolph, stooping +down to kiss her. + +"I am very happy, papa," said the child, placidly; while a +slight tension of her forehead witnessed to the shooting pains +with which the whole wounded limb seemed to be filled. + +"If Mr. Randolph pleases," said the voice of Juanita, "the +doctor recommended quiet, sir." + +Off went Mr. Randolph at that, as if he knew it very well, and +had forgotten himself. He took a chair, and set it in the open +doorway, using the door-post as a rest for his head; and then +the cottage was silent. The wind breathed more gently; the +stars shone out; the air was soft after the storm; the +moonlight made a bright flicker of light and shade over all +the outer world. Now and then a grasshopper chirruped, or a +little bird murmured a few twittering notes at being disturbed +in its sleep; and then came a soft sigh from Daisy. + +On noiseless foot the black woman stole to the couch. Daisy +was weeping; her tears were pouring out and making a great wet +spot on her pillow. + +"Is my love in pain?" whispered the black woman. + +"It's nothing I can't help it," said Daisy. + +"Where is it in the foot?" + +"It's all over, I think; in my head and everywhere. Hush, +Juanita; never mind." + +Mrs. Benoit, however, tried the soothing effect of a long +gentle brushing of Daisy's head. This lasted till Daisy said +she could bear it no longer. She was restless. + +"Will my love hear a hymn?" + +"It will wake papa." + +Mrs. Benoit cared nothing for that. Her care was her poor +little charge. She began immediately one of the hymns that +were always ready on her tongue, and which were wonderfully +soothing to Daisy. Juanita was old, but her voice was sweet +yet and clear; and she sang with a deal of quiet spirit. + + +"A few more days or years at most, +My troubles sell be o'er; +I hope to join the heavenly host +On Canaan's happy shore. +My raptured soul shall drink and feast +In love's unbounded sea; +The glorious hope of endless rest +Is ravishing to me." + + +Mr. Randolph raised his head from leaning against the door- +post, and turned it to listen; with a look of lowering +impatience. The screen of the hanging curtain was between him +and the couch, and the look did nobody any harm. + + +"Oh, come, my Saviour, come away, +And bear me to the sky! +Nor let thy chariot wheels delay +Make haste and bring it nigh: +I long to see Thy glorious face, +And in Thy image shine; +To triumph in victorious grace, +And be forever Thine." + + +Mr. Randolph's chair here grated inharmoniously on the floor, +as if he were moving; but Juanita went on without heeding it. + + +"Then will I tune my harp of gold +To my eternal King. +Through ages that can ne'er be told +I'll make Thy praises ring. +All hail, eternal Son of God, +Who died on Calvary! +Who bought me with His precious blood, +From endless misery." + + +Mr. Randolph stood by Mrs. Benoit's chair. "My good woman," he +said, in suppressed tones, "this is a strange way to put a +patient to sleep." + +"As your honour sees!" replied the black woman, placidly. + +Mr. Randolph looked. Daisy's eyes were closed; the knitted +brow had smoothed itself out in slumber; the deep breath told +how profound was the need that weakness and weariness had +made. He stood still. The black woman's hand softly drew the +curtain between Daisy's face and the moonlight, and then she +noiselessly withdrew herself almost out of sight, to a low +seat in a corner. So Mr. Randolph betook himself to his +station in the doorway; and whether he slept or no, the hours +of the night stole on quietly. The breeze died down; the moon +and the stars shone steadily over the lower world; and Daisy +slept, and her two watchers were still. By and by, another +light began to break in the eastern horizon, and the stars +grew pale. The morning had come. + +The birds were twittering in the branches before Daisy awoke. +At the first stir she made, her father and Mrs. Benoit were +instantly at her side. Mr. Randolph bent over her, and asked +tenderly how she felt. + +"I feel hot, papa." + +"Everybody must do that," said Mr. Randolph. "The breeze has +died away, and the morning is very close." + +"Papa, have you been awake all night?" + +He stooped down and kissed her. + +"You must go home and get some breakfast, and go to sleep," +Daisy said, looking at him lovingly with her languid eyes. + +"Shall I bring you anything from home, Daisy?" he said, +kissing her again. + +The child looked a little wistfully, but presently said no; +and Mr. Randolph left her, to do as she had said. Mrs. Benoit +was privately glad to have him out of the way. She brought +water, and bathed Daisy's face and hands, and gave her a +delicate breakfast of orange; and contrived to be a long while +about it all, so as to rest and refresh her as much as +possible. But when it was all done, Daisy was very hot and +weary and in much pain. And the sun was only in the tops of +the trees yet. The black woman stood considering her. + +"It will be a hot day, Miss Daisy and my little lady is +suffering already, when the dew is not dried off the grass. +Can she say, 'Thank the Lord'?" + +Daisy first smiled at her; then the little pale face grew +grave, the eyelids fell, and the black woman saw tears +gathering beneath them. She stood looking somewhat anxiously +down at the child; till, after a few minutes, the eyelids were +raised again, and the eyes gave her a most meek and loving +response, while Daisy said faintly, "Yes, Juanita." + +"Bless the Lord!" said Juanita, with all her heart. "Then my +love can bear it, the hot day and the pain and all. When His +little child trust Him, Jesus not stay far off. And when He +giveth quietness, then who can make trouble?" + +"But I have a particular reason, Juanita. I am very glad of my +hurt foot; though it does ache." + +"The aching will not be so bad by and by," said the woman, her +kindly face all working with emotion. + +She stood there by Daisy's couch and prayed. No bathing nor +breakfast could so soothe and refresh Daisy as that prayer. +While she listened and joined in it, the feeling of yesterday +came all back again; that wonderful feeling that the Lord +Jesus loves even the little ones that love Him; that He will +not let a hair of their heads be hurt; that He is near, and +keeps them, and is bringing them to Himself by everything that +He lets happen to them. + +Greatly refreshed and comforted, Daisy lay quiet looking out +of the open window, while Juanita was busy about, making a +fire and filling her kettle for breakfast. She had promised +Daisy a cup of tea and a piece of toast; and Daisy was very +fond of a cup of tea, and did not ordinarily get it; but Mrs. +Benoit said it would be good for her now. The fire was made in +a little out-shed, back of the cottage, where it would do +nobody any harm, even in hot weather. + +Daisy was so quieted and comforted, though her leg was still +aching, that she was able to look out and take some pleasure +in the sparkling morning light which glittered on the leaves +of the trees and on the blades of grass; and to hearken to the +birds which were singing in high feather all around the +cottage. The robins especially were very busy, whistling about +in and under the trees; and a kildeer, quite near, from time +to time sung its soft sweet song; so soft and tender, it +seemed every time to say in Daisy's ears, "What if I am sick +and in pain and weary? Jesus sends it and He knows and He +is my dear Saviour." It brought the tears into Daisy's eyes at +length; the song of the kildeer came so close home into her +heart. + +Juanita had gone to make the tea. While the kettle had been +coming to a boil, she had put her little cottage into the +nicest of order; and even filled a glass with some roses and +set it on the little table. For, as she said to Daisy, they +would have company enough that day, and must be in trim. She +had gone now to make the tea, and Daisy lay contentedly +looking out of the window, when she heard the swift tread of +horses' feet again. Could her father be back from Melbourne +already? Daisy could not raise herself up to look. She heard +the feet stop in the road before the cottage; then listened +for somebody's step coming up to it. She heard the step, but +it was none of Mr. Randolph's; it was brisk and firm and +measured. She guessed it was somebody's step whose feet had +been trained. + +Juanita came to open the door at the knock, and Daisy heard +her saying something about the doctor's orders, and keeping +quiet, and no excitement. Daisy could not stand that. + +"Oh, Captain Drummond come in! come in!" she cried. And in +came the Captain. He looked wonderfully sober at his poor +little playfellow. But Daisy looked all smiles at him. + +"Is your furlough over? Are you going, Captain Drummond?" + +"I am off, Daisy." + +"I am so glad you came to see me," she said, putting out her +little hand to him. + +The Captain took it, and held it, and seemed almost unable to +speak. "Daisy, I would have run the risk of being cashiered, +rather than not have done it." + +"What is that?" + +"Cashiered? Having my epaulettes pulled off." + +"Do you care a great deal for your epaulettes?" said Daisy. + +The Captain laughed, with the water standing in his eyes. Yes, +absolutely, his bright sparkling eyes had drops in them. + +"Daisy, I have brought you our land fish that we had such +trouble for." + +"The trilobite! Oh, did you?" exclaimed Daisy, as he placed it +before her. "I wanted to see it again, but I was afraid you +wouldn't have time before you went." She looked at it eagerly. + +"Keep it Daisy; and keep a little bit of friendship for me +with it will you? in case we meet again some day." + +"Oh, Captain Drummond don't you want it?" + +"No; but I want you to remember the conditions." + +"When will you come to Melbourne again?" + +"Can't say, Daisy; I am afraid, not till you will have got the +kingdom of England quite out of all its difficulties. We were +just going into the battle of Hastings, you know; don't you +recollect?" + +"How nice that was!" said Daisy, regretfully. "I don't think I +shall ever forget about the Saxon Heptarchy, and Egbert, and +Alfred." + +"How about forgetting me?" + +"You know I couldn't," said Daisy, with a most genial smile. +"Oh, Captain Drummond!" she added, as a flash of sudden +thought crossed her face. + +"What now, Daisy?" + +The child looked at him with a most earnest, inquisitive +wistful gaze. The Captain had some difficulty to stand it. + +"Oh, Captain Drummond," she repeated, "are you going to be +ashamed of Christ?" + +The young soldier was strangely enough confused by this simple +question. His embarrassment was even evident. He hesitated for +a reply, and it did not readily come. When it came, it was an +evasion. + +"That is right, Daisy," he said; "stand by your colours. He is +a poor soldier that carries them behind his back in the face +of the enemy. But whatever field you die in, I should like to +be alongside of you." + +He spoke gravely. And he asked no leave this time, but, +clasping Daisy's hand, he bent down and kissed her forehead +twice, and earnestly; then he did not say another word, but +strode away. A little flush rose on Daisy's brow, for she was +a very particular little lady as to who touched her; however +she listened attentively to the sound of the retreating hoofs +which carried the Captain off along the road; and when Juanita +at last came in with her little tray and a cup of tea, she +found Daisy's face set in a very thoughtful mood, and her eyes +full of tears. The face did not even brighten at her approach. + +"Miss Daisy," said the black woman, "I thought you wanted a +cup of tea?" + +"So I do, Juanita. I want it very much." + +Mrs. Benoit made remarks to herself upon the wise little face +that met her with such a sober greeting. However, she made +none aloud; she supported Daisy nicely with one arm, and set +the little tray before her. The tea was excellent; the toast +was in dainty, delicate, thin brown strips. Daisy took it +soberly. + +"Does it seem good to my love?" + +"Oh, yes, Juanita!" said the child, looking up gratefully; "it +is very good; and you make the prettiest toast I ever saw." + +The black woman smiled, and bade her eat it, and not look at +it. + +"But I think it tastes better for looking pretty, Juanita." + +"The Lord knows," said the woman; "and He made the trees in +the garden of Eden to be pleasant to the eyes, as well as good +for food." + +"I am glad He did," said Daisy. "How pleasant the trees have +been to my eyes this morning. Then I was sick, and could not +do anything but look at them; but they are pleasant to my eyes +too when I am well. It is very painful to have one's friends +go away, Juanita." + +"Has my love lost friends?" said Mrs. Benoit, wondering at +this speech. + +"Yes," said Daisy. "Mr. Dinwiddie is gone; and now Captain +Drummond. I have got hardly anybody left." + +"Was Mr. Dinwiddie Miss Daisy's friend?" + +Such a bright, warm, glad flash of a smile as Juanita got in +answer! It spoke for the friendship on one side. + +"But he is gone," said Daisy. "I wish I could see him again. +He is gone, and I never shall!" + +"Now, Miss Daisy, you will lie still and be quiet, my love, +until somebody else comes. The doctor says that's the way. +]Mr. Dinwiddie is about his Master's work, wherever he is; and +you want to do the same." + +"How can I, Juanita, lying here? I cannot do anything." + +"Does my love think the good Lord ever give His servants no +work to do for Him?" + +"Why _here_, Juanita I can only lie here and be still. What +can I do?" + +"My love pray the dear Master to show her; and now not talk +just now." Daisy lay still. + +The next comer was the doctor. He came while the morning was +still early; made his examinations; and Daisy made hers. He +was a very fine-looking man, Thick locks of auburn hair, +thrown back from his face; a noble and grave countenance; blue +eyes, keen and steady; and a free and noble carriage; there +was enough about Dr. Sandford to engage all Daisy's attention +and interest. She gave him both, in her quiet way; while he +looked not so much at her as at her condition and +requirements. + +"It is going to be a hot day," he remarked to Juanita, who +attended upon him. "Keep her quiet. Do not let more than one +other person be here at once. Say I order it." + +"Will his honour say it to Miss Daisy's father and mother?" + +"I shall not see them this morning. You are armed with my +authority, Juanita. Nobody is to be here to talk and excite +her; and only one at a time beside you. Have you got fruit for +her? Let her live on that as much as she likes; and keep the +house empty." + +"I will tell papa," said Daisy. + +"How do you do?" said the doctor. It was the first question he +had addressed to her; and the first attention he had given her +otherwise than as a patient. Now the two looked at each other. + +"I am better, a little, thank you," said the child. "May I ask +something?" + +"Ask it." + +"Shall I be a long while here?" + +"You will be a week or two till your foot gets strong +again." + +"Will a week or two make it strong?" + +The two pairs of eyes looked into each other. The thoughtful +grey eyes of the child, and the impenetrable blue orbs of the +man. There was mutual study; some mutual recognition. + +"You must be a good child and try to bear it." + +"Will you come and see me again?" said Daisy. + +"Do you desire it?" + +"You would not come unless it was necessary," said Daisy; "and +if it is necessary, I should like to have you." + +The lips of the young man curled into a smile that was very +pleasant, albeit a little mocking in its character. + +"I think it will be necessary, little one; but if I come to +see you, you must be under my orders." + +"Well, I am," said Daisy. + +"Keep still, then; do not talk to anybody any more than is +needful to relieve your impatience." + +The doctor went away, and Daisy lay still musing. The morning +had gone on a little further, when carriage-wheels stopped at +the gate. + +"There's mamma " said Daisy. + +It was very unconsciously on her part that the tone of these +two words conveyed a whole volume of information to Juanita's +keen wits. It was no accent of joy, like that which had +announced her father last night; neither was it fear or dread; +yet the indefinable expression of the two words said that +"mamma" had been a trouble in Daisy's life, and might be +again. + +Juanita went to have the door open; and the lady swept in. Mr. +Randolph was behind her. She came to Daisy's side, and the +mother and child looked at each other; Daisy with the tender, +wistful eyes of last night, Mrs. Randolph with a vexed air of +dissatisfaction. Yet, after looking at her a moment, she +stooped down and kissed Daisy. The child's eye went to her +father then. Mrs. Randolph stood in his way; he came round to +the head of the couch, behind Daisy, and bent over her. + +"Papa, I can't see you there." + +"You can feel, Daisy " said Mr. Randolph, putting his lips to +her face. "How do you do?" + +"This is a most maladroit arrangement of Captain Drummond's!" +said the lady. "What can we do to rectify it? A most stupid +place for the child to be." + +"She will have to bear the stupidity and we too. Daisy, what +would you like to have to help it along." + +"Papa, I am not stupid." + +"You will be, my little daughter, I am afraid, before the +weeks are over. Will you have June come to be with you?" + +"Papa," said Daisy, slowly, "I think it would not be +considerate." + +"Are you comfortable?" said Mr. Randolph, smiling, though his +looks expressed much concern. + +"No, papa." + +"What is the matter?" + +"It is hot, papa; and my leg aches; not so much as it did last +night sometimes; but it aches." + +"It is a cool, fresh morning," said Mrs. Randolph. "She is hot +because she is lying in this place." + +"Not very cool, with the mercury at eighty-four before eight +o'clock You are cool because you have been driving fast." + +"Mr. Randolph, this is no proper place for the child to be. I +am convinced she might be moved with safety." + +"I cannot risk the doctor's convictions against yours, +Felicia. That question must be given up." + +"He says I am under his orders, papa." + +"Undeniable, Daisy. That is true doctrine. What orders does he +give you?" + +"To eat fruit, and keep quiet, papa. He says there must not be +more than one person here at a time, besides Juanita." + +"I suppose he does not mean to forbid your mother," said Mrs. +Randolph, a good deal incensed. "I will see about that. Here, +my good woman where are you? Will you let your cottage to me +for the time that this child is confined here and remove +somewhere else yourself, that I may put the people here I want +about her?" + +"Oh, mamma! " said Daisy. But she stopped short; and Mrs. +Randolph did not attend to her. Mr. Randolph looked round to +see Juanita's answer. + +"My lady shall put here who she will please," the woman said, +standing before her visitors with the most unruffled face and +demeanour. + +"And you will leave me the house at once?" + +"No, my lady. My lady shall have the house. Juanita will not +be in the way." + +"You do not seem to understand, my good woman, that I want to +be here myself, and have my people here. I want the whole +house." + +"My lady shall have it she is welcome nobody shall find +Juanita trouble them," the black woman said, with great +sweetness. + +"What will you do with yourself?" + +"A little place be enough for me, my lady. My spirit lives in +a large home." + +Mrs. Randolph turned impatiently away. The manner of the woman +was so inexpressibly calm and sweet, the dignity of her +beautiful presence was so immovable, that the lady felt it in +vain to waste words upon her. Juanita was a hopeless case. + +"It is no use for me to be here then," she said. "Mr. +Randolph, you may make your own arrangements." + +Which Mr. Randolph did. He held a consultation with Juanita, +as to what was wanting, and what she would do; a consultation +with which he was satisfied. Juanita was left in full charge, +with authority to do for Daisy precisely according to Dr. +Sandford's instructions, in all matters. Mrs. Randolph +meanwhile had a talk with her poor pale little daughter, upon +more or less the same subjects; and then the father and mother +prepared to go home to breakfast. + +"Shall I send you June?" said Mrs. Randolph. + +"No, mamma; I think not." + +"Be patient a little while, Daisy," said her father, kissing +her; "and you will be able to have books and company too. Now +for a little while you must keep quiet." + +"Juanita will keep me quiet, papa." + +"I will come and see you again by and by." + +"Papa, I want to tell you one thing. I want to speak to you +and mamma before you go." + +Mr. Randolph saw that the child's face flushed as if she were +making some effort. He bent down over her again. + +"Is it something of interest, Daisy?" + +"Yes, papa. To me." + +"Don't talk of it now then. Lie still, and do not talk at all. +By and by you will tell me what it is." + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE LITTLE CONFESSOR. + + +Mr. and Mrs. Randolph departed. + +"Daisy will be ruined forever!" So said the lady as soon as +she was in the carriage. + +"I hope not." + +"You take it coolly, Mr. Randolph. That woman is exactly the +sort to infect Daisy; and you have arranged it so that she +will have full chance." + +"What is the precise danger you apprehend?" said Mr. Randolph. +"I have not heard it put into words." + +"Daisy will be unmanageable. She is nearly that now." + +"I never saw a more docile child in my life." + +"That is because you take her part, Mr. Randolph. You will +find it out in time, when it is too late; and it will be your +own doing." + +"What?" + +"Daisy will be a confirmed piece of superstition. You will +see. And you will not find her docile then. If she once takes +hold of anything, she does it with great obstinacy." + +"But what is she taking hold of now? After all, you do not +tell me," said Mr. Randolph, carelessly. + +"Of every sort of religious fanatical notion, you will find, +Mr. Randolph! She will set herself against everything I want +her to do, after the fashion of those people, who think +nothing is right but their own way. It will be a work of +extreme difficulty, I foresee, to do anything with her after +these weeks in this black woman's house. I would have run any +risk in removing her, rather than let it be so." + +"Well, we shall see," said Mr. Randolph. "I cannot quite take +your view of the matter. I would rather keep the child even +for my own private comfort than lose her to prevent her from +becoming religious." + +Mrs. Randolph indignantly let this statement of opinion alone. + +Little Daisy had a quiet day, meanwhile. The weather grew +excessively hot; her broken ankle pained her; it was a day of +suffering. Obliged to lie quite still; unable to change her +position even a little, when the couch became very hot under +her; no air coming in at the open window but what seemed laden +with the heats of a furnace, Daisy lay still, and breathed as +well as she could. All day Juanita was busy about her; +moistening her lips with orange juice, bathing her hands, +fanning her, and speaking and singing sweet words to her, as +she could attend to them. The child's eyes began to go to the +fine black face that hovered near her, with an expression of +love and trust that was beautiful to behold. It was a day that +tried poor little Daisy's patience; for along with all this +heat, and weary lying still in one position, there were shoots +and twitches of pain that seemed to come from the broken ankle +and reach every part of her body; and she could not move about +or turn over to ease them by some change. + +At last the weary hours began to grow less oppressive. The sun +got low in the sky; the air came with a little touch of +freshness. How good it was to see the sun lost behind the +woods on the other side the road. Juanita kindled her fire +again, and put on the kettle; for Daisy was to have another +cup of tea, and wanted it very much. Then, before the kettle +had boiled, came the doctor. + +It was a pleasant variety. Dr. Sandford's face was a good one +to see come in anywhere, and in Daisy's case very refreshing. +It was so noble a face; the features fine, manly, expressive; +with a sedate gravity that spoke of a character above +trifling. His calm, forceful eye was very imposing; the thick +auburn locks of his hair, pushed back as they were from his +face, were beautiful to Daisy's imagination. Altogether he +fastened her attention whenever he came within reach of it; +she could not read those grave lines of his face; she puzzled +over them. Dr. Sandford's appearance was in some way +bewitching to her. Truly many ladies found it so. + +He examined now the state of her foot; gave rapid +comprehensive glances at everything; told his orders to Mrs. +Benoit. Finally, paused before going, and looked into the very +wise little eyes that scanned him so carefully. + +"Is there anything you want, Daisy?" he said, with a +physician's familiarity. + +"No, sir, I thank you." + +"Mrs. Benoit takes good care of you?" + +"Very good." + +The manner of Daisy's speech was like her looks; childlike +enough, and yet with a deliberate utterance unlike a child. + +"What do you think about, as you lie there all day?" he said. + +The question had been put with a somewhat careless curiosity; +but at that he saw a pink flush rise and spread itself all +over Daisy's pale face; the grey eyes looked at him steadily, +with no doubt of some thoughts behind them. Dr. Sandford +listened for her answer. What was the child thinking about? +She spoke at last with that same sweet deliberateness. + +"I have been thinking, Dr. Sandford, about what Jesus did for +me." + +"What was that?" said the doctor, in considerable surprise. + +"Because it was so hard for me to keep still to-day, I thought + you know how it must have been " The flush deepened on +the cheeks, and Daisy's eyes were swimming full of tears. + +Dr. Sandford looked, in much surprise; perhaps he was at some +pains to comprehend what all this meant. + +"How it must have been when?" said he, bending over Daisy's +couch. + +"You know, Dr. Sandford," she said, tenderly. "When He was on +the cross and couldn't move " + +Daisy gave way. She put her hands over her face. The doctor +stood erect, looking at her; glanced his grave eyes at Mrs. +Benoit, and at her again; then made a step towards Juanita. + +"No excitement is permitted," he said. "You must keep her from +it. Do you understand?" + +"Yes, sir," Juanita said. But her face was all alight. + +"Have you been reading some of those stories to her?" + +"I have not been reading to her at all to-day, if his honour +pleases." + +"Daisy," said Dr. Sandford, coming back to the couch, "what +put such thoughts into your head?" + +"I felt so badly to-day." She spoke with her usual +collectedness again. + +"Well, try and not mind it. You will feel better in a day or +two. Do you know when that happened that you were talking +about?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"When was it?" + +"More than eighteen hundred years ago." + +"Do you think it is worth your while to be troubled for what +happened eighteen hundred years ago?" + +"I think it is just the same as if it happened now," said +Daisy, without moving her eyes. + +"Do you? By what power of reasoning?" + +"I don't think I know how to reason," said Daisy. "It is +feeling." + +"How does feeling manage it?" + +Daisy discerned the tone of the question, looked at her +questioner, and answered with tender seriousness: "I know the +Lord Jesus did that for me; and I know He is in heaven now." + +The doctor kept silence a minute. "Daisy," said he, "you are +under my orders at present. You must mind me. You are to take +a cup of tea, and a piece of toast, if you like; then you are +to go to sleep and keep quiet, and not think of anything that +happened more than an hour ago. Will you?" + +"I will try to be quiet," said Daisy. + +She and the doctor looked at each other in a dissatisfied +manner, she wistfully, he disapprovingly, and then the doctor +went out. Daisy's eyes followed, straining after him as long +as they could; and when she could see him no longer they +filled with tears again. She was looking as intent and wistful +as if she might have been thirty years old instead of nine or +ten, when Juanita came to her side with the tea she had been +making. + +The tea and toast did Daisy good; and she was ready to enjoy a +visit from her father, who spent the evening with her. But he +would not let her talk. + +The next day was hot again; however, Daisy felt better. The +heat was more bearable. It was a very quiet day. Both she and +Juanita obeyed orders, and did not talk much; nevertheless, +Juanita sang hymns a great deal, and that was delightful to +Daisy. She found Juanita knew one hymn in particular that she +loved exceedingly; it was the one that had been sung in the +little church the day she had heard Mr. Dinwiddie preach; it +fell in with the course of Daisy's thoughts; and several times +in the day she had Juanita sing it over. Daisy's eyes always +filled when she heard it; nevertheless Juanita could not +resist her pleading wish. + + +"Oh, the Lamb! the loving Lamb! +The Lamb on Calvary! +The Lamb that was slain, but lives again, +To intercede for me." + + +"I am so happy, Juanita," Daisy said, after one of these +times. "I am so happy!" + +"What makes it so, my love?" + +"Oh, because that is true because He lives up there to take +care of me." + +"Bless the Lord!" said the black woman. + +Towards evening of that day, Juanita had left the room to make +her fire and attend to some other things, when Daisy heard her +own name hailed softly from the window. She turned her head, +and there was Preston's bright face. + +"My poor, poor little Daisy!" + +"How do you do, Preston?" said Daisy, looking as clear as a +moonbeam. + +"There you are a prisoner!" + +"It is a very nice prison." + +"Don't, my dear Daisy! I'll believe you in anything else, you +know; but in this I am unable. Tied by your foot for six +weeks, perhaps! I should like to shoot Captain Drummond." + +"It was not Captain Drummond's fault." + +"Is it bad, Daisy?" + +"My foot? It has been pretty bad." + +"Poor Daisy! And that was all because you would not sing." + +"Because I would not sing, Preston!" + +"Yes, that is the cause of all the trouble that has been in +the house. Now, Daisy, you'll give it up?" + +"Give what up?" + +"Give up your nonsense, and sing." + +"_That?_" said Daisy, and a slight flush came into the pale +cheeks. + +"Aunt Felicia wants you to sing it, and she will make you do +it, when you get well." + +Daisy made no answer. + +"Don't you see, my dear Daisy, it is foolish not to do as +other people do?" + +"I don't see what my broken ankle has to do with what you are +saying, Preston." + +"Daisy, what will become of you all these six weeks? We cannot +go a fishing, nor have any fun." + +"You can." + +"What will you do?" + +"I guess I can have books and read, by and by. I will ask Dr. +Sandford." + +"Suppose I bring some books, and read to you?" + +"Oh, Preston! how nice." + +"Well, I'll do it then. What shall I bring?" + +"I wish you could bring something that would tell about these +things." + +"These things? What is that?" + +"It is a trilobite. Captain Drummond got it the other day. It +was a fish once, and now it is a stone; and I would like very +much to know about it." + +"Daisy, are you serious?" + +"Why, yes, Preston." + +"My dear little Daisy, do _not_ you go and be a philosopher!" + +"Why, I can't; but why shouldn't I?" + +"Philosophers are not 'nice,' Daisy, when they are ladies," +said Preston, shaking his head. + +"Why not?" + +"Because ladies are not meant to be philosophers." + +"But I want to know about trilobites," said Daisy. + +"I don't think you do. You would not find the study of fossils +interesting." + +"I think I should if you would help me, Preston." + +"Well, we will see, Daisy. I will do anything for you, if you +will do one thing for me. Oh, Daisy, do! Aunt Felicia has not +given it up at all." + +"Good-bye, Preston," said Daisy. "Now you must go, and not +talk to me any more this time." + +Preston ran off. + +He was not allowed to come again for a day or two; and Daisy +was not allowed to talk. She was kept very quiet, until it was +found that the broken bone was actually healing, and in a fair +way to get well. The pains in it were no longer so trying; the +very hot days had given place to a time of milder weather; and +Daisy, under the care of the old black woman, enjoyed her +solitary imprisonment well enough. Twice a day always her +father visited her; once a day, Mrs. Randolph. Her stay was +never very long; Juanita's house was not a comfortable place +for her; but Mr. Randolph gave a large piece of his time and +attention to his suffering little daughter, and was indeed the +first one to execute Preston's plan of reading aloud for her +amusement. A new and great delight to Daisy. She never +remembered her father taking such pains with her before. Then, +when her father and mother were gone, and the cottage was +still, Juanita and Daisy had what the latter called their +"good time." Juanita read the Bible and sang hymns, and +prayed. There was no time nor pleasure in all the day that +Daisy liked so well. + +She had gained strength, and was in a good way to be well +again. The first morning this was told her, Daisy said: "Papa, +may I speak to you now?" + +"About something important, Daisy?" + +"Yes, papa, I think so." + +"Go on. What is it?" + +Juanita was standing near by. The child glanced at her, then +at her father. + +"Papa," she said, speaking slowly, and with some hesitation, +"I want you to know I want to tell you about me, so that +you may understand." + +"Are you so difficult to understand, Daisy?" + +"No, papa; but I want you to know something. I want you to +know that I am a Christian." + +"Well, so are we all," said Mr. Randolph, coolly. + +"No, papa, but I don't mean that." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean, papa, that I belong to the Lord Jesus, and must do +what He tells me." + +"What am I to understand by that, Daisy?" + +"Nothing, papa; only I thought you ought to know." + +"Do you understand what you are saying yourself, my child?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"What does it mean, Daisy?" + +"Only, papa, I want you to know that I belong to the Lord +Jesus." + +"Does that imply that you will not belong to me any more?" + +"Oh, no, papa!" + +"Why do you tell it me, then?" + +"Papa, Jesus says He will be ashamed of those who are ashamed +of Him; I will not be ashamed of Him; so I want you to know +what I am." + +"But, Daisy, you and I must come to an understanding about +this," said Mr. Randolph, taking a chair. "Does this +declaration mean that you are intending to be something +different from what I like to see you?" + +"I do not know, papa." + +"You do not! Does it mean that you are proposing to set up a +standard of action for yourself, independent of me?" + +"No, papa." + +"What then, Daisy?" + +"Papa, I do not quite know what you mean by a _standard_." + +"I will change the word. Do you mean that your purpose is to +make, henceforward, your own rules of life?" + +"No, papa; I do not mean that." + +"What do you mean?" + +"Papa," said Daisy, very deliberately, "if I belong to my +Saviour, you know, I must follow His rules." + +"Daisy, I shall not cease to require obedience to mine." + +"No, papa, but " said Daisy, colouring. + +"But what?" + +"I don't know very well how to say what I want, papa; it is +difficult." + +"Try." + +"Papa, you will not be displeased?" + +"That depends upon what you have to say, Daisy." + +"Papa, I do not _mean_ to displease you," said the child, her +eyes filling with tears. "But suppose " + +"Well, suppose anything." + +"Suppose _those_ rules should be different from your rules?" + +"I am to be the judge, Daisy. If you set up disobedience to +me, on any pretext, you know the consequences." + +Daisy's lip trembled; she put up her hands to her face, and +burst into tears. She could not bear that reminder. Her father +took one of her hands down, and kissed the little wet cheek. + +"Where are you going to find these rules, Daisy," he said, +kindly, "which you are going to set up against mine?" + +"Papa, I do not set them up." + +"Where do you get them?" + +"Only in the Bible, papa." + +"You are a little child, Daisy; you are not quite old enough +to be able to judge properly for yourself what the rules of +that book are. While you are little and ignorant, I am your +judge, of that and everything else; and your business is to +obey me. Do you understand that?" + +"But, papa." + +"Well what?" + +"Papa, I am afraid you will be angry." + +"I do not think I shall. You and I had better come to an +understanding about these matters Say on, Daisy." + +"I was going to say, papa " + +Daisy was afraid to tell what. Mr. Randolph again stooped and +kissed her; kissed her two or three times. + +"Papa, I do not _mean_ to make you angry," said the child, with +intense eagerness, "but suppose papa, I mean, are you +a servant of the Lord Jesus?" + +Mr. Randolph drew back. "I endeavour to do my duty, Daisy," he +said, coldly. "I do not know what you include in the terms you +use." + +"Papa, that is what I mean," said Daisy, with a very meek +face. "Papa, if I _am_, and you are _not_, then perhaps you would +not think the things that I think." + +"If you are, and I am not, what?" + +"_That_, papa which I wanted you to know I am. A servant of +Jesus." + +"Then, what?" + +"Then, papa, if I am, and you are not, wouldn't you perhaps +not think about those rules as I must think of them?" + +"You mean that our thoughts would disagree?" + +"Papa they might." + +"What shall we do, then, Daisy?" + +Daisy looked wistfully and somewhat sadly at him. There was +more weight of thought under the little brow than he liked to +see there. This would not do; yet matters must be settled. + +"Do you want to be a different little person from what you +have been, Daisy, hitherto?" + +"I don't know, papa I think so." + +"How do you wish to be different?" + +"I can't tell, papa. I might have to be." + +"I want you just as you are, Daisy." + +Mr. Randolph stooped his head down again to the too thoughtful +little face. Daisy clasped her arms around his neck, and held +him close. It was only by her extraordinary self-command that +she kept from tears; when he raised his head her eyes were +perfectly dry. + +"Will you be my good little Daisy and let me do the thinking +for you?" said Mr. Randolph, tenderly. + +"Papa I _can't_." + +"I will not have you different from what I like you, Daisy." + +"Then, papa, what shall I do?" + +"Obey me, and be satisfied with that." + +"But, papa, I am a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ," said the +child, looking unutterably sober. + +"I do not intend my commands shall conflict with any of higher +authority." + +"Papa suppose they _might?_" + +"I must be judge. You are a little child; you must take the +law from my mouth, until you are older." + +"But, papa, suppose I _thought_ the Bible told me to do what you +did not think it said?" + +"I advise you to believe my judgment, Daisy, if you wish to +keep the peace between us. I will not have any more calling of +it in question." + +Daisy struggled plainly, though she would not cry; her colour +flushed, her lip quivered. She was entirely silent for a +little while, and Mr. Randolph sat watching her. The struggle +lasted some minutes till she had overcome it somewhat she +would not speak and it was sharp. Then the child closed her +eyes, and her face grew calm. Mr. Randolph did not know what +to think of her. + +"Daisy." + +"What, papa?" + +"I do not think we have settled this question yet." + +"I do not think we have, papa." + +"What is to be done? It will not answer, my little daughter, +for you to set up your will against mine." + +"Papa, it is not my will." + +"What do you call it, then?" + +"Papa, it is not my will at all. It is the will of God." + +"Take care, Daisy," said her father. "You are not to say +that. My will will never oppose itself to that authority you +speak of." + +"Papa, I only want to obey that." + +"But remember, I must be the judge." + +"Papa," said Daisy, eagerly, "won't this do? If I think +something is in the Bible, mayn't I bring it to you to see?" + +"Yes." + +"And if you think it _is_ there, then will you let me do it?" + +"Do what?" + +"Do what the Bible says, papa." + +"I think I may promise that, Daisy," said Mr. Randolph; though +dubiously, as not quite certain what he was promising; "so +long as I am the judge." + +"Then that will do, papa! That is nice." + +Daisy's countenance expressed such utter content at this +arrangement, that Mr. Randolph looked grave. + +"Now you have talked and excited yourself enough for to-day," +he said. "You must be quiet." + +"Mayn't I tell mamma when she comes?" + +"What, Daisy?" + +"I mean what I have told you, papa." + +"No. Wait till to-morrow. Why do you wish to tell her, Daisy?" + +"Papa, I think I ought to tell her. I want her to know." + +"You have very uncompromising notions of duty. But this duty +can wait till another day." + +Daisy had to wait more than a day for her opportunity; her +mother's next visits were too bustling and unsatisfactory, as +well as too short, to promise her any good chance of being +heard. At last came a propitious morning. It was more moderate +weather; Daisy herself was doing very well, and suffering +little pain; and Mrs. Randolph looked in good humour, and had +sat down with her tetting-work, as if she meant to make her +daughter something of a visit. Mr. Randolph was lounging at +the head of the couch, out of Daisy's sight. + +"Mamma," began the child, "there is something I wish to say to +you." + +"You have a favourable opportunity, Daisy. I can hear." + +Yet Daisy looked a minute at the white hand that was flying +the bobbin about. That white hand. + +"It isn't much, mamma. It is only that I wish you to know +that I am a Christian." + +"That you are _what?_" said Mrs. Randolph, coldly. + +"A Christian, mamma." + +"Pray, what does that mean?" + +"That I am a servant of Christ, mamma." + +"When did you find it out, Daisy?" + +"Some time ago, mamma. Some time a little while before my +birth-day." + +"You did! What do you think _me?_" + +Daisy kept silence. + +"Well! why don't you speak? Answer me." + +"Mamma, I don't know how to answer you," said Daisy, flushing +for an instant. Her mother's eyes took note of her. + +"I shall not ask you a third time, Daisy." + +"Mamma," said the child low, "I do not think you are what I +mean by a Christian." + +"You do not. I supposed that. Now you will go on and tell me +what you mean by a Christian." + +"It means," said Daisy, her eyes filling with tears, "it means +a person who loves the Lord Jesus and obeys Him." + +"I hope you are gratified, Mr. Randolph," said the lady, "with +this specimen of the new Christianity. Dutiful and respectful +are happily united; along with a pleasant mixture of modesty. +What do you expect me to do, Daisy, with this announcement of +yours?" + +"Nothing, mamma," said Daisy, faintly. + +"I suppose you think that my Christianity must accommodate +itself to yours? Did you expect that?" + +"No, mamma." + +"It would be very foolish of you; for the fact will be the +other way. Yours must accommodate itself to mine." + +"I only wanted you to know what mine is, mamma." + +"Yours is what mine is, Daisy. What I think right for you, +that you are to do. I will not hear a whimper from you again +about what you are do you understand? Not again. I have +listened to you this time, but this is the last. If I hear +another syllable like this, about what you are or your +Christianity, I shall know how to chastise it out of you. You +are nothing at all, but my Daisy; you are a Jewess, if I +choose to have it so." + +Mr. Randolph made an uneasy movement; but the lady's white +fingers flew in and out of her tetting-work without regarding +him. + +"What do you want to do, that you are asking my permission in +this roundabout way? What do you want to do, that you think +will not please me." + +Daisy at first hesitated; then Mr. Randolph was surprised to +hear her say boldly, "I am afraid, a great many things, +mamma." + +"Well, you know now what to expect. Mr. Randolph," said the +lady, letting fall her tetting-work, "if you please, I will go +home. The sun will only be getting hotter, if I stay." + +Mr. Randolph stood behind Daisy, bending down, and holding her +face in his two hands. + +"What would you like me to send you from home, Daisy?" + +"Nothing, papa." + +"Would you like to have Preston come and see you?" + +"If he likes to come, papa." + +"He has been only waiting for my permission, and if you say +so, I will give him yours." + +"He may come. I should like to see him very much." + +"You may have books too, now, Daisy. Do you not want some +books?" + +"I should like 'Sandford and Merton,' papa; and when Preston +comes I'll tell him what else I want." + +Mr. Randolph stood still, smoothing down the hair on each side +of the little round head, while Mrs. Randolph was adjusting +herself for her drive. + +"Are you ready, Mr. Randolph?" + +"Cannot say that I am," said the gentleman, stooping to kiss +Daisy's forehead, "but I will go with you. One thing I +should like understood. For reasons which are sufficient with +me, Daisy is to consider herself prohibited from making any +music on Sundays henceforward, except she chooses to do it in +church. I mention it, lest you should ask her to do what I +have forbidden, and so make confusion." + +Mrs. Randolph gave no sort of answer to this speech, and +walked off to the door. Daisy, whose eyes had brightened with +joy, clasped her arms around her father's neck when he stooped +again, and whispered, with an energetic pressure, "Thank you, +papa!" + +Mr. Randolph only kissed her, and went off after his wife. The +drive home was remarkably silent. + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +WONDERFUL THINGS. + + +It happened that day that Juanita had business on hand which +kept her a good deal of the morning in the out-shed which +formed part of her premises. She came in every now and then to +see how Daisy was doing; yet the morning was on the whole +spent by Daisy alone; and when Juanita at last came in to +stay, she fancied the child was looking pale and worn more +than usual. + +"My love do not feel well?" + +"Yes I do, Juanita I am only tired. Have you done washing?" + +"It is all done. I am ready for whatever my love pleases." + +"Isn't washing very disagreeable work, Juanita?" + +"I do not think what it be, while it is mine," the woman said, +contentedly. "All is good work that I can do for the Lord." + +"But _that_ work, Juanita? How can you do that work so?" + +"When the Lord gives work, He give it to be done for Him. +Bless the Lord!" + +"I do not understand, though, Juanita. Please tell me. How can +you?" + +"Miss Daisy, I don't know. I can do it with pleasure, because +it is my Lord's command. I can do it with thanksgiving, +because He has given me the strength and the power. And I can +do it the best I can, so as nobody shall find fault in His +servant. And then, Miss Daisy, I can do it to get money to +send His blessed word to them that sit in darkness where I +come from. And I can do it with prayer, asking my Lord to make +my heart clean for His glory; like as I make soiled things +white again. And I do it with joy, because I know the Lord +hear my prayer." + +"I think you are very happy, Juanita," said Daisy. + +"When the Lord leads to living fountains of waters, then no +more thirsting," said the black woman, expressively. + +"Then, Juanita, I suppose if I get tired lying here, I can +do patience-work?" + +"Jesus will have His people do a great deal of that work," +said Mrs. Benoit, tenderly. "And it is work that pleases Him, +Miss Daisy. My love is very weary?" + +"I suppose, Juanita, if I was really patient, I shouldn't be. +Should I? I think I am impatient." + +"My love knows who carries the lambs in His bosom." + +Daisy's tired face smoothed itself out at this. She turned her +eyes to the window with a placid look of rest in them. + +"Jesus knows where the trouble is," said the black woman. "He +knows all. And He can help too. Now I am going to get +something to do Miss Daisy good." + +Before this could be done, there came a heavy clumping step up +to the house, and a knock at the door; and then a person +entered whom Juanita did not know. A hard-featured woman, in +an old-fashioned black straw bonnet, and faded old shawl drawn +tight round her. She came directly forward to Daisy's couch. + +"Well, I declare if it ain't true! Tied by the heels, ain't +ye?" was her salutation. Juanita looked, and saw that Daisy +recognised the visitor; for she smiled at her, half pleasure, +half assent to what she said. + +"I heerd of it that is, I heerd you'd gone up to the +mountain and broke something; I couldn't find out what 'twas; +and then Hephzibah she said she would go down to Melbourne +Sunday. I said to her, says I, 'Hephzibah, I wouldn't go all +that ways, child, for to do nothing; 'tain't likely but that +some part of the story's true, if you and me can't find out +which;' but Hephzibah she took her own head and went; and +don't you think, she came back a cryin'?" + +"What was that for?" said Daisy, looking very much interested. + +"Why, she couldn't find you, I guess; and she thought you was +killed. But you ain't, be you?" + +"Only my foot and ankle hurt," said Daisy, smiling; "and I am +doing very well now." + +"And was you broke anywheres?" + +"My ankle was broken." + +"I declare! And you couldn't be took home?" + +"No." + +"So the folks said; only they said that young soldier had +killed you. I hope he got hurted himself." + +"Why Mrs. Harbonner, _he_ did not do it. It was an accident. It +wasn't anybody's fault." + +"It wouldn't ha' happened if _I_ had been there, I can tell +you!" said Hephzibah's mother. "I don't think much of a man if +he ain't up to taking care of a woman; and a child above +all. Now how long are you goin' to be in this fix?" + +"I don't know. I suppose I shall have to lie still for four or +five weeks more, before my foot is well." + +"It's tiresome, I guess, ain't it?" + +"Yes sometimes." + +"Well, I used to think, if folks was good, things wouldn't +happen to 'em. That's what I thought. That was my study of +divinity. And when everything on earth happened to me, I just +concluded it was because I warn't a bit too good to deserve +it. Now I'm beat to see you lie there. I don't see what is +the use of being good, if it don't get none." + +"Oh, Mrs. Harbonner!" said Daisy, "I am glad my foot was +broken." + +"Well, I'm beat!" was all Mrs. Harbonner could say. "You air, +be you?" + +"It hasn't done me any harm at all; and it has done me a great +deal of good." + +Mrs. Harbonner stood staring at Daisy. + +"The promise is sure," said Mrs. Benoit. "All things shall +work together for good to them that love God!" + +The other woman wheeled about, and looked at her for an +instant with a sharp keen eye of note-taking; then she +returned to Daisy. + +"Well, I suppose I'll tell Hephzibah she won't see you again +till summer's over; so she may as well give over thinking +about it." + +"Do you think Hephzibah wants to learn, Mrs. Harbonner?" + +"Well, I guess she does." + +"Wouldn't she come here and get her lessons? Couldn't she come +to see me every day, while I am here?" + +"I 'spose she'd jump out of her skin to do it," said Mrs. +Harbonner. "Hephzibah's dreadful set on seeing you." + +"Mrs. Benoit," said Daisy, "may I have this little girl come +to see me every day, while I am here?" + +"Miss Daisy shall have all, who she will," was the answer; and +it was arranged so; and Mrs. Harbonner took her departure. +Lingering a minute at the door, whither Juanita attended her, +she made one or two enquiries and remarks about Daisy, +answered civilly and briefly by Mrs. Benoit. + +"Poor little toad!" said Mrs. Harbonner, drawing her shawl +tight round her for the last time. "But ain't she little +_queer?_" + +These words were spoken in a low murmur, which just served to +draw Daisy's attention. Out of sight behind the moreen +curtain, Mrs. Harbonner forgot she was not beyond hearing; and +Daisy's ears were good. She noticed that Juanita made no +answer at all to this question, and presently shut the door. + +The business of giving Daisy some fruit was the next thing +attended to; in the course of eating which Daisy marvelled a +little to herself what possible likeness to a _toad_ Mrs. +Harbonner could have discovered in her. The comparison did not +seem flattering; also she pondered somewhat why it could be +that anybody found her queer. She said nothing about it; +though she gave Mrs. Benoit a little account of Hephzibah, and +the reason of the proposed series of visits. In the midst of +this came a cheery "Daisy" at the other side of her; and +turning her head, there was Preston's face at the window. + +"Oh, Preston!" Daisy handed to Mrs. Benoit her unfinished +saucer of strawberries "I am so glad! I have been waiting +for you. Have you brought my books?" + +"Where do you think I have been, Daisy?" + +"I don't know. Shooting! Have you?" + +Daisy's eye caught the barrel of a fowling-piece showing its +end up at the window. Preston, without replying, lifted up his +game-bag, and let her see the bright feathers of little birds +which partly filled it. + +"You have! Shooting!" Daisy repeated, in a tone between +disapprobation and dismay. "It isn't September!" + +"Capital sport, Daisy," said Preston, letting the bag fall. + +"I think it is very poor sport," said Daisy. "I wish they were +all alive and flying again." + +"So do I if I might shoot them again." + +"It's cruel, Preston!" + +"Nonsense, Daisy. Don't you be too tender. Birds were made to +kill. What are they good for?" + +With a wit that served her instead of experience, Daisy was +silent, looking with unspoken abhorrence at the wicked muzzle +of the fowling-piece. + +"Did you bring me 'Sandford and Merton,' Preston?" she said, +presently. + +" 'Sandford and Merton'! My dear Daisy, I have been going all +over the world, you know this part of it and I was too far +from Melbourne to go round that way for your book; if I had, +it would have been too late to get here. You see the sun's +pretty well down." + +Daisy said no more; but it was out of her power not to look +disappointed. She had so counted upon her book; and she was so +weary of lying still and doing nothing. She wanted very much +to read about the house that Harry and Tommy built; it would +have been a great refreshment. + +"Cheer up, Daisy," said Preston; "I'll bring you books to- +morrow and read to you too, if you like it. What shall I +bring?" + +"Oh, Preston, I want to know about trilobites!" + +"Daisy, you might as well want to know about the centre of the +earth! That's where they belong." + +"I should like to know about the centre of the earth," said +Daisy. "Is there anything there." + +"Anything at the centre of the earth? I suppose so." + +"But I mean, anything _but_ earth," said Daisy. + +Preston burst out laughing. "Oh, Daisy, Daisy! Hadn't you +better learn about what is on the outside of the earth, before +we dig down so deep into it?" + +"Well, Preston, my trilobite was on the outside." + +"Daisy, it wouldn't interest you," said Preston, seriously; +"you would have to go deep into something else besides the +earth so deep that you would get tired. Let the trilobite +alone, and let's have Grimm's Tales to-morrow shall we? or +what will you have?" + +Daisy was patiently silent a minute; and then in came Dr. +Sandford. In his presence Preston was mute; attending to the +doctor's manipulations as gravely as the doctor himself +performed them. In the midst of the general stillness, Dr. +Sandford asked, "Who was speaking about trilobites as I came +up?" + +"Preston was speaking," said Daisy, as nobody else seemed +ready to answer. + +"What about them." + +"He thinks they would not interest me," said Daisy. + +"What do you know about trilobites?" said Dr. Sandford, now +raising his blue eyes for a good look into the child's face. +He saw it looked weary. + +"I have got a beautiful one. Juanita, will you bring it here, +please?" + +The doctor took it up, and handled it with an eye that said, +Daisy knew, that it was a fine specimen. The way he handled it +gratified her. + +"So this is one of your playthings, is it, Daisy?" + +"No, sir; it is not a plaything, but I like to look at it." + +"Why?" + +"It is so wonderful, and beautiful, I think." + +"But do tell Daisy, will you, doctor," said Preston, "that it +is a subject she cannot understand yet. She wants me to bring +her books about trilobites." + +"Time hangs heavy, Daisy?" said the doctor. + +"No, sir only when I have nothing to do." + +"What have you done to-day?" + +"Nothing, sir; except talking to papa and mamma, and some +business about a little girl." + +The sedateness of this announcement was inexpressible, coming +as it did after a little thoughtful pause. Preston burst out +laughing. Dr. Sandford did not so far forget himself. He only +gave Daisy a rapid look of his grave blue eyes. + +"It would be a charity to give you more employment than that," +he said. "You like wonderful things, Daisy?" + +"Very much, when I understand about them." + +"I will agree to tell you anything you please that I know +about any wonderful things you can see to-morrow, looking from +your window." + +The Doctor and Preston went off together, and left Daisy, +though without books, in a high state of excitement and +gratification. The rest of the evening her little head was +busy by turns with fancying the observations of the next day, +and wondering what she could possibly find from her window to +talk to the doctor about. A very unpromising window Daisy +considered it. Nothing was to be seen beside trees and a +little strip of road; few people passed by that way; and if +there had, what wonder could there have been in that. Daisy +was half afraid she should find nothing to talk to the doctor +about; and that would be a mortification. + +Daisy and Juanita were both apt to be awake pretty early. +Lying there on her back all day, without power to run about +and get tired, Daisy's sleep was light; and her eyes were +generally open before the sun got high enough to look at them. +Juanita was always up and dressed earlier even than that; how +much earlier Daisy had no means of knowing; but she was sure +to hear the murmur of her friend's voice at her prayers, +either in the other room or outside of the house. And Juanita +did not come in to see Daisy till she had been awake a good +while, and had had leisure to think over a great many things. +Daisy found that was a good time for her own prayers; there +was nothing to disturb her, and nothing to be heard at all, +except that soft sound of Juanita's voice, and the clear +trills and quavers of the little birds' voices in the trees. +There was no disturbance in any of those sounds; nothing but +joy and gladness and the voice of melody from them all. + +By and by, when the light began to kindle in the tops of the +trees, and Daisy was sure to be watching it and trying to get +sight of some of the bird singers which were so merry up +there, she would hear another sound by her bedside, or feel a +soft touch; and there would be Juanita, as bright as the day, +in her way of looking bright, bending over to see and find out +how Daisy was. Then, having satisfied herself, Juanita would +go about the business of the morning. First her fire was made, +and the kettle put on for breakfast. Daisy used to beg her to +leave the door open, so that, though she could not follow her +with her eyes and see, she could yet hear what Juanita was +doing. She used to listen to hear the kindling put in the +stove, and the wood; she knew the sound of it; then, when the +match was lit and applied, she liked the rushing sound of the +blaze and kindling fire; it gave pleasant token that the +kettle would be boiled by and by. But first she listened to +Juanita's feet brushing through the grass to get to the well; +and Daisy listened so hard, she could almost tell after a +while whether the grass was dry or whether it was heavy with +dew. Juanita always carried the kettle to the well; and when +she came back, Daisy could hear the iron clink of the stove as +the kettle was put on. Presently Juanita came in then from her +kitchen, and began the work of putting the house in order. How +nicely she did it! like the perfection of a nurse, which she +was. No dust, no noise, no bustle; still as a mouse, but +watchful as a cat, the alert old woman went round the room, +and made all tidy, and all clean and fresh. Very likely +Juanita would change the flowers in a little vase which stood +on the mantelpiece or the table, before she felt that +everything was as it ought to be. + +When all that was done, her next attention was to Daisy +herself; and Daisy never in her life had nicer tending than +now. If Juanita was a nurse, she was a dressing-maid too, of +first-rate qualifications. It was a real pleasure to have her +ministering about the couch; and for that matter, the whole +work of the morning, as Juanita managed it, was a regular and +unfailing piece of amusement to Daisy. And in the midst of it, +every look at the black woman's noble, sweet face, warmed +Daisy's heart with something better than amusement. Daisy grew +to love her very much. + +This morning all these affairs had been gone through as usual; +and leaving Daisy in a happy, refreshed state, Mrs. Benoit +went off to prepare her breakfast. Like everything else, that +was beautifully done. By and by, in she came with a tray and +white napkin, white as napkin could be, and fine damask too. +For Juanita had treasures of various sorts, besides old moreen +curtains. On this tray, for instance, there was not only a +fine napkin of damask; there was a delicate cup and saucer of +fine china, which Daisy thought very beautiful. It was as thin +and fine as any cup at Melbourne House, and had a dainty vine +of leaves and flowers running round it, in a light red brown +colour. The plate was not to match; it was a common little +white plate; but that did not matter. The tea was in the +little brown cup, and Daisy's lips closed upon it with entire +satisfaction. Juanita had some excellent tea too; and if she +had not, there was a sufficient supply sent from Melbourne; as +well as of everything else. So today there was not only the +brown toast in strips, which Daisy fancied; but there were +great red Antwerp raspberries for her; and that made, Daisy +thought, the very best breakfast that could be eaten. She was +very bright this morning. + +"Juanita," she said, "I have found something for Dr. Sandford +already." + +"What does Miss Daisy mean?" + +"Don't you know? Didn't you hear him yesterday? He gave me +something to do. He said he would tell me about anything +wonderful I could see in the course of the day; and I have +found something already." + +"Seems to me as all the Lord has made is wonderful," said the +black woman. "Does Miss Daisy think Dr. Sandford can tell her +all about it?" + +"Why, I suppose he knows a great deal, Juanita." + +"If he knowed one thing more," said the black woman. "Here +he is, Miss Daisy. He's early." + +Certainly he was; but Dr. Sandford had a long ride to take +that morning, and could only see Daisy then on his way. In +silence he attended to her, and with no delay; smiled at her; +put the tips of his fingers to her raspberry dish, and took +out one for his own lips; then went quick away. Daisy smiled +curiously. She was very much amused at him. She did not ask +Juanita what she meant by the "one thing more." Daisy knew +quite well; or thought she did. + +All that day she was in an amused state, watching to see +wonderful things. Her father's and mother's visits came as +usual. Preston came and brought her some books. Hephzibah +came, too, and had a bit of a lesson. But Hephzibah's wits +were like her hair, straying all manner of ways. It was very +difficult to make her understand the difference between a, b, +ab, and b, a, ba; and that was discouraging. Daisy toiled +with her till she was tired; and then was glad to lie still +and rest? without even thinking of wonderful things, till +Juanita brought her her dinner. + +As the doctor had been early, so he was late to-day. It was +near sunset when he came, and Daisy was a little disappointed, +fancying that he was tired. He said nothing at first; attended +to Daisy's foot in the profoundest gravity; but in the midst +of it, without looking up, he asked, "What wonderful things +have you seen to-day?" + +"I am afraid you are tired, Dr. Sandford," said Daisy, very +gently. + +"What then?" + +"Then it might tire you more to talk to me." + +"You have seen something wonderful, have you?" said he doctor, +glancing at her. + +"Two or three things, sir." + +"One at a time," said the doctor. "I am tired. I have ridden +nearly seventy miles to-day, one way and another. Have you got +a cup of milk for me, Mrs. Benoit?" + +Daisy eagerly beckoned Juanita, and whispered to her, and the +result was that with the cup of milk came a plate of the +magnificent raspberries. The doctor opened his grave eyes at +Daisy, and stood at the foot of her couch, picking up +raspberries with his finger and thumb, as he had taken that +one in the morning. + +"Now what are the wonderful things?" said he. + +"You are too tired to-night, Dr. Sandford." + +"Let us have number one. Promises must be kept, Daisy. +Business is business. Have you got such hard work for me? What +was the first thing?" + +"The first wonderful thing that I saw or at least that I +thought of " said Daisy, "was the sun." + +The doctor eat half a dozen raspberries without speaking, +giving an odd little smile first in one corner of his mouth, +and then in the other. + +"Do you expect me to tell you about that?" said he. + +"You said business was business," Daisy replied, with equal +gravity to his own. + +"I am glad the idea of the universe did not occur to you," +said the doctor. "That might have been rather inconvenient for +one evening's handling. What would you like me to tell you +about the sun?" + +"I do not know anything at all about it," said Daisy. "I would +like to know everything you can tell me." + +"The thought that first comes to me," said the doctor, "is, +that it ripened these raspberries." + +"I know _that_," said Daisy. "But I want to know what it is." + +"The sun! Well," said the doctor, "it is a dark, round thing, +something like this earth, only considerably bigger." + +"_Dark!_" said Daisy. "Certainly. I have no reason to believe it +anything else." + +"But you are laughing at me, Dr. Sandford," said Daisy, +feeling very much disappointed and a little aggrieved. + +"Am I? No, Daisy if you had ridden seventy miles to-day, you +might be tempted, but you would not feel like laughing. +Business is business, I must remind you again." + +"But you do not mean that the sun is dark?" said Daisy. + +"I mean precisely what I say, I assure you." + +"But it is so bright we cannot look at it," said Daisy. + +"Something is so bright you cannot look at it. The something +is not the body of the sun." + +"Then it is the light that comes from it." + +"No light comes from it, that I know. I told you, the sun is a +dark body." + +"Not laughing?" + +"No," said Dr. Sandford, though he did laugh now; "the sun, +you see, is a more wonderful thing than you imagined." + +"But sir, may I ask any question I have a mind to ask?" + +"Certainly! All in the course of business." + +"How do you know that it is dark, sir?" + +"Perfectly fair. Suppose that Mrs. Benoit stood behind your +curtain there, and that you had never seen her; how could you +know that she has a dark skin?" + +"Why, I could not." + +"Yes, you could if there were rents in the curtain." + +"But what are you talking of, sir?" + +"Only telling you, in answer to your question, how I know the +sun to be a dark body." + +"But there is no curtain over the sun." + +"That proves you are no philosopher, Daisy. If you were a +philosopher, you would not be so certain of anything. There is +a curtain over the sun; and there are rents or holes in the +curtain sometimes, so large that we can see the dark body of +the sun through them." + +"What is the curtain? Is _that_ the light?" + +"Now you are coming pretty near it, Daisy," said the doctor. +"The curtain, as I call it, is not light, but it is what the +light comes from." + +"Then what _is_ it, Dr. Sandford?" + +"That has puzzled people wiser than you and I, Daisy. However, +I think I may venture to say, that it is something like an +ocean of flame, surrounding the dark body of the sun." + +"And there are holes in it?" + +"Sometimes." + +"But they must be very large holes to be seen from this +distance?" + +"Very," said the doctor. "A great many times bigger than our +whole earth." + +"Then how do you know but they are dark islands in the ocean?" + +"For several reasons," said the doctor, looking gravely funny; +"one of which reasons is, that we can see the deep ragged +edges of the holes, and that these edges join together again." + +"But there could not be holes in _our_ ocean?" said Daisy. + +Dr. Sandford gave a good long grave look at her, set aside his +empty plate which had held raspberries, and took a chair. He +talked to her now with serious, quiet earnest, as if she had +been a much older person. + +"Our ocean, Daisy, you will remember, is an ocean of fluid +matter. The ocean of flame which surrounds the sun is gaseous +matter or a sort of ocean of air, in a state of +incandescence. This does not touch the sun, but floats round +it, upon or above another atmosphere of another kind like +the way in which our clouds float in the air over our heads. +You know how breaks come and go in the clouds; so you can +imagine that this luminous covering of the sun parts in +places, and shows the sun through, and then closes up again." + +"Is that the way it is?" said Daisy. + +"Even so." + +"Dr. Sandford, you said a word just now I did not understand." + +"Only one?" said the doctor. + +"I think there was only one I did not know in the least." + +"Can you direct me to it?" + +"You said something about an ocean of air in a state what +state?" + +"Incandescence?" + +"That was it." + +"That is a state where it gives out white heat." + +"I thought everything at the sun must be on fire," said Daisy, +looking meditatively at the doctor. + +"You see you were mistaken. It has only a covering of clouds +of fire so to speak." + +"But it must be very hot there." + +"It is pretty hot _here_," said the doctor, shrugging his +shoulders, "ninety five millions of miles away; so I do not +see that we can avoid your conclusion." + +"How much is ninety five millions?" + +"I am sure I don't know," said Dr. Sandford, gravely. "After I +have gone as far as a million or so, I get tired." + +"But I do not know much about arithmetic," said Daisy, humbly. +"Mamma has not wanted me to study. I don't know how much one +million is." + +"Arithmetic does not help one on a journey, Miss Daisy," said +the doctor, pleasantly. "Counting the miles did not comfort me +to-day. But I can tell you this. If you and I were to set off +on a railway train, straight for the sun, and go at the rate +of thirty-two miles an hour, you know that is pretty fast +travelling?" + +"How fast do we go on the cars from here to New York?" + +"Thirty miles an hour." + +"Now I know," said Daisy. + +"If we were to set off and go straight to the sun at that rate +of speed, keeping it up night and day, it would take us how +long do you guess? It would take us three hundred years and +more; nearly three hundred and fifty years, to get there." + +"I cannot imagine travelling so long," said Daisy, gravely. At +which Dr. Sandford laughed; the first time Daisy had ever +heard him do such a thing. It was a low, mellow laugh now; and +she rather enjoyed it. + +"I should like to know what a million is," she observed. + +"Ten hundred thousand." + +"And how many million miles did you say the sun is?" + +"Ninety-five millions of miles away." + +Daisy lay thinking about it. + +"Can you imagine travelling faster? And then we need not be so +long on the journey," said Dr. Sandford. "If we were to go as +fast as a cannon ball, it would take us about seven years +not quite so much to get to the sun." + +"How fast does a cannon ball go?" + +"Fifty times as fast as a railway train." + +"I cannot imagine that either, Dr. Sandford." + +"Give it up, Daisy," said the doctor, rising, and beginning to +put himself in order for travelling. + +"Are you going?" said Daisy. + +"Not till you have done with me!" + +"Dr. Sandford, have you told me all there is to tell about the +sun?" + +"No." + +"Would it take too long this evening?" + +"Considering that the sun will not stay to be talked about, +Daisy," said the doctor, glancing out of the window, "I should +say it would." + +"Then I will ask only one thing more. Dr. Sandford, how can +you tell so exactly how long it would take to go to the sun? +How do you know?" + +"Quite fair, Daisy," said the doctor, surveying her gravely. +"I know, by the power of a science called mathematics, which +enables one to do all sorts of impossible things. But you must +take that on my word; I cannot explain so that you would +understand it." + +"Thank you, sir," said Daisy. + +She wanted further to ask what sort of a science mathematics +might be; but Dr. Sandford had answered a good many questions, +and the sun was down, down, behind the trees on the other side +of the road. Daisy said no more. The doctor, seeing her +silent, smiled, and prepared himself to go. + +"Shall we finish the sun to-morrow, Daisy?" + +"Oh, if you please." + +"Very well. Good-bye." + +The doctor went, leaving Daisy in a very refreshed state; with +plenty to think of. Daisy was quite waked out of her weariness +and disappointment, and could do well enough without books for +one day longer. She took her own raspberries now with great +spirit. + +"I have found two more wonderful things to talk to Dr. +Sandford about, Juanita; that is three to-day." + +"Does Miss Daisy think the doctor can tell her all?" + +"I don't know. He knows a great deal, Juanita." + +"Seems he knows more than Job did," said Mrs. Benoit, who had +her private misgivings about the authenticity of all Dr. +Sandford's statements. + +Daisy thought a little. "Juanita, Job lived a great while +ago." + +"Yes, Miss Daisy." + +"How much did he know about the sun? does the Bible tell?" + +"It tells a little what he didn't know, Miss Daisy." + +"Oh, Juanita, after I get through my tea, and when you have +had yours, won't you read me in the Bible all about Job and +the sun?" + +Mrs. Benoit liked nothing better; and whatever other +amusements failed, or whatever other parties anywhere in the +land found their employments unsatisfactory, there was one +house where intent interest and unflagging pleasure went +through the whole evening; it was where Daisy and Mrs. Benoit +read "about Job and the sun." Truth to tell, as that portion +of Scripture is but small, they extended their reading +somewhat. + +Daisy's first visitor the next day was her father. He came +with fresh flowers and fresh fruit, and with "Sandford and +Merton," too, in which he read to her; so the morning went +well. + +"Papa," said Daisy, when he was about leaving her, "do you not +think Dr. Sandford is a very interesting man?" + +"It is the general opinion of ladies, I believe, Daisy; but I +advise you not to lose your heart to him. I am afraid he is +not to be depended on." + +"Oh, papa," said Daisy, a little shocked, "I do not mean that +he is a man one would get _fond_ of." + +"Pray who do you think is, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, +maintaining his gravity admirably. + +"Papa, don't you think Captain Drummond is and " + +"And who, Daisy?" + +"I was thinking Mr. Dinwiddie, papa." Daisy did not quite +know how well this last name would be relished, and she +coloured a little apprehensively. + +"You are impartial in your professional tastes, I am glad to +see," said Mr. Randolph. Then, observing how innocent of +understanding him was the grave little face of Daisy, he bent +down to kiss her. + +"And you are unfortunate in your favourites. Both at a +distance! How is Gary McFarlane?" + +"Papa, I think he has good nature; but I think he is rather +frivolous." + +Mr. Randolph looked soberly at the little face before him, and +went away, thinking his own thoughts. But he had the cruelty +to repeat to Dr. Sandford so much of this conversation as +concerned that gentleman; in doing so he unwittingly laid the +foundation of more attention to Daisy on the doctor's part, +than he probably would ever otherwise have given her. To say +truth the idea propounded by Daisy was so very novel to the +doctor that it both amused and piqued him. + +Mr. Randolph had hardly gone out, when Hephzibah came in. And +then followed a lesson the like of which Daisy had not given +yet. Hephzibah's attention was on everything but the business +in hand. Also, she had a little less awe of Daisy lying on +Mrs. Benoit's couch in a loose gown, than when she met her in +the Belvedere at Melbourne, dressed in an elegant cambric +frock, with a resplendent sash. + +"C, a, spells ca, Hephzibah. Now what is that?" + +"Over your finger?" + +"Yes." + +"That's C." + +"C, a. And what does it spell?" + +"Did the stone fall right onto your foot?" + +"Yes partly on." + +"And was it broke right off?" + +"No. Oh, no. Only the bone of my ankle was broken." + +"It smarted some, I guess; didn't it?" + +"No. Now Hephzibah, what do those two letters spell?" + +"C, a, ca. That don't mean nothin'." + +" Now the next. D, a " + +"What's D, a?" + +"D, a, da." + +"What's that?" + +"Nothing; only it spells that." + +"How soon'll you be up again?" + +"I do not know. In a few weeks." + +"Before the nuts is ripe?" + +"Oh, yes, I hope so." + +"Well, I'll show you where there's the biggest hickory nuts +you ever see! They're right back of Mr. Lamb's barn only +three fields to cross and there's three hickory trees; and +the biggest one has the biggest nuts, mother says, she ever +see. Will you go and get some?" + +"But, Hephzibah, those are Mr. Lamb's nuts, aren't they?" + +"I don't care." + +"But," said Daisy, looking very grave, "don't you know, +Hephzibah, it is wrong to meddle with anything that belongs to +other people?" + +"He hain't no right to 'em, I don't believe." + +"I thought you said they were in Mr. Lamb's field?" + +"So they be." + +"Then they are his nuts. You would not like anybody to take +them, if they belonged to you." + +"It don't make no odds," said Hephzibah, sturdily, but looking +down at the same time. "He'll get it out of us some other +way." + +"Get it out of you?" said Daisy. + +"Yes." + +"What do you mean?" + +"He gets it out of everybody," said Hephzibah. "Tain't no +odds." + +"But, Hephzibah, if those trees were yours, would you like to +have Mr. Lamb come and take the nuts away?" + +"No. I'd get somebody to shoot him." + +Daisy hardly knew how to go along with her discourse; +Hephzibah's erratic opinions started up so fast. She looked at +her little rough pupil in absolute dismay. Hephzibah showed no +consciousness of having said anything remarkable. Very sturdy +she looked; very assured in her judgment. Daisy eyed her rough +bristling hair, with an odd kind of feeling that it would not +be more difficult to comb down into smoothness than the +unregulated thoughts of her mind. She must begin gently. But +Daisy's eyes grew most wistfully earnest. + +"Would you shoot Mr. Lamb for taking away your nuts?" + +"Just as lieves." + +"Then, how do you think he would feel about your taking his +nuts?" + +"I don't care!" + +"But, Hephzibah, listen. Do you know what the Bible says? It +says, that we must do to other people just what we would like +to have them do to us in the same things." + +"Then he oughtn't to have sot such a price on his meat," said +Hephzibah. + +"But, then," said Daisy, "what would it be right for you to do +about his nuts?" + +"I don't care," said Hephzibah. " 'Tain't no odds. I'm a going +to get 'em. I guess it's time for me to go home." + +"But, Hephzibah, you have not done your lesson yet. I want +you to learn all this row to-day. The next is, f, a, fa." + +"That don't mean nothin'," said Hephzibah. + +"But you want to learn it, before you can go on to what does +mean something." + +"I don't guess I do," said Hephzibah. + +"Don't you want to learn to read?" + +"Yes, but that ain't reading'." + +"But you cannot learn to read without it," said Daisy. + +Under this urging, Hephzibah did consent to go down the column +of two-letter syllables. + +"Ain't you going with me after them nuts?" she said, as soon +as the bottom of the page was reached. "I'll show you a +rabbit's nest. La! it's so pretty!" + +"I hope you will not take the nuts, Hephzibah, without Mr. +Lamb's leave." + +"I ain't going to ask his leave," said Hephzibah. "He +wouldn't give it to me, besides. It's fun, I tell you." + +"It is wrong," said Daisy. "I don't think there's any fun in +doing what's wrong." + +"It is fun, though, I tell you," said Hephzibah. "It's real +sport. The nuts come down like rain; and we get whole baskets +full. And then, when you crack 'em, I tell you, they are +sweet." + +"Hephzibah, do you know what the Bible says?" + +"I don't want to learn no more to-day," said the child. "I'm +going. Good bye, Daisy." + +She stayed no further instruction of any kind; but caught up +her calico sun-bonnet, and went off at a jump, calling out +"Good bye, Daisy!" when she had got some yards from the house. + +Daisy lay still, looking very thoughtful. + +"The child has just tired you, my love!" said the black woman. + +"What shall I do, Juanita? She doesn't understand." + +"My love knows who opened the eyes of the blind," said +Juanita. + +Daisy sighed. Certainly teaching seemed to take very small +hold on her rough little pupil. These thoughts were suddenly +banished by the entrance of Mrs. Randolph. + +The lady was alone this time. How like herself she looked, +handsome and stately, in characteristic elegance of attire and +manner both. Her white morning dress floated off in soft edges +of lace from her white arms; a shawl of precious texture was +gathered loosely about them; on her head, a gossamer web of +some fancy manufacture fell off on either side, a mock +covering for it. She came up to Daisy and kissed her, and then +examined into her various arrangements, to see that she was in +all respects well and properly cared for. + +Her mother's presence made Daisy feel very meek. Her kiss had +been affectionate, her care was motherly; but with all that +there was not a turn of her hand nor a tone of her calm voice, +that did not imply and express absolute possession, perfect +control. That Daisy was a little piece of property belonging +to her in sole right, with which she did and would do +precisely what it might please her, with very little concern +how or whether it might please Daisy. Daisy was very far from +putting all this in words, or even in distinct thoughts; +nevertheless, she felt and knew every bit of it; her mother's +hand did not touch Daisy's foot or her shoulder, without her +inward consciousness what a powerful hand it was. Now it is +true that all this was in one way no new thing; Daisy had +always known her mother's authority to be just what it was +now; but it was only of late that a question had arisen about +the bearing of this authority upon her own little life and +interests. With the struggle that had been, and the new +knowledge that more struggles in the future were not +impossible, the consciousness of her mother's power over her +had a new effect. Mrs. Randolph sat down and took out her +tetting-work; but she only did a few stitches. + +"What child was that I met running from the house as I came +up?" she asked, a little to Daisy's discomfiture. + +"It was a little girl who belongs in the village, mamma." + +"How comes she to know you?" + +"It happened by accident partly, in the first place." + +"What accident?" + +"Mamma, I will tell you another time, if you will let me." For +Daisy knew that Juanita was not far off. + +But Mrs. Randolph only said, "Tell me now." + +"Mamma it was partly an accident," Daisy repeated. "I found +out by accident that they were very poor and I carried them +something to eat." + +"Whom do you mean by 'them'?" + +"That little girl and her mother Mrs. Harbonner." + +"When did you do this?" + +"About the time of my birthday." + +"And you have kept up the acquaintance since that time?" + +"I carried the woman work once, mamma. I had papa's leave to +go." + +"Did you ask mine?" + +"No, mamma. It was papa who had forbidden me to go into any +house without leave; so I asked him to let me tell her about +the work." + +"What was this child here for, to-day?" + +"Mamma she is a poor child, and could not go to school; and + I was trying to teach her something." + +"What were you trying to teach her?" + +"To read, mamma and to do right." + +"Have you ever done this before." + +"Yes, mamma a few times." + +"Can it be that you have a taste for low society, Daisy?" + +Mrs. Randolph had been asking questions calmly while going on +with her tetting-work: at this one she raised her eyes and +bent them full, with steady, cold inquiry, on Daisy's face. +Daisy looked a little troubled. + +"No, mamma I do not think I have." + +"Is not this child very rude and ill-mannered?" + +"Yes, ma'am, but " + +"Is she even a clean child?" + +"Not _very_, mamma." + +"You are changed, Daisy," said Mrs. Randolph, with a slight +but keen expression of disdain. The child felt it, yet felt it +not at all to the moving of her steadfastness. + +"Mamma it was only that I might teach her. She knows nothing +at all, almost." + +"And does Daisy Randolph think such a child is a fit companion +for her?" + +"Not a _companion_, mamma." + +"What business have you with a child who is not a fit +companion for you?" + +"Only, mamma, to try to be of some benefit to her." + +"I shall be of some benefit to you, now. Since I cannot trust +you, Daisy since your own delicacy and feeling of what is +right does not guide you in such matters, I shall lay my +commands on you for the future. You are to have nothing to do +with any person, younger or older, without finding out what my +pleasure is about it. Do you understand me?" + +"Yes, mamma." + +"You are to give no more lessons to children who are not fit +companions for you. You are not to have anything to do with +this child in particular. Daisy, understand me I forbid you +to speak to her again." + +"Oh, mamma " + +"Not a word," said Mrs. Randolph. + +"But, mamma, please! just this. May I not tell her once, that +I cannot teach her? She will think me so strange!" + +Mrs. Randolph was silent. + +"Might I not, just that once, mamma?" + +"No." + +"She will not know what to think of me," said Daisy; her lip +trembling, her eye reddening, and only able by the greatest +self-control to keep from bursting into tears. + +"That is your punishment" replied Mrs. Randolph, in a +satisfied, quiet sort of way. + +Daisy felt crushed. She could hardly think. + +"I am going to take you in hand, and bring you into order," +said Mrs. Randolph, with a smile, bending over to kiss Daisy, +and looking at her lips and eyes in a way Daisy wished she +would not. The meek little face certainly promised small +difficulty in her way, and Mrs. Randolph kissed the trembling +mouth again. + +"I do not think we shall quarrel," she remarked. "But if we +do, Daisy, I shall know how to bear my part of it." + +She turned carelessly to her tetting again, and Daisy lay +still; quiet and self-controlled, it was all she could do. She +could hardly bear to watch her mother at her work; the +thought of "quarrels" between them was so inevitable and so +dreadful. She could hardly bear to look out of her window; the +sunshine and bright things out there seemed to remind her of +her troubles; for they did not look bright now, as they had +done in the early morning. She lay still and kept still; that +was all; while Mrs. Randolph kept at her work, amusing herself +with it an uncommonly long time. At last she was tired; threw +her shawl round her shoulders again, and stood up to go. + +"I think we can soon have you home, Daisy," she said, as she +stooped to kiss her. "Ask Dr. Sandford when he comes, how +soon it will do now to move you; ask him tonight; will you?" + +Daisy said, "Yes, mamma," and Mrs. Randolph went. + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE DOCTOR. + + +The day was a heavy one to Daisy and Juanita after that. The +little cottage was very silent. Daisy lay still, saying +nothing, and generally keeping her face turned towards the +window so that her friend could not see it; and when Mrs. +Benoit proposed, as she several times did, to read to Daisy or +sing to her, she was always answered by a gentle, "No, +Juanita," which was as decided as it was gentle. The last +time, indeed, Daisy had yielded, and given assent to the +proposition; but Mrs. Benoit did not feel sure that she gave +anything else; either attention or approbation. Daisy's dinner +she had prepared with particular care; but it was not enjoyed; +Mrs. Benoit knew that. She sighed to herself, and then sang to +herself, in a softly kind of way; Daisy gave no heed, and only +lay still with her face turned to the window. + +By and by, late in the afternoon, the doctor came in. He was +not a favourite of Mrs. Benoit, but she was glad to see him +now. She withdrew a little out of the way and watched to see +what he would say. + +The doctor's first care as usual was the foot. That was going +on well. Having attended to that, he looked at Daisy's face. +It did not seem to him satisfactory, Mrs. Benoit saw; for his +next move was to the head of the couch, and he felt Daisy's +hand, while his eyes studied her. + +"How do you do to-day?" + +"I am getting better," said Daisy. + +"Are you? Your voice sounds weak to-night." + +"I do not suppose I am very strong." + +"How many wonderful things have you found to-day?" + +"I have not thought about them I have not found any." + +Doctor Sandford bent a little over Daisy's couch, holding her +hand still, and examining her. + +"What is the matter, Daisy?" said he. + +Daisy fidgeted. The doctor's fine blue eyes were too close to +her and too steady to be escaped from. Daisy turned her own +eyes uneasily away, then brought them back; she could not help +it. He was waiting for her to speak. + +"Dr. Sandford," she said, humbly, "won't you please excuse +me?" + +"Excuse you what, Daisy?" + +"From telling you what you want to know." + +"Pray, why should I?" + +"It is something that is quite private to myself." + +If the doctor's lips remained perfectly still for some +moments, it was because they had a private inclination to +smile, in which he would not indulge them. Daisy saw nothing +but the most moveless gravity. + +"Private from all but your physician, Daisy," he said at last. +"Do not you know he is an exception to general rules?" + +"Is he?" said Daisy. + +"Certainly. I always become acquainted with people's private +affairs." + +"But I do not want that you should be acquainted with mine." + +"No matter. You are under my care," said the doctor. Then +after a minute, he added, in a lower tone, "What have you been +shedding tears about to-day?" + +Daisy's face looked intensely grave; wise and old beyond her +days, though the mouth was also sweet. So she faced the +doctor, and answered him with the sedateness of fifty years +"I can't very well tell you, Dr. Sandford." + +"You have been shedding tears to-day?" + +"Yes, sir " said Daisy, softly. + +"A good many of them? You have been lying here with your face +to the window, crying quietly, a good part of the afternoon +have you not?" + +"Yes, sir," said Daisy, wondering at him. + +"Now, I am your physician, and must know what was the matter." + +"It is something I cannot tell about, Dr. Sandford." + +"Yes, Daisy, you are mistaken. Whatever concerns you, concerns +me; if it is the concern of nobody else. Were you tired of +lying here so long, day after day?" + +"Oh, no, sir! I don't mind that at all. I mean I don't mind +it at all, much." + +"You do not?" said the doctor. "Have you lost a pet kitten, or +a beloved lap-dog?" + +"I haven't any, either a kitten or a dog," said Daisy. + +"Has that young cavalier, Preston Gary, neglected you?" + +"He would not do that," said Daisy; "but he is very fond of +shooting." + +"He is!" said Dr. Sandford. "Most boys are. You have not felt +lonely, then, Daisy?" + +"Oh, no, sir." + +"I believe I should, in your place. What is the matter, then? +I ask as your friend and physician; and you must tell me, +Daisy. Who has been to see you to-day?" + +"Papa he came and read to me. Then a little girl and +mamma." + +"Did the little girl trouble you?" + +"Not much " said Daisy, hesitatingly. + +"In what way?" + +"She only would not learn to read as fast as I wanted." + +"You were the teacher?" + +"Yes, sir I was trying I wanted to teach her." + +"And has her obduracy or stupidity caused all this sorrow and +annoyance?" + +"Oh, no, sir " But Daisy's eyes filled. + +"Then has Mrs. Randolph been the trouble-maker?" + +Now Daisy flushed, her lip worked tremblingly; she turned her +little head to one side, and laid her hand over her brow, to +baffle those steady blue eyes of the doctor's. But the doctor +left the side of the couch, and took a step or two towards +where Juanita was sitting. + +"Mrs. Benoit," said he, "has this little patient of yours had +her tea?" + +"No, sir. His honour knows, it's early yet in the afternoon." + +"Not so very. Do you mean she took enough for dinner to last +her till to-morrow?" + +"No, sir; her dinner was little better than nothing." + +"Then make a cup, in your best style, Mrs. Benoit and +perhaps you will give me one. And have you got any more of +those big raspberries for her? bring them, and a bit of +toast." + +While Juanita was gone on this business, which took a little +time, the doctor slowly paced back and forth through the small +cottage room, with his hands behind him, and a thoughtful +face. Daisy fancied he was considering her affair; but she was +very much mistaken; Dr. Sandford had utterly forgotten her for +the moment, and was pondering some difficult professional +business. When Juanita appeared with her tea tray, he came out +of his abstraction; and, though still with a very unrelaxed +face, he arranged Daisy's pillows so that she might be raised +up a little, and feel more comfortable. His hands were strong +and skilful, and kind too; there was a sort of pleasure in +having them manage her; but Daisy looked on with a little +wonder to see him take the charge of being her servitor in +what came afterwards. He made her a cup of tea; let her taste +it from his hands; and gave the plate of raspberries into her +own. + +"Is it good?" he asked her. + +"Very good!" Daisy said, with so gentle and reverential a look +at him, that the doctor smiled. He said nothing, however, at +present, but to take care that she had her supper; and looked +meanwhile to see the colour of Daisy's cheeks change a little, +and the worn, wearied lines of her face take a more natural +form. His own ministrations were more effectual than the +eating and drinking; it was so very odd to have Dr. Sandford +waiting upon her that Daisy was diverted, and could not help +it. + +"Will you take some tea too, Dr. Sandford?" she said, in the +midst of this. "Won't you take it now, while it is hot?" + +"I take my tea cold, Daisy, thank you. I'll have it +presently." + +So he poured out his own cup, and left it to cool, while he +attended to Daisy; and when she would have no more, he took +the cup from the tray, and sent Mrs. Benoit off with the rest +of the things. + +"Now, Daisy," said he, as he took away her bolstering pillows, +and laid her nicely down again, "now, Daisy, I am your +confidential friend and physician, and I want to know what +command Mrs. Randolph has given to trouble you. It is my +business to know, and you must tell me." + +He was so cool about it, and so determined, that Daisy was +staggered. He stood holding her hand, and waiting for her +answer. + +"Mamma " + +Daisy came to a great stop. The doctor waited. + +"It was about the little girl." + +"Very well. Go on, Daisy." He took up his cup of tea now and +began to sip it. + +Poor Daisy! She had never been more bewildered in her life. + +"What about the little girl?" + +"Mamma doesn't want me to teach her." + +"Is it so favourite an amusement?" + +"No, sir " said Daisy, hesitatingly. + +"Was that all the trouble?" + +"No, sir." + +The doctor sipped his cup of tea, and looked at Daisy. He did +not say anything more; yet his eyes so steadily waited for +what further she had to say, that Daisy fidgeted; like a +fascinated creature, obliged to do what it would not. She +could not help looking into Dr. Sandford's face, and she could +not withstand what she saw there. + +"Dr. Sandford," she began in her old-fashioned way, "you are +asking me what is private between my mother and me." + +"Nothing is private from your physician, Daisy. I am not Dr. +Sandford; I am your physician." + +"But you are Dr. Sandford to mamma." + +"The business is entirely between you and me." + +Daisy hesitated a little longer, but the power of fascination +upon her was irresistible. + +"I was sorry not to teach the little girl," she said at +length; "but I was particularly troubled because because " + +"Mrs. Randolph was displeased with your system of +benevolence?" + +"No not that. Yes, I was troubled about that too. But what +troubled me most was that mamma would not let me speak to +her, to tell her why I must not teach her. I must not say +anything to her again, at all." + +Dr. Sandford's eyes, looking, saw that Daisy had indeed spoken +out her trouble now. Such a cloud of sorrow came over her +brow; such witnessing redness about her eyelids, though Daisy +let the witness of tears get no further. + +"What do you suppose was your mother's purpose in making that +last regulation?" he went on, in a cool, business tone. + +"I don't know I suppose to punish me," Daisy said, +faintly. + +"Punish you for what?" + +"Mamma did not like me to teach that little girl and I had +done it, I mean I had begun to do it, without asking her." + +"Was it a great pleasure?" said the doctor. + +"It would have been a great pleasure if I could have taught +her to read," Daisy said, with her face brightening at the +idea. + +"I presume it would. Well, Daisy, now you and I will arrange +this affair. I do not consider it wholesome for you to engage +in this particular amusement at this particular time; so I +shall endorse Mrs. Randolph's prohibition; but I will go round + where does this girl live, and who is she?" + +"Her name is Hephzibah Harbonner; she lives in the village, on +the road where the Episcopal church is you know; a little +way further on. I guess it's a quarter of a mile." + +"South, eh? Well, I will go round by her house, and tell the +girl that I cannot let you do any such kindnesses just now, +and that, till I give her leave, she must not come to see you. +How will that do, Daisy." + +"Thank you, Dr. Sandford!" + +He saw it was very earnestly spoken, and that Daisy's brow +looked clearer. + +"And instead of that amusement, you must study wonderful +things to-morrow. Will you?" + +"Oh, yes, Dr. Sandford! But we have not finished about the sun +yet." + +"No. Well to-morrow, then, Daisy." + +"Thank you, sir. Dr. Sandford, mamma wanted me to ask you a +question before you go." + +"Ask it." + +"How soon I can be moved home?'' + +"Are you in a great hurry?" + +"No, sir, but I think mamma is." + +"You call bear to wait a little longer, and study wonderful +things from your window?" + +"Oh, yes, sir! I think I can do it better here than at home, +because my bed is so close to the window, I can look right +out." + +"I shall not let you be moved just yet, Daisy. Good-night. I +will see what's her name?" + +"Harbonner Hephzibah Harbonner." + +"Good-night." + +And Daisy watched the doctor as he went down the path, mounted +his horse, and rode away, with great admiration; thinking how +handsome and how clever and how chivalric he was. Daisy did +not use that word in thinking of him; nevertheless, his +skilful nursing, and his taking up her cause so effectually, +had made a great impression upon her. She was greatly +comforted. Juanita, watching her face, saw that it looked so; +there was even a dawning smile upon Daisy's lips at one time. +It faded however into a deep gravity; and one or two long +drawn breaths told of heavy thoughts. + +"What troubles has my love?" said the old woman. + +Daisy turned her head quick round from the window, and smiled +a very sweet smile in her face. + +"I was thinking, Juanita." + +"My little lady has a cloud come over her again." + +"Yes, Juanita, I think I have. Oh, Juanita, I might tell you! +What shall I do, when everybody wants me to do what what I +don't think is right? What shall I do, Juanita? I don't know +what I shall do." + +"Suppose Miss Daisy take the Bible to her pa' Miss Daisy +knows what her pa' promised." + +"So he did, Juanita! thank you; I had forgotten that." + +In five minutes more, Daisy was fast asleep. The black woman +stood looking at her. There was no cloud on the little face +now, but the signs of the day's work were there. Pale cheeks, +and weary features, and the tokens of past tears. Juanita +stood and looked, and twinkled away one or two from her own +eye-lashes; and then knelt down at the head of the bed, and +began a whispered prayer. A prayer for the little child +before her, in which her heart poured itself out, that she +might be kept from evil, and might walk in the straight path, +and never be tempted or driven from it. Juanita's voice grew +louder than a whisper in her earnestness; but Daisy slept on. + + +CHAPTER XX. + +SUN AND MOON. + + +The next day was an exceedingly hot and sultry one. Daisy had +no visitors until quite late in the afternoon; however it was +a peaceful day. She lay quiet and happy, and Juanita was quite +as well contented that the house should be empty, and they two +alone. Late in the afternoon, Preston came. + +"Well, my dear little Daisy! so you are coming home?" + +"Arm I?" said Daisy. + +"To be sure; and your foot is going to get well, and we are +going to have all sorts of grand doings for you." + +"My foot is getting well." + +"Certainly. Don't be a Quaker, Daisy." + +"What sort of doings are you going to have, Preston?" + +"First thing as soon as you are well enough for it we are +going to have a grand pic-nic party to Silver Lake." + +"Silver Lake? what, on the other side of the river?" + +"Yes." + +"Oh, how delightful! But I shall not be able to go in a long +time, Preston." + +"Yes, you will. Aunt Felicia says you are coming back to +Melbourne now; and once we get you there, we'll cure you up. +Why, you must have moped half your wits away by this time. I +don't expect to find more than two-thirds of the original +Daisy left." + +"I haven't moped at all." + +"There! that is proof the first. When people are moping, and +do not know they are moping, that is the sign their wits are +departing. Poor Daisy! I don't wonder. We'll get you to rights +at Melbourne." + +"Doctor Sandford will not let me be moved." + +"Doctor Sandford cannot help himself. When aunt Felicia says +so, he will find ways and means." + +"Preston," said Daisy, "I do not think you understand what +sort of a man Dr. Sandford is." + +"Pray enlighten me, Daisy. I thought I did." + +But Daisy was silent. + +"What sort of a man is he?" + +"Preston," said Daisy, abruptly, "I wish you would bring me +from Melbourne that tray filled with something, plaster, I +don't know what it is, on which Captain Drummond and I +studied geography, and history." + +"Geography and history on a tray!" said Preston. "That would +be one's hands full to carry!" + +"Well, but it was," said Daisy. "The tray was smooth filled +with something, something a little soft, on which you could +mark; and Captain Drummond drew the map of England on it; and +we were just getting into the battle what battle was it? +when William came over from France, and King Harold met him?" + +"Hastings?" + +"We were just come to the battle of Hastings, before Captain +Drummond went away; and I should like so much to go on with +it!" + +"But was the battle of Hastings on the tray?" + +"No, Preston, but the place was; and Captain Drummond told me +about the battles." + +"Who is here to tell you about them now, Daisy?" + +"Couldn't you? sometimes, now and then?" + +"I might; but you see, Daisy, you are coming to Melbourne now, +and there will be Silver Lake, and lots of other things to do. +You won't want the tray here." + +Daisy looked a little wistfully at her cousin. She said +nothing. And Preston turned sharply, for he heard a soft +rustle coming up the path, and was just in time to spring to +the door and open it for his aunt. + +"How insufferably hot!" was Mrs. Randolph's remark. "How do +you do, Daisy?" + +"I think she is bewitched to stay in banishment, aunt Felicia; +she will have it she is not coming home." + +Mrs. Randolph's answer was given to the doctor, who entered at +the instant behind Preston. + +"How soon can Daisy be moved, doctor?" + +The doctor took a leisurely view of his little patient before +he replied. "Not at present." + +"How soon " + +"If I think her fit for it, in a fortnight; possibly earlier." + +"But that is, not till September!" + +"I am afraid you are correct," said the doctor, coolly. + +Mrs. Randolph stood pondering the question, how far it was +needful to own his authority. "It is dreadfully hot here, in +this little place! She would be much better if she were out of +it." + +"How have you found it at Melbourne to-day?" + +"Insufferable!" + +"How has it been with you, Daisy?" + +"It has been a nice day, Dr. Sandford." + +The contrast was so extreme between the mental atmosphere of +one speaker and of the other, that Dr. Sandford smiled. It was +ninety degrees of Fahrenheit and the fall of the dew. + +"I have heard nobody say as much for the day before," he +remarked. + +"But she would be much better at Melbourne." + +"As soon as I think that, she shall go." + +The doctor was absolute in his sphere, and Mr. Randolph, +moreover, she knew, would back him; so Mrs. Randolph held her +peace, though displeased. Nay, she entered into a little +conversation with the doctor on other subjects, as lively as +the day would admit, before she de parted. Preston stayed +behind, partly to improve his knowledge of Dr. Sandford. + +"All has gone well to-day, Daisy?" he asked her, pleasantly. + +"Oh, yes. And Dr. Sandford, shall we finish the sun?" + +"By all means. What more shall I tell you?" + +"How much more do you know, sir?" + +"I know that it is globe shaped I know how big it is I +know how heavy it is; and I know that it turns round and round +continually." + +"Oh, sir, do you know all these things?" + +"Yes." + +"Please, Dr. Sandford, how can you?" + +"You would mature into a philosopher, in time, Daisy." + +"I hope not," muttered Preston. + +"I know that it is globe-shaped, Daisy, because it turns round +and lets me see all sides of it." + +"Is one side different from another." + +"Only so far, as that there are spots here and there," Dr. +Sandford went on, looking at the exceeding eagerness in +Daisy's eyes. "The spots appear at one edge pass over to the +other edge, and go out of sight. After a certain time I see +them come back again where I saw them first." + +"Oh, I should like to see the spots on the sun!" said Daisy. +"You said they were holes in the curtain, sir?" + +"Yes." + +"What curtain?" said Preston. + +"You are not a philosopher," said the doctor. + +"How long does it take them, the spots, Dr. Sandford, to +go round and come back again?" + +"A little more than twenty-five days." + +"How very curious!" said Daisy. "I wonder what it turns round +for the sun, I mean?" + +"You have got too deep there," said the doctor. "I cannot tell +you." + +"But there must be some reason," said Daisy; "or it would +stand still." + +"It is in the nature of the thing, I suppose," said Dr. +Sandford; "but we do not fully know its nature yet. Only +what I am telling you." + +"How came people to find these things out?" + +"By watching and experimenting and calculating." + +"Then, how big is the sun, Dr. Sandford?" + +"How big does it look?" + +"Not very large I don't know I can't think of anything it +looks like." + +"It looks just about as big as the moon does." + +"Is it just the same size as the moon? But Dr. Sandford, it is +a great deal further off, isn't it?" + +"Four hundred times as far." + +"Then, it must be four hundred times as large, I should +think." + +"It is just about that." + +"But I do not know how large that would be. I cannot think." + +"Nor can I, Daisy. But I can help you. Suppose we, and our +earth, were in the centre of the sun; and our moon going round +us at the same distance from us that she is now; there would +be room enough for the whole concern, as far as distances are +concerned." + +"In the sun, Dr. Sandford?" + +"In the sun." + +"And the moon as far off as she is now?" + +"Yes." + +"But the _moon_ would not be in the sun too?" + +"Plenty of room, and to spare." + +Daisy was silent now. Preston looked from her face to the +doctor's. + +"Not only that, Daisy; but the moon then would be two hundred +thousand miles within the circumference of the sun; the sun's +surface would be two hundred thousand miles beyond her." + +"Thank you, Dr. Sandford!" + +"What for, Daisy?" + +"I am so glad to know all that." + +"Why?" + +Daisy did not answer. She did not feel ready to tell her whole +thought, not to both her friends together, at least; and she +did not know how to frame her reply. But then, perceiving that +Dr. Sandford was looking for an answer, and that she was +guilty of the rudeness of withholding it, she blushed and +spoke. + +"It makes me understand some things better." + +"What, for instance?" said the doctor, looking as grave as +ever, though Preston was inclined to laugh. + +Daisy saw it; nevertheless she answered, "The first chapter of +Genesis." + +"Oh, you are there, are you?" said the doctor. "What light +have I thrown upon the passage, Daisy? It has not appeared to +myself." + +Now Daisy hesitated. A sure though childish instinct told her +that her thoughts and feelings on this subject would meet with +no sympathy. She did not like to speak them. + +"Daisy has peculiar views, Dr. Sandford," said Preston. + +But the doctor paid him no attention. He looked at Daisy, +lifted her up, and arranged her pillows; then as he laid her +back said, + +"Give me my explanation of that chapter, Daisy." + +"It isn't an explanation, sir; I did not know there was +anything to explain." + +"The light I have thrown on it then out of the sun." + +Preston was amused, Daisy saw; she could not tell whether the +doctor was; his blue eyes gave no sign, except of a will to +hear what she had to say. Daisy hesitated, and hesitated, and +then, with something very like the old diplomacy she had +partly learned and partly inherited from her mother, she said, +"If you will read the chapter, I will tell you." + +Now Daisy did not think Dr. Sandford would care to read the +chapter, or perhaps have the time for it; but, with an unmoved +face, he swung himself round on his chair, and called on Mrs. +Benoit for a Bible. Preston was in a state of delight, and +Mrs. Benoit of wonder. The Bible was brought, Dr. Sandford +took it, and opened it. + +"We have only time for a short lecture to-day," he remarked, +"for I must be off. Now, Daisy, I will read, and you shall +comment." + +Daisy felt worried. She turned uneasily, and rested her face +on her hand, and so lay, looking at the doctor; at his +handsome calm features and glittering blue eyes. What could +_she_ say to him? The doctor's eye saw a grave sweet little +face, a good deal flushed, very grave, with a whole burden of +thought behind its unruffled simplicity. It may be said, that +his curiosity was as great as Daisy's unwillingness. He began, +facing her as he read. Juanita stood by, somewhat anxious. + +"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." + +The doctor stopped, and looked down at that face of Daisy +looking up at him. He waited. + +"I did not use to think how much all that meant," said Daisy, +humbly. + +The doctor went on. He went on with the grand, majestic words +of the story, which sounded very strange to Daisy from his +lips, but very grand; till he came to the fourteenth +verse. " 'And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of +the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be +for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years: and let +them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven, to give +light upon the earth: and it was so.' " The doctor looked at +Daisy again. + +"There," said she, "that is very different now from what it +used to be I didn't know what sort of lights those were; +it's a great deal more wonderful now. Won't you read on a +little farther?" + +" 'And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the +day, and the lesser light to rule the night; He made the stars +also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven, to give +light upon the earth, and to rule over the day, and over the +night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw +that it was good.' " + +"That is what I mean," said Daisy, as the doctor paused. "I +never knew before what those 'lights' meant I thought the +sun was I don't know what; I didn't think much about it; but +now I never shall forget again. I know now what sort of a +light was made to rule the day; and I don't wonder " + +"Do not wonder what, Daisy?" + +"I do not wonder that God said that it was good. I am so much +obliged to you for telling me about it." + +"Never heard a more satisfactory application of knowledge in +my life," the doctor remarked, with a smile, as he handed +back the Bible to Mrs. Benoit. + +And then he and Preston went off; but Daisy lay long very +thoughtfully looking after them out of her window. Till the +sound of the horses' feet was far out of hearing, Daisy lay +there, looking into the evening. She did not stir till Mrs. +Benoit brought her supper. + +"Isn't it wonderful, Juanita," she said, with a long-drawn +breath, "how the sun divides the light from the darkness!" + +"Most things is wonderful, that the Lord makes," answered the +black woman. + +"Are they?" said Daisy. + +"But what makes my love sigh?" said Juanita, anxiously; for +Daisy's face had not brightened up, though she was taking her +tea. + +Daisy looked at her. "Oh, Juanita!" she said, "I am afraid +that Dr. Sandford is in the darkness!" + +"Where the sun don't shine it be darkness, sure!" said +Juanita. "And he do not see the Light of the world, Miss +Daisy." + +Daisy's eyes filled, filled. She liked Dr. Sandford very much. +And then, who else that she loved had never seen that Light! +Daisy pushed aside her tears, and tried to drink her tea; but +at last she gave it up. Her spoon fell into her saucer, and +she lay down, and hid her face in the pillow. The black woman +stood, with a strange grave look, and with watering eyes, +silent for a little time; holding Daisy's tray in her hands, +and waiting. + +"Miss Daisy " + +"What, Juanita?" + +"My love take her tea, to be strong; and then see how many she +can bring out of the darkness." + +"I, Juanita?" said Daisy? rousing up. + +"Maybe the Lord send His message by little hands. What +hinder?" + +"But, Juanita, _I_ can't do anything?" + +"Carry the Lord's message, Miss Daisy." + +"Can I?" + +"Why not, my love? The dear Lord, He do all. And Miss Daisy +knows, He hear the prayer of His servants." + +The child looked at the black woman, with a wistful, earnest, +searching look that it was curious to see. She said nothing +more; she eyed Juanita as if she were searching into the depth +of something; then she went on with her supper. She was +thoughtful all the evening; busy with cogitations which she +did not reveal; quiet and absent-minded. Juanita guessed why; +and many a prayer went up from her own secret heart. + +But from about this time Daisy began to grow well again. She +could not be moved, of course; Dr. Sandford would not permit +that; neither to be carried home, nor to change her place and +position in the cottage. But she was getting ready for it. The +latter half of August cooled off from its fierce heats, and +was pleasantly warm. Daisy took the benefit of the change. She +had rather a good time, those last weeks at Juanita's house; +and perhaps that was one reason why Dr. Sandford, seeing it, +chose to let well alone, and would not have anybody take Daisy +home. Daisy had a very good time. She had the peace of +Juanita's house; and at home she knew there would be things to +trouble her. She had books, and could read now as much as she +liked; and she was very fond of reading. Preston did not find +it expedient to bring the geography tray; on the other hand, +Mr. Randolph thought it good to come every day and spend a +piece of time with his little daughter; and became better +acquainted with her than ever he had been in his life before. +He discovered that Daisy was very fond of knowledge; that he +could please her no way better than by taking up the history +of' England and reading to her, and stopping to explain +everything by the way which Daisy did not understand. + +English history was certainly an old story to Mr. Randolph; +but to discuss it with Daisy was a very new thing. He found +her eager, patient, intelligent, and wise with an odd sort of +child-wisdom which yet was not despicable for older years. +Daisy's views of the feudal system, and of the wittenagemot, +and of trial by jury, and of representative legislation, were +intensely amusing to Mr. Randolph; he said it was going back +to a primitive condition of society, to talk them over with +her; though there, I think, he was mistaken. If Daisy had read +those pages of history to herself, she would have passed over +some of these matters at least with little heed; she would not +have gone to anybody with questions. But Mr. Randolph reading +to her, it was an easy thing to ask the meaning of a word as +they passed; and that word would draw on a whole little bit of +talk. In this intercourse Mr. Randolph was exceedingly gentle, +deliberate, and kind. Daisy had nothing to fear, not even that +she might weary him; so those were hours of real enjoyment to +both parties. + +Preston not very seldom came and made himself agreeable; +playing an occasional game of chess, and more often regaling +Daisy with a history of his expeditions. Other visitors Daisy +had from Melbourne, now and then; but her best friend for real +service, after her father and Juanita, was Dr. Sandford. He +took great care of his little patient's comfort and happiness; +which was a pretty thing in him, seeing that he was a young +man, busy with a very good country practice, and, furthermore, +busy with the demands made upon him as an admired pet of +society. For that was Dr. Sandford, and he knew it perfectly +well. Nevertheless his kind care of Daisy never abated. + +It was of course partly his professional zeal and care that +were called for; but it could not have been those that made +him keep up his lectures to Daisy on the wonderful things she +found for him, day by day. In professional care those lectures +certainly began; but Daisy was getting well now; had nothing +more to trouble her, and showed an invariably happy as well as +wise little face. Yet Dr. Sandford used to sit down and tell +her of the things she asked about, with a sort of amused +patience if it was no more; at any rate he was never +impatient. He talked to Daisy of the stars, which, with the +moon, were very naturally the next subjects of investigation +after the sun. + +At last Daisy got him upon the subject of trilobites. It was +not difficult. Dr. Sandford was far more easy to move than +Preston in this matter at least. He only smiled, and slid +into the story very simply; the story that Daisy was so eager +to hear. And it did not seem less worth hearing than she had +expected, nor less wonderful, nor less interesting. Daisy +thought about it a great deal, while Juanita listened and +doubted; but Daisy did not doubt. She believed the doctor told +her true. That the family to which her little fossil trilobite +belonged the particular family for they were generally +related, he said, to the lobster and crab, were found in the +very oldest and deepest down rocks in which any sort of +remains of living things have been found; therefore, it is +likely they were among the earliest of earth's inhabitants. +There were a great many of them, the doctor said, and many +different species; for great numbers of them are found to this +day in those particular rocks. The rocks must have been made +at the time when the trilobites lived, and have somehow shut +them in. And the doctor thought it likely that at the time +when they lived, there was no dry land in existence, but all +covered by the sea. He would not take it upon him to be +positive; but this he could tell Daisy; there was never a +stick or a leaf to be found in those old rocks that ever lived +and grew on dry ground, though there were plenty that grew in +the sea, until in the very topmost or latest of those rocks +some few bits of fern-growth began to appear. + +"But what plants live under water?" said Daisy. + +"Sea weeds." + +"Oh! So many of them?" + +"So many, that the rocks are sometimes darkened by their +fossil remains, and in some places those remains form beds of +coal several feet thick." + +"And are there a great many remains of the trilobites?" + +"There are whole rocks, Daisy, that are formed almost entirely +of trilobites." + +"Sea-weeds and trilobites what a strange time!" said Daisy. +"Was that all that was living?" + +"No; there were other sea creatures of the lower kind, and at +last fishes. But when the fishes became very numerous, the +trilobites died out and passed away." + +That old time had a wonderful charm for Daisy; it was, as she +thought, better than a fairy tale. The doctor at last let her +into the secret that he had a trilobite too; and the next time +he came he brought it with him. He was good enough to leave it +with Daisy a whole day; and Daisy's meditations over it and +her own together were numberless and profound. + +The next transition was somewhat sudden; to a wasp or two +that had come foraging on Daisy's window-sill. But Dr. +Sandford was at home there; and so explained the wasp's work +and manner of life, with his structure and fitness for what he +had to do, that Daisy was in utter delight; though her eyes +sometimes opened upon Dr. Sandford with a grave wistful wonder +in them, that he should know all this so well, and yet never +acknowledge the hand that had given the wasp the tools and +instinct for his work, one so exactly a match for the other. +But Dr. Sandford never did. He used to notice those grave +looks of Daisy, and hold private speculation with himself what +they might mean; private amused speculation; but I think he +must have liked his little patient as well as been amused at +her, or he would hardly have kept up as he did this personal +ministering to her pleasure, which was one of the great +entertainments of Daisy's life at this period. In truth only +to see Dr. Sandford was an entertainment to Daisy. She watched +even the wave of his long locks of hair. He was a fascination +to her. + +"Are you in a hurry to get home?" he would ask her every now +and then. Daisy always said, "No sir; not till you think it is +time;" and Dr. Sandford never thought it was time. No matter +what other people said, and they said a good deal; he ordered +it his own way; and Daisy was almost ready to walk when he +gave permission for her to be taken home in the carriage. +However, the permission was given at last. + +"To-morrow night I shall not be here, Juanita," Daisy remarked +as she was taking her supper. + +"No, Miss Daisy." + +"You will be very quiet when I am gone." + +It had not been a bustling house, all those weeks! But the +black woman only answered. "My love will come to see Juanita +sometimes?" + +"Oh, yes. I shall come very often, Juanita if I can. You +know when I am out with my pony, I can come very often, I +hope." + +Juanita quite well understood what was meant by the little +pauses and qualifying clauses of this statement. She passed +them over. + +But Daisy shed a good many tears during Juanita's prayer that +night. I do not know if the black woman shed any; but I know +that some time afterwards, and until late in the night, she +knelt again by Daisy's bedside, while a whisper of prayer, too +soft to arouse the child's slumbers, just chimed with the +flutter and rustle of the leaves outside of the window moving +in the night breeze. + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +TEA AT HOME. + + +The next day turned out so warm, that the carriage was not +brought for Daisy till late in the afternoon. Then it came, +with her father and Dr. Sandford; and Daisy was lifted in Mr. +Randolph's arms, and carefully placed on the front seat of the +carriage, which she had all to herself. Her father and the +doctor got in and sat opposite to her; and the carriage drove +away. + +The parting with Juanita had been very tenderly affectionate, +and had gone very near to Daisy's heart. Not choosing to show +this more than she could help, as usual, Daisy at first lay +still on the cushions with an exceedingly old-fashioned face; +it was as demure and sedate as if the gravity of forty years +had been over it. But presently the carriage turned the corner +into the road to Melbourne; Daisy caught sight for a second of +the houses and church spires of Crum Elbow, that she had not +seen for so long. A pink flush rose over her face. + +"What is it, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, who had been watching +her. + +"Papa it's so nice to see things again!" + +"You had a pretty dull time of it at Mrs. Benoit's?" remarked +the doctor. + +"No Oh, no, I didn't. I did not have it dull at all." + +"How did you escape that, Daisy?" + +"I do not know, Dr. Sandford. There was no room for dulness." + +The gentlemen smiled, but Daisy's father with a not altogether +satisfied expression. He grew satisfied, as he marked the +changes in Daisy's face. The ride was delightful to her. The +carriage was easy; she was nicely placed; and through the open +glass before her she could look oat quite uninterruptedly. It +was so pleasant, she thought, even to see the road and the +fences again. That little bit of view before Mrs. Benoit's +window she had studied over and over, till she knew it by +heart. Now every step brought something new; and the roll of +the carriage-wheels was itself enlivening. There was a reaped +grain-field; there a meadow, with cattle pasturing. Now they +passed a farm wagon going home, laden with sheaves; next came +a cottage, well known, but not seen for a long time, with its +wonted half-door open and the cottager's children playing +about. Then came patches of woodland, with the sun shining +through; and a field of flourishing Indian corn with the +sunlight all over it; then more meadows with cattle. + +"Do you ride comfortably, Daisy?" her father asked, bending +over to her. + +"Yes, papa. It is so nice!" + +Mr. Randolph gave up care about Daisy, and the two gentlemen +fell into a conversation which did not regard her, and lasted +till the carriage stopped at the door of Melbourne House. And +there was her mother, and there were Preston and his mother +and sister, and Gary McFarlane, who had been away, and come +back again, all waiting to welcome her; besides some other +guests who were now at Melbourne. + +Mr. Randolph got out of the carriage first. Dr. Sandford +followed him; but then, without giving place to anybody else, +he himself took Daisy carefully off the seat where she lay, +lifted her out in his arms, and carried her into the house. +All the others trooped around and after him, through the hall +and into the drawing-room, where the doctor laid his little +charge on the sofa and put the pillows behind her so that she +could sit up comfortably. Then he stood back and let the +others come to her. Mrs. Randolph gave her some very contented +kisses; so did Mr. Randolph. Very glad and tender his were, at +having his little daughter back there again. + +"We are very much pleased to see you here, Daisy," her aunt +said. + +"Poor Daisy," said Eloise. + +"Glad to come back to life and the world again, Daisy." said +Preston, standing at the back of her sofa and drumming on it. + +"I understand, Daisy," said McFarlane, "that you have been an +enchanted beauty, or a sleeping princess, during these weeks +of my absence under the guardianship of an old black witch, +who drew incantations and water together from her well every +morning." + +"I can answer for the incantations," said Preston. "I have +heard 'em." + +Daisy's face flushed all over. "Preston, you do very wrong," +she said, turning her head round to him. But Preston only +burst into a fit of laughter, which he turned away to hide. + +Others of the company now came up to take Daisy's hand, and +kiss her, and say how glad they were to see her; these people +were very much strangers to Daisy, and their greeting was no +particular pleasure; but it had to be attended to. Then tea +came in, and Daisy was well petted. It was very pleasant to +have it so; after the silence and quiet of Juanita's little +cottage, the lights and dresses and people and silver urn and +tea service and flowers made quite a picture. Flowers had been +in the cottage too, but not such wealth of them. Just opposite +to Daisy, in the middle of the floor, stood a great stone +basket, or wide vase, on a pedestal; and this vase was a mass +of beautiful flowers. Trailing wreaths of roses and fuchsias +and geraniums even floated down from the edges of the vase and +sought the floor; the pedestal was half draped with them. It +was a very lovely sight to Daisy's eyes. And then her mother +ordered a little stand brought to the sofa's side; and her +father placed it; and Gary brought her cup of tea, and Dr. +Sandford spread her slice of toast. Daisy felt as if she loved +everybody, and was very happy. The summer air floated in at +the long windows, just as it used to do. It was _home_. Daisy +began to realise the fact. + +Meanwhile attention ceased to be filled with her particular +affairs, and conversation flowed off as usual, away from her. +Preston still held his station at the back of the sofa, where +he dipped sponge-cake in tea with a wonderful persistency; in +fact, the question seemed to be whether he or the cake basket +would give out first; but for a while Daisy eat her toast in +happy quiet; watching everybody and enjoying everything. Till +Gary McFarlane drew near, and took a seat, as if for a regular +siege. + +"So what about those incantations, Daisy?" he said. + +"I do not know what you mean, Mr. McFarlane." + +"No? don't you? That's odd. You have been so long in the +witch's precincts. You have heard them, of course?" + +"I do not know what you mean, Mr. McFarlane." + +"Why, you must have been bewitched. I wonder, now, if the +witch's house did not seem to you a palace?" + +"It seemed a very nice place." + +"And the witch herself a sable princess?" + +"I think she is a great deal better than a princess." + +"Exactly so," said Gary, with a perfectly sober face. "The +witch drew water, didn't she?" + +"I don't know what you mean. Mrs. Benoit used to bring pails +of water from her well." + +"Very good. And you never heard her incantations, muttering in +the morning before the dew was off the grass, or at night just +as the first beams of the moon lighted on the topmost boughs +of the trees?" + +Daisy was confounded. "Mr. McFarlane," she said, after a +moment's looking at him "I hope I do not know what you +mean." + +At that, Gary McFarlane went off into an ecstasy of laughter, +delighted and amused beyond count. Preston interrupted the +sponge-cake exercise, and Daisy felt her sofa shaking with his +burden of amusement. What had she done? Glancing her eye +towards Dr. Sandford, who sat near, she saw that a very +decided smile was curling the corners of _his_ mouth. A flush +came up all over Daisy's face; she took some tea, but it did +not taste good any longer. + +"What did you think I meant? come, Daisy, tell me," said +Gary, returning to Daisy as soon as he could get over his +paroxysm of laughter. "What did you think I meant? I shouldn't +wonder if you had some private witchcraft of your own. Come! +what did you _think_ I meant?" + +While he had been laughing, Daisy had been trying to get +command of herself, and to get her throat clear for talking; +there had been a very uncomfortable thick feeling in it at +first. Now she answered with simple dignity and soberness, "I +did not know, Mr. McFarlane, but you meant Juanita's prayers." + +"Does she pray?" said Gary, innocently. + +"Yes." + +"Long prayers, Daisy?" + +"Yes," unwillingly now. + +"Then, that must have been what you heard!" Gary said, looking +up to Preston. No answer came from him. Gary was as sober now +as seven judges. + +"Did she speak her prayers where you could hear her, Daisy?" + +"I used to hear her " + +"Mornings and evenings?" + +"Yes." + +"But you heard her in broad day, Preston?" + +"Yes; one afternoon it was. I heard her as soon as I got near +the house. Daisy was asleep, and I went away as wise as I +came." + +"This grows interesting," said Gary, returning to Daisy. +"Could you hear the words that were said?" + +"No." + +"Only a muttering?" + +Daisy was silent. The tears came into her eyes. + +"Depend upon it, Daisy, it was incantations you heard. +Description agrees exactly. Confess now, didn't a sort of +feeling grow over you creep over you whenever you heard +that muttering sound, as if you would do anything that black +woman told you?" + +Daisy was silent. + +"Don't you know it is not proper to pray so that people can +hear you? 'tisn't the way to do. Witches pray that way not +good Christian people. I regard it as a very fortunate thing, +Daisy, that we have got you safe out of her hands. Don't you +think that prayer ought to be private?" + +"Yes," said Daisy. She was overwhelmed with the rapidity and +liveliness of Gary's utterances, which he rattled forth as +lightly as if they had been the multiplication table. + +"Yes, just so. It is not even a matter to be talked about +too sacred so I am offending even against my own laws; but I +wanted to know how far the old witch had got hold of you. +Didn't you feel when you heard her mutterings, as if some sort +of a spell was creeping over you?" + +Daisy wished some sort of a spell could come over _him_; but she +did not know what to say. + +"Didn't you gradually grow into the belief that she was a sort +of saint, Daisy?" + +"What is a saint, Mr. McFarlane?" + +Gary at that wheeled partly round, and stroked his chin and +moustache with the most comical expression of doubt and +confusion. + +"I declare I don't know, Daisy! I think it means a person who +is too good for this world, and therefore isn't allowed to +live here. They all go off in flames of some sort may look +like glory, but is very uncomfortable and there is a +peculiar odour about them. Doctor, what is that odour called?" + +Gary spoke with absurd soberness, but the doctor gave him no +attention. + +"The odour of sanctity! that is it!" said Gary. "I had +forgot. I don't know what it is like, myself; but it must be +very disagreeable to have such a peculiarity attached to one." + +"How can anybody be too good for this world?" Daisy ventured. + +"Too good to live in it! You can't live among people unless +you live like them so the saints all leave the rest of the +world in some way or other; the children die, and the grown +ones go missionaries or become nuns they are a sort of human +meteor shine and disappear, but don't really accomplish +much, because no one wants to be meteors. So your old woman +can't be a saint, Daisy, or she would have quitted the world +long ago." + +Something called off Gary. Daisy was left feeling very +thoroughly disturbed. That people could talk so and think so + about what was so precious to her; talk about being saints, +as if it were an undesirable thing; and as if such were +unlovely. Her thought went back to Juanita, who seemed now +half a world's distance away instead of a few miles; her love +and gentleness and truth and wisdom, her prayers and way of +living, did seem to Daisy somewhat unearthly in their beauty, +compared with that which surrounded her now; but so unearthly, +that it could not be understood, and must not be talked about. +Juanita could not be understood here; could Daisy? She felt +hurt, and troubled, and sorry; she did not like to hear such +talk, but Gary was about as easy to stop as a cataract. + +Dr. Sandford, lifting his eyes from what had occupied them, +though his ears had not been stopped, saw that the face of his +little charge was flushed with pain, and her eyes glistening. +He came and took Gary's place, and silently felt of her hand +and looked at her; but he did not ask Daisy what was the +matter, because he pretty well knew. His own face, as usual, +showed nothing; however, Daisy's came back to its accustomed +expression. + +"Dr. Sandford," said she softly, "what is a meteor?" + +"Meteors are fiery stones which fall on the earth +occasionally." + +"Where do they come from?" + +"Doctors are divided." + +"But where do _you_ think they come from?" + +If Dr. Sandford's vanity could be touched by a child, it +received a touch then. It was so plain, that what satisfied +him would satisfy her. He would not give the sceptical answer +which rose to his lips. Looking at the pure, wise little face +which watched his, he made answer simply, not without a smile: +"I am inclined to think they are wandering bodies, that we +fall in with now and then, in our journey round the sun." + +"Dr. Sandford, what do they look like?" + +"You have seen shooting-stars?" + +"Yes are those meteors?" + +"Those are meteors that do not come to the earth. Sometimes +they are nearer, and look like great fire-balls." + +"Have you seen them." + +"Yes, a great many." + +"And have you seen them after they fell on the ground?" + +"Yes." + +"What are they like then?" + +"A very black stone, on the outside, and made up of various +metals and earths within." + +"But then, what makes them look like fire-balls, before they +fall?" + +"Can't tell, Daisy. As I said, the doctors are divided; and I +really have no opinion that you would understand if I gave +it." + +Daisy would have liked to hear all the opinions, but she did +not ask for them. Preston was still standing at the back of +the sofa, and started a new subject. + +"Dr. Sandford, how soon will Daisy's foot let her go to Silver +Lake?" + +"In what way do you propose to get there?" + +"By boat, sir, across the river; and the rest of the way is +walking." + +"On plain ground?" + +"Not exactly!" said Preston. + +"How far do you call it?" + +"Three miles." + +"Of walking! I think Daisy may walk across this floor by next +week; and in a little while after she may go up and down +stairs." + +"Oh, doctor!" exclaimed Preston. "Why, at that rate, she +cannot go to Silver Lake at all!" + +"Does she want to go very much?" said the doctor. The question +was really put at Daisy's face, and answered by a little flush +that was not a flush of pain this time. He saw what a depth of +meaning there was in it; what a charm the sound of Silver Lake +had for Daisy. No wonder, to a little girl who had lain for so +many weeks looking out of one window, where there was not much +to be seen, either. + +"Who is going, Daisy?" said the doctor. + +"Mamma means to make up a large party I do not know exactly +who." + +"Then I think I can promise that you shall go too. You may +count upon me for that." + +Daisy's eyes shone and sparkled, but she said not a word. +Preston was less sagacious. + +"Will you do something to make her foot strong, sir?" he +asked. + +"When you have studied in my profession, you will know more +about a physician's powers," was all the answer he got. + +The doctor turned off to conversation with other people, and +Daisy was left to herself again. She was very happy; it was +very pleasant to lie there comfortably on the sofa, and feel +that her long imprisonment was over; it was amusing to look at +so many people together, after having for days and days looked +at only one; and the old wonted scene, the place and the +lights, and the flowers and the dresses, yes, and the voices, +gave her the new sense of being at home. Nevertheless, Daisy +mused a little over some things that were not altogether +pleasant. The faces that she scanned had none of them the +placid nobleness of the face of her black nurse; no voice +within her hearing had such sweet modulation; and Daisy felt a +consciousness that Juanita's little cottage lay within the +bounds of a kingdom which Mrs. Randolph's drawing-room had no +knowledge of. Gradually Daisy's head became full of that +thought; along with the accompanying consciousness, that a +subject of that kingdom would be alone here and find nobody to +help her. + +"Daisy, what's the matter?" whispered Preston. "You are as +sober as a judge." + +"Am I?" said Daisy. + +"What's to pay?" + +"Nothing. I feel very nicely." + +"Why don't you look like other people, then?" + +"I suppose," said Daisy, slowly, "I do not feel like other +people." + +"I wish you'd make haste about it, then," said Preston. "Do be +my own dear little old Daisy! Don't be grave and wise." + +"Are you going to spend the night here, Daisy?" said Dr. +Sandford, coming up to the sofa. + +"No, sir," said Daisy, smiling. + +"Where then?" + +"I suppose, in my room, sir up-stairs." + +"I must see you there before I go; and it is time now. Shall I +carry you up?" + +"If you please, sir." + +"Pray do not, Dr. Sandford!" said Mrs. Randolph. "Mr. Randolph +will do it, or one of the servants. There is no occasion for +you to trouble yourself." + +"Thank you, ma'am, but I like to see after my patients myself. +Unless Daisy prefers other hands." + +Mrs. Randolph protested. The doctor stood quiet, and looked at +Daisy, waiting for her to say what she would like. Now Daisy +knew, that of all hands which had touched her, the doctor's +and Juanita's were far the best; and of those two, the +doctor's; perhaps because he was the strongest. Her father was +very kind and tender, but he did not understand the business. + +"I should like Dr. Sandford to take me," she said, when she +found she must speak. + +"Then I will trouble you, Mrs. Randolph, for somebody to show +me the way." And the doctor stooped, and put his strong arms +under Daisy, and lifted her up. + +"Quite a conquest, I declare, you have made, Dr. Sandford!" +said Mrs. Randolph, laughing. "Preston, show the way, and I'll +send June." + +So the doctor marched off with Daisy, Preston going before to +show the way. He carried her, without the least jar or +awkwardness, through the company, out into the hall, and up +the stairs. There June met him, and took Preston's office from +him. Into Daisy's own room at last they came, and Dr. Sandford +laid his little charge at once on her bed. + +"You must not try to move, Daisy, until I see you again. Stay +here till then." + +"Yes, sir." + +"Good-night." + +"Good-night. Thank you, sir, for bringing me up." + +Dr. Sandford smiled. "Thank you," said he, and with a wave of +his hand, away he went. + +"Oh, June!" said Daisy, "how glad I am to see you." + +June had seen Daisy only once during her abode at Mrs. +Benoit's cottage; and now Daisy squeezed her hands, and +welcomed the sight of her with great affection; and June on +her part, though not given to demonstrations, smiled till her +wrinkles took all sorts of queer shapes, and even showed her +deep black eyes twinkling with something like moisture. They +certainly were; and putting the smiles and the tears together, +Daisy felt sure that June was as glad to see her as she was to +see June. In truth, Daisy was a sort of household deity to +June, and she welcomed her back accordingly, in her secret +heart; but her words on that subject, as on all others, were +few. The business of undressing, however, went on with great +tenderness. When it was finished, Daisy missed Juanita. For +then Juanita had been accustomed to bring her Bible, and read +and pray; and that had been a time Daisy always enjoyed +wonderfully. Now, in bed, at night, she could not see to read +for herself. She dismissed June, and was left alone in her old +room, with, as she justly thought, a great deal to pray for. +And praying, little Daisy went to sleep. + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +BEING ROBBED. + + +The next day Daisy felt very much at home. Her orders were not +to stir till the doctor came. So after breakfast, and after +receiving visits from everybody in the house, she was left to +her own devices, for it happened that everybody had something +on hand that morning, and nobody staid with her. + +Left with June, Daisy lay for awhile feasting her eyes on all +the pleasant wonted objects around her. She was a particular +little body, and very fond of her room and its furniture and +arrangements. Then came a hankering for the sight of some of +her concealed treasures from which she had been separated so +long. + +"June, I wish you would open the drawer of my bureau, the +second drawer from the top, and put your hand back at the left +side, and give me a book that lies there." + +June got the key and rummaged. "Don't feel nothing, Miss +Daisy." + +"Quite back, June, under everything." + +"Why, Miss Daisy, it's tucked away as though you didn't mean +nobody should never find it!" + +Precisely what Daisy did mean. But there it was, safe enough +Mr. Dinwiddie's Bible. Daisy's hands and eyes welcomed it. She +asked for nothing more in a good while after that; and June +curiously watched her, with immense reverence. The thin pale +little face, a little turned from the light, so that she could +see better; the intent eyes; the wise little mouth, where +childish innocence and oldish prudence made a queer meeting; +the slim little fingers that held the book; above all, the +sweet calm of the face. June would not gaze, but she looked +and looked, as she could, by glances; and nearly worshipped +her little mistress in her heart. She thought it almost +ominous and awful to see a child read the Bible so. For Daisy +looked at it with loving eyes, as at words that were a +pleasure to her. It was no duty-work, that reading. At last +Daisy shut the book, to June's relief. + +"June, I want to see my old things. I would like to have them +here on the bed." + +"What things, Miss Daisy?" + +"I would like my bird of paradise first. You can put a big +book here for it to stand on, where it will be steady." + +The bird of paradise June brought, and placed as ordered. It +was a bird of spun glass only, but a great beauty in Daisy's +eyes. Its tail was of such fine threads of glass that it waved +with the least breath. + +"How pretty it is! You may take it away, June, for I am afraid +it will get broken; and now bring me my Chinese puzzle, and +set my cathedral here. You can bring it here without hurting +it, can't you?" + +"Where is your puzzle, Miss Daisy?" + +"It is in the upper drawer of my cabinet," so Daisy called a +small chest of drawers which held her varieties "and the +cathedral stands on the top, under the glass shade. Be very +careful, June." + +June accomplished both parts of her business. The "cathedral" +was a beautiful model of a famous one, made in ivory. It was +rather more than a foot long, and high, of course, in +proportion. Every window and doorway and pillar and arcade was +there, in its exact place and size, according to the scale of +the model; and a beautiful thing it was to look upon for any +eyes that loved beauty. Daisy's eyes loved it well, and now +for a long time she lay back on her pillow watching and +studying the lights among those arcades, which the rich colour +of the ivory, grown yellow with time, made so very pleasant to +see. Daisy studied and thought. The Chinese puzzle got no +attention. At last she cried, "June, I should like to have my +Egyptian spoon." + +"What is that, miss Daisy?" + +"My Egyptian spoon; it is a long, carved, wooden thing, with +something like a spoon at one end; it is quite brown. Look for +it in the next drawer, June, you will find it there. It don't +look like a spoon." + +"There is nothing like it in this drawer, Miss Daisy." + +"Yes, it is. It is wrapped up in paper." + +"Nothing here wrapped in paper," said June, rummaging. + +"Aren't my chessmen there? and my Indian canoe? and my +moccasins? " + +"Yes, Miss Daisy, all them's here." + +"Well, the spoon is there too, then; it was with the canoe and +the moccasins." + +"It ain't here, Miss Daisy." + +"Then look in all the other drawers, June." + +June did so; no spoon. + +Daisy half raised herself up for a frightened look towards her +"cabinet." "Has anybody done anything to my drawers while 1 +have been away?" + +"No, Miss Daisy, not as I know of." + +"June, please, look in them all every one." + +" 'Taint here, Miss Daisy." + +Daisy lay down again and lay thinking. "June, is mamma in her +room?" + +"Yes, Miss Daisy." + +"Ask her tell her I want to speak to her very much." + +Mrs. Randolph came. + +"Mamma," said Daisy, "do you know anything about my Egyptian +spoon?" + +"Do you want it, Daisy?" + +"Oh, yes, mamma! I do. June cannot find it. Do you know where +it is?" + +"Yes it is not a thing for a child like you, Daisy, and I +let your aunt Gary have it. She wanted it for her collection. +I will get you anything else you like in place of it." + +"But, mamma, I told aunt Gary she could not have it. She asked +me, and I told her she could not have it." + +"I have told her she might, Daisy. Something else will give +you more pleasure. You are not an ungenerous child." + +"But, mamma! it was _mine_. It belonged to me." + +"Hush, Daisy; that is not a proper way to speak to me. I allow +you to do what you like with your things in general; this was +much fitter for your aunt Gary than for you. It was something +beyond your appreciation. Do not oblige me to remind you that +your things are mine." + +Mrs. Randolph spoke as if half displeased already, and left +the room. Daisy lay with a great flush upon her face, and in a +state of perturbation. + +Her spoon was gone; that was beyond question, and Daisy's +little spirit was in tumultuous disturbance very uncommon +indeed with her. Grief, and the sense of wrong, and the +feeling of anger strove together. Did she not appreciate her +old spoon? when every leaf of the lotus carving and every +marking of the duck's bill had been noted and studied over and +over, with a wondering regard to the dark hands that so many, +many years and ages ago had fashioned it. Would Mrs. Gary love +it as well? Daisy did not believe any such thing. And then it +was the gift of Nora and Mr. Dinwiddie, and precious by +association; and it was _gone_. + +Daisy lay still on her pillow, with a slow tear now and then +gathering in her eyes, but also with an ominous line on her +brow. There was a great sense of injustice at work the +feeling that she had been robbed; and that she was powerless +to right herself. Her mother had done it; in her secret +thought Daisy knew that, and that she would not have done it +to Ransom. Yet in the deep-fixed habit of obedience and awe of +her mother, Daisy sheered off from directly blaming her as +much as possible, and let the burden of her displeasure fall +on Mrs. Gary. + +She was bitterly hurt at her mother's action, however; doubly +hurt, at the loss and at the manner of it; and the slow tears +kept coming and rolling down to wet her pillow. For a while +Daisy pondered the means of getting her treasure back; by a +word to her father, or a representation to Preston, or by +boldly demanding the spoon of Mrs. Gary herself. Daisy felt as +if she must have it back somehow. But any of these ways, even +if successful, would make trouble; a great deal of trouble; +and it would be, Daisy had an inward consciousness all the +time, unworthy of a Christian child. But she felt angry with +Mrs. Gary, and as if she could never forgive her. Daisy, +though not passionate, was persistent in her character; her +gentleness covered a not exactly yielding disposition. + +In the midst of all this, Dr. Sandford came in, fresh from his +morning's drive, and sat down by the bedside. + +"Do you want to go downstairs, Daisy?" + +"No, sir; I think not." + +"Not? What's the matter? Are you of a misanthropical turn of +mind?" + +"I do not know, Dr. Sandford; I do not know what that is." + +"Well, now you have got back to human society and fellowship, +don't you want to enjoy it?" + +"I should not enjoy it to-day." + +"If I do not see you downstairs, you will have to stay up till +another day." + +"Yes, sir." + +"What is the matter, Daisy?" And now the doctor bent over and +looked hard in her face. The wet spot in her pillow no doubt +he had seen long ago. Daisy's eyes drooped. + +"Look up here, and give me an answer. + +"I can't very well tell you, sir." + +"Why do you not want to go downstairs?" + +"Because, Dr. Sandford, I am not good." + +"Not good!" said he. "I thought you always were good." + +Daisy's eye reddened, and her lip twitched. He saw that there +was some uncommon disturbance on hand; and there was the wet +spot on the pillow. + +"Something has troubled you," he said; and with that he laid +his hand it was a fresh, cool hand, pleasant to feel upon +Daisy's forehead, and kept it there; sometimes looking at her, +and as often looking somewhere else. It was very agreeable to +Daisy; she did not stir her head from under the hand; and +gradually she quieted down, and her nerves, which were all +ruffled, like a bird's feathers, grew smooth. There were no +lines in her forehead when Dr. Sandford took away his hand +again. + +"Now tell me," said he, smiling, "what was the matter? Shall I +take you down to the library now?" + +"Oh, no, sir, if you please. Please do not, Dr. Sandford! I am +not ready. I am not fit." + +"Not fit?" said the doctor, eyeing her, and very much at a +loss what to make of this. "Do you mean that you want to be +more finely attired before you make your appearance in +company?" + +"No, sir," said Daisy. It struck her with a great sorrow, his +saying this. She knew her outward attire was faultless; bright +and nice as new silver was every bit of Daisy's dress, from +her smooth hair to her neat little slippers; it was all white +and clean. But the inward adorning which God looked at in +what a state was that? Daisy felt a double pang; that Dr. +Sandford should so far mistake her as to think her full of +silly vanity, and, on the other hand, that he should so much +too well judge of her as to think her always good. The +witnessing tinge came about Daisy's eyelids again. + +"Dr. Sandford, if people tell you their private affairs, of +course it is confidential?" + +"Of course," said the doctor, without moving a muscle. + +"Then I will tell you what I meant. I am not good. I am +dressed well enough; but I have anger in my heart." + +Dr. Sandford did not say how much he was surprised; for Daisy +looked as meek as a lamb. But he was a philosopher, and +interested. + +"Then I am sure you have had reason, Daisy." + +"I think I had," sail Daisy, but without looking less +sorrowful. + +"Do you not consider that one has a right to be angry when one +has a reason?" + +"But one shouldn't stay angry," said the child, folding her +hands over her heart. + +"How are you going to help it, Daisy?" + +"There is a way, Dr. Sandford." + +"Is there? But you see I am in the dark now. I am as much +abroad about that, as you were about a journey of three +hundred years to the sun. When I am angry I never find that I +can help it. I can maybe help using my horsewhip; but I cannot +manage the anger." + +"No " said Daisy, looking up at him, and thinking how +terrible it must be to have to encounter anger from his blue +eye. + +"What then, Daisy? how do you make out your position." + +Daisy did not very well like to say. She had a certain +consciousness or fear that it would not be understood, and +she would be laughed at not openly, for Dr. Sandford was +never impolite; but yet she shrunk from the cold glance of +unbelief, or of derision, however well and kindly masked. She +was silent. + +"Haven't we got into a confidential position yet?" said the +doctor. + +"Yes, sir, but " + +"Speak on." + +"Jesus will help us, Dr. Sandford, if we ask Him." And tears, +that were tears of deep penitence now, rushed to Daisy's eyes. + +"I do not believe, Daisy, to begin with, that you know what +anger means." + +"I have been angry this morning," said Daisy, sadly. "I am +angry now, I think." + +"How do you feel when you are angry?" + +"I feel wrong. I do not want to see the person I feel she +would be disagreeable to me, and if I spoke to her I should +want to say something disagreeable." + +"Very natural," said the doctor. + +"But it is wrong." + +"If you can help it, Daisy. I always feel disagreeable when I +am angry. I feel a little disagreeable now that you are +angry." + +Daisy could not help smiling at that. + +"Now, suppose we go downstairs." + +"Oh, no, sir. Oh, no, Dr. Sandford, please! I am not ready I +would rather not go downstairs to-day. Please don't take me!" + +"To-morrow you must, Daisy. I shall not give you any longer +than till then." + +Away went Dr. Sandford to the library; kept Daisy's counsel, +and told Mrs. Randolph she was to remain in her room to-day. + +"She thinks too much," he said. "There is too much self- +introversion." + +"I know it! but what can we do?" said Mr. Randolph. "She has +been kept from books as much as possible." + +"Amusement, and the society of children." + +"Ay, but she likes older society better." + +"Good-morning," said the doctor. + +"Stay! Dr. Sandford, I have great confidence in you. I wish +you would take in hand not Daisy's foot merely, but the +general management of her, and give us your advice. She has +not gained, on the whole, this summer, and is very delicate." + +"Rather " said the doctor. And away he went. + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE MAP OF ENGLAND. + + +Meanwhile Daisy turned away from her beautiful little ivory +cathedral, and opened Mr. Dinwiddie's Bible. Her heart was not +at all comforted yet; and indeed her talk with Dr. Sandford +had rather roused her to keener discomfort. She had confessed +herself wrong, and had told him the way to get right; yet she +herself, in spite of knowing the way, was not right, but very +far from it. So she felt. Her heart was very sore for the hurt +she had suffered; it gave her a twinge ever time she thought +of the lotus carving of her spoon handle, and those odd +representations of fish in the bowl of it. She lay over on her +pillow, slowly turning and turning the pages of her Bible, and +tear after tear slowly gathering one after another, and +filling her eyes, and rolling down to her pillow to make +another wet spot. + +There was no harm in that, if that had been all. Daisy had +reason. But what troubled her was, that she was so strongly +displeased with her aunt Gary. She did not want to see her or +hear her, and the thought of a kiss from her was unendurable. +Nay, Daisy felt as if she would like to punish her, if she +could; or at least to repossess herself of her stolen property +by fair means or by foul. She was almost inclined to think +that she must have it at all events. And at the same time, she +had told Dr. Sandford that she was not right. So Daisy lay +slowly turning the pages of her Bible, looking for some word +that might catch her eye and be a help to her. + +There were a good many marks in the Bible, scattered here and +there, made by its former owner. One of these stopped Daisy's +search, and gave her something to think of. It stood opposite +these words: "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech +you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are +called." Daisy considered that. What "vocation" meant, she did +not know, nor who was "the prisoner of the Lord," nor what +that could mean; but yet she caught at something of the sense. +"Walk worthy," she understood that; and guessed what +"vocation" stood for. Ay! that was just it, and that was just +what Daisy was not doing. The next words, too, were plain +enough. "With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, +forbearing one another in love." + +"Forbearing one another" easy to read, how hard to do! Mrs. +Gary's image was very ugly yet to Daisy. Could she speak +pleasantly to her aunt? could she even look pleasantly at her? +could she "forbear" all unkindness, even in thought? Not yet! +Daisy felt very miserable, and very much ashamed of herself, +even while her anger was in abiding strength and vigour. + +She went on, reading through the whole chapter; not because +she had not enough already to think about, but because she did +not feel that she could obey it. Some of the chapter she did +not quite understand; but she went on reading, all the same, +till she came to the last verse. That went through and through +Daisy's heart, and her eyes filled so full that by the time +she got to the end of it she could not see to read at all. +These were the words: "And be ye kind one to another, tender- +hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake +hath forgiven you." + +That quite broke Daisy's heart. She rolled herself over upon +her open Bible, so as to hide her face in her pillow, and +there Daisy had a good cry. She standing out about a little +thing, when Jesus was willing to forgive such loads and loads +of naughtiness in her! Daisy would have no friendship with her +resentment any more. She turned her back upon it, and fled +from it, and sought eagerly that help by which, as she had +told Dr. Sandford, it might be overcome. And she had said +right. He who is called Jesus because He saves His people from +their sins, will not leave anybody under their power who +heartily trusts in Him for deliverance from them. + +Daisy received several visits that day, but they were all +flying visits; everybody was busy. However, they put to the +proof the state of her feeling towards several persons. The +next day, the first person she saw was the doctor. + +"How do you do, Daisy? Ready to go downstairs to-day?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Have you got the better of your anger?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Pray, at what hour did your indignation take flight?" said +the doctor, looking at the gentle little face before him. + +"I think about three hours after you were here yesterday," +said Daisy, soberly. + +The doctor looked at her, and his gravity gave way, so far at +least as to let the corners of his lips curl away from some +very white teeth. Dr. Sandford rarely laughed. And there was +nothing mocking about his smile now, though I have used the +word "curl;" it was merely what Daisy considered a very +intelligent and very benign curve of the mouth. Indeed she +liked it very much. + +"Have you seen the offending party since that time, Daisy?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And did you feel no return of displeasure?" + +"No, sir." + +There was something so exceedingly sweet in Daisy's expression +of face, so unruffled in its loving calm and assurance, that +Dr. Sandford received quite a new impression in his views of +human character. + +"I shall have an account to settle with that young Preston one +of these days," he remarked, as he took Daisy's little form in +his arms. + +"Oh, he did nothing!" said Daisy. "It wasn't Preston at all. +He had nothing to do with it!" + +"He had not?" said the doctor. + +"Not at all; nor any other boy." + +"Beyond my management, then!" said the doctor; and he moved +off. + +He had stood still to say that word or two; Daisy's arm was +round his neck to help support herself; the two looked into +each other's faces. Certainly that had come to pass which at +one time she had thought unlikely; Daisy was very fond of the +doctor. + +He carried her now down to the library, and laid her on a +sofa. Nobody at all was there. The long windows were standing +open; the morning sweet air blew gently in; the books, and +chairs, and tables which made the room pretty to Daisy's eyes, +looked very pleasant after the long weeks in which she had not +seen them. But along with her joy at seeing them again was +mixed a vivid recollection of the terrible scene she had gone +through there, a few days before her accident. However, +nothing could make Daisy anything but happy just now. + +"You must remain here until I come again," said the doctor; +"and now I will send some of the rest of the family to you." + +The first one that came was her father. He sat down by the +sofa, and was so tenderly glad to have her there again, that +Daisy's little heart leaped for joy. She put her hand in his, +and lay looking into his face. + +"Papa, it is nice," she said. + +"What?" + +"Oh, to be here, and with you again." + +Mr. Randolph put his lips down to Daisy's, and kissed them a +good many times. + +"Do you know we are going to Silver Lake with you as soon as +you are strong enough?" + +"Oh, yes, papa! Dr. Sandford says he can manage it. But I +don't know when." + +"In a week or two more." + +"Papa, who is going?" + +"Everybody, I suppose." + +"But I mean, is anybody to be invited?" + +"I think we must ask Dr. Sandford." + +"Oh, yes, papa! I wish he would go. But is anybody else to be +asked?" + +"I do not know, Daisy. Whom would you like to have invited?" + +"Papa, I would like very much to have Nora Dinwiddie. She has +come back." + +"Well, tell your mother so." + +Daisy was silent a little; then she began on a new theme. + +"Papa, what is a 'vocation'?" + +"What is what, Daisy?" + +"Vocation, papa." + +"Where did you get that word?" + +"I found it in a book." + +"It means commonly a person's business or employment." + +"Only that, papa?" + +"There is another sense in which it is used, but you would +hardly understand it." + +"Please tell me, papa." + +"Why?" + +"Papa, I like to know the meanings of things. Please tell me." + +"Daisy, it means a 'calling' in the idea that some persons +are particularly appointed to a certain place or work in the +world." + +Daisy looked a little hard at him, and then said, "Thank you, +papa." + +"Daisy, I hope you do not think you have a 'vocation,' " said +Mr. Randolph, half smiling. + +"Papa," said the child, "I cannot help it." + +"No, perhaps not," said Mr. Randolph, stooping again to +Daisy's lips. "When you are older and wiser you will know +better. At present your vocation is to be a good little +daughter. Now what are you going to do to-day? Here is Preston + if you want him; or I will do for you what you please." + +"Yes, Daisy, what shall we do?" said Preston. + +"Oh, are you at leisure?" + +"All your own, Daisy, for this morning at any rate. What shall +we do?" + +"Preston, would you mind getting my tray for me; and let us go +on with the battle of Hastings?" + +"With what?" said Mr. Randolph, laughing. + +"The battle of Hastings, papa English history, you know. +Captain Drummond and I got just there, and then we stopped. +But Harold was killed wasn't he, papa?" + +"I believe he was, Daisy." + +"Good for him, too," said Preston. "He was nothing but a +usurper. William the Conqueror was a great deal more of a +man." + +"But he was just as much of a usurper, wasn't he?" said Daisy. + +"You must mind your ethics, Preston," Mr. Randolph said, +laughing. "Daisy is on the Saxon side." + +"Preston, will you get the tray, please? June will give it to +you." + +Preston did not quite understand the philosophy of the tray; +however, Daisy must be humoured. It was brought. By Daisy's +order it had been carefully protected from dust and danger; +and the lineaments of England, as traced by the captain some +time ago, were fresh and in good order. + +Daisy hung over the map with great interest, renewing her +acquaintance with various localities, and gradually getting +Preston warmed up to the play. It was quite exciting; for, +with every movement of William's victorious footsteps, the +course of his progress had to be carefully studied out on a +printed map, and then the towns and villages which marked his +way noted on the clay map, and their places betokened by +wooden pins. Daisy suggested that these pins should have +sealing-wax heads of different colours to distinguish the +cities, the villages, and the forts from each other. Making +these, interrupted doubtless the march of the Conqueror and of +history, but in the end much increased Daisy's satisfaction, +and if the truth be told, Preston's too. + +"There, now you can see at a glance where the castles are; +don't their red heads look pretty! And, Oh, Preston! we ought +to have some way of marking the battle-fields; don't you think +so?" + +"The map of England will be nothing but marks then, by and +by," said Preston. + +"Will it? But it would be very curious. Preston, just give me +a little piece of that pink blotting paper from the library +table; it is in the portfolio there. Now I can put a little +square bit of this on every battle-field, and pressing it a +little, it will stick, I think. There! there is Hastings. Do +you see, Preston? That will do nicely." + +"England will be all pink blotting paper by and by," said +Preston. + +"Then it will be very curious," said Daisy. "Were new kings +_always_ coming to push out the old ones?" + +"Not like William the Conqueror. But yet it was something very +like that, Daisy. When a king died, two of his children would +both want the place; so they would fight." + +"But two men fighting would not make a battlefield." + +"Oh, Daisy, Daisy!" cried Preston; "do you know no better than +that?" + +"Well, but who else would fight with them?" + +"Why, all the kingdom! Part would fight for the right, you +know, as the Saxons did with Harold; and part would fight to +be the best fellows, and to get the fat places." + +"Fat places?" said Daisy. At which Preston went off into one +of his laughs. Daisy looked on. How could she be expected to +understand him? + +"What is the matter, my dear? What are you doing?" Daisy +started. "We are studying English history, aunt Gary." + +"_History_, my dear? And what is all this muss, and these red +and black spots? does your mamma allow this in the library?" + +"Just the place to study history, I am sure, mamma," said +Preston; "and you cannot have less muss than this where people +are fighting. But I really don't know what you mean, ma'am; +there cannot be a cleaner map, except for the blood shed on +it." + +"Blood?" said Mrs. Gary. "My dear" as Preston burst into +another laugh "you must not let him tease you." + +Daisy's look was so very unruffled and gentle that perhaps it +put Mrs. Gary in mind of another subject. + +"Did you know, Daisy, that I had robbed you of your old- +fashioned spoon?" + +"I found it was not among my things," said Daisy. + +"My dear, your mother thought you would not value it; and it +was very desirable to my collection. I took it with her +consent." + +"I am willing you should have it, aunt Gary." + +"Were you very angry, my dear, when you found where it had +gone?" + +"I am not angry now, aunt Gary." + +Certainly Daisy was not; yet something in the child's look or +manner made the lady willing to drop the subject. Its very +calm gentleness did not testify to anything like unconcern +about the matter; and if there had been concern, Mrs. Gary was +not desirous to awaken it again. She kissed Daisy, said she +was a good girl, and walked off. Daisy wondered if her aunt +had a fancy for trilobites. + +"What was all that about, Daisy?" Preston asked. + +"Oh, never mind let us go on with William the Conqueror." + +"What spoon of yours has she got?" + +"My Egyptian spoon." + +"That old carved thing with the duck's bill?" + +"Yes. Now, Preston, what comes next?" + +"Didn't you say she could not have it?" + +"No matter what I said, if I say that she can have it now." + +"Did you give it to her?" + +"Preston, that has nothing to do with William the Conqueror. +Please let us go on." + +"Daisy, I want to know. Did you give it to her?" + +"I am willing she should have it. Now, Preston, go on." + +"But, I say, did you give my mother that spoon." + +"Preston," said Daisy, "do you think it is quite proper to +question me in that manner about what you see I do not wish to +have you know?" + +Preston laughed, though he looked vexed, and kissed her, +nobody being in the library; he was too big a boy to have done +it if anybody had been looking on. And after that he played +the historico-geographical play with her for a very long time; +finding it, with Daisy's eagerness and freshness, a very good +play indeed. Only he would persist in calling every cause of +war, every disputed succession, every rivalry of candidates, +an _Egyptian spoon_. Daisy could not prevent him. + +She had a very happy morning; and Dr. Sandford was well +satisfied with her bright face when he came, towards night, +and carried her up stairs again. + +But Daisy was getting well now. It was only a few days more, +and Dr. Sandford permitted her to walk a little way herself on +her own feet. A little way at first, across the floor and +back; no more that day; but from that time Daisy felt whole +again. Soon she could walk to please herself, up and down +stairs, and everywhere; though she was not allowed to go far +enough to tire her foot while it was yet unused to exercise. + +Now all her home ways fell again into their accustomed order. +Daisy could get up, and be dressed; nobody knows what a luxury +that is unless he has been hindered of it for a good while. +She could stand at her window and look out; and go down on her +own feet to join the family at breakfast. Her father procured +her a seat next himself now, which Daisy did not use to have; +and she enjoyed it. She knew he enjoyed it too; and it made +breakfast a very happy time to Daisy. After breakfast she was +at her own disposal, as of old. Nobody wished her to do +anything but please herself. + +At this moment nothing pleased Daisy better than to go on with +English history. With Preston, if she could get him; if not, +alone, with her book and her tray map. Poring over it, Daisy +would lie on the sofa, or sit on a little bench with the tray +on the floor; planting her towns and castles, or going back to +those already planted with a fresh interest from new +associations. Certain red-headed and certain black-headed and +certain green-headed pins came to be very well known and +familiar in the course of time. And in course of time, too, +the soil of England came to be very much overspread with +little squares of pink blotting-paper. To Daisy it grew to be +a commentary on the wickedness of mankind. Preston remarked on +the multitude there was of Egyptian spoons. + +"What do you mean by that, Preston?" said his aunt. + +"Causes of quarrel, ma'am." + +"Why do you call them Egyptian spoons?" + +"Causes of trouble, I should say, ma'am." + +"And again I say, why do you call them Egyptian spoons?" + +"I beg your pardon, aunt Felicia. Egypt was always a cause of +trouble to the faithful; and I was afraid little Daisy had had +just a spoonful of it lately." + +"Daisy, what have you been saying to your cousin?" + +"Nothing, mamma, about that; only what Preston asked me." + +"I am sure you did not say what I asked of you, Daisy. She +told me nothing at all, aunt Felicia, except by what she did +not tell me." + +"She behaved very sweetly about it, indeed," said Mrs. Gary. +"She made me feel quite easy about keeping it. I shall have to +find out what I can send to Daisy that she will like." + +"What are you and Preston doing there?" Mrs. Randolph asked +with a cloudy face. + +"Studying, mamma; I am. English history." + +"That is no way of studying; and that tray what have you got +in it?" + +"England, mamma!" + +Preston laughed. Mrs. Randolph did not join him. + +"What have you got in that thing, Daisy? sand?" + +"Oh, no, mamma it's something it's prepared clay, I +believe." + +"Prepared!" said Mrs. Randolph. "Prepared for something +besides my library. You are hanging over it all day, Daisy I +do not believe it is good for you." + +"Oh, mamma, it is!" + +"I think I shall try whether it is not good for you to be +without it." + +"Oh, no, mamma." Daisy looked in dismay. "Do ask Dr. Sandford +if he thinks it is not good for me." + +"There he is, then," said Mrs. Randolph. "Doctor, I wish you +would see whether Daisy is occupying herself, in your +judgment, well, when she is hanging over that thing half the +day." + +Dr. Sandford came up. Daisy was not afraid of his decision, +for she knew he was on her side. Mrs. Randolph, on the other +hand, did not wish to dispute it, for she was, like most other +people, on the doctor's side. He came up and looked at the +tray. + +"What is this?" + +"The map of England, sir." + +"Pray, what are you doing with it?" + +"Making it, sir, and studying English history." + +"What are these pins? armies? or warriors? they are in +confusion enough." + +"Oh, there is no confusion," said Daisy. "They are castles and +towns." + +"For instance? " + +"This is Dover Castle," said Daisy, touching a redheaded pin; +"and this is Caernarvon, and Conway; and these black ones are +towns. There is London and Liverpool and York and Oxford + don't you see?" + +"I see, but it would take a witch to remember. What are you +doing?" + +"Studying English history, sir; and as fast as we come to a +great town or castle we mark it. These bits of paper show +where the great battle-fields are." + +"Original!" said the doctor. + +"No sir, it is not," said Daisy. "Captain Drummond taught it +to me." + +"What, the history?" + +"No; but this way of playing." + +Preston was laughing and trying to keep quiet. Nothing could +be graver than the doctor. + +"Is it interesting, this way of playing." + +"Very!" said Daisy, with a good deal of eagerness, more than +she wished to show. + +"I wish you would forbid it, Dr. Sandford," said Daisy's +mother. "I do not believe in such a method of study, nor wish +Daisy to be engrossed with any study at all. She is not fit +for it." + +"Whereabouts are you?" said the doctor to Daisy. + +"We are just getting through the wars of the Roses." + +"Ah! I never can remember how those wars began can you?" + +"They began when the Duke of York tried to get the crown of +Henry the Sixth. But I think he was wrong don't you?" + +"Somebody is always wrong in those affairs," said the doctor. +"You are getting through the wars of the Roses. What do you +find was the end of them?" + +"When the Earl of Richmond came. We have just finished the +battle of Bosworth Field. Then he married Elizabeth of York, +and so they wore the two roses together." + +"Harmoniously?" said the doctor. + +"I don't know, sir. I do not know anything about Henry the +Seventh yet." + +"What was going on in the rest of the world while the Roses +were at war in England?" + +"Oh, I don't know, sir!" said Daisy, looking up with a sudden +expression of humbleness. "I do not know anything about +anywhere else." + +"You do not know where the Hudson River was then." + +"I suppose it was where it is now?" + +"Geographically, Daisy; but not politically, socially, or +commercially. Melbourne House was not thinking of building; +and the Indians ferried their canoes over to Silver Lake, +where a civilised party are going in a few days to eat chicken +salad under very different auspices." + +"Were there no white people here?" + +"Columbus had not discovered America, even. He did that just +about seven years after Henry the Seventh was crowned on +Bosworth Field." + +"I don't know who Columbus was," Daisy said, with a glance so +wistful and profound in its sense of ignorance, that Dr. +Sandford smiled. + +"You will hear about him soon," he said, turning away to Mrs. +Randolph. + +That lady did not look by any means well pleased. The doctor +stood before her looking down, with the sort of frank, calm +bearing that characterised him. + +"Are you not, in part at least, a Southerner?" was the lady's +first question. + +"I am sorry I must lose so much of your good opinion as to +confess myself a Yankee," said the doctor, steadily. + +"Are you going to give your sanction to Daisy's plunging +herself into study, and books, and all that sort of thing, Dr. +Sandford?" + +"Not beyond _my_ depth to reach her." + +"I do not think it is good for her. She is very fond of it, +and she does a great deal too much of it when she begins; and +she wants strengthening first, in my opinion. You have said +enough now to make her crazy after the history of the whole +world." + +"Mrs. Randolph, I must remind you that though you can hinder +a tree from growing, in a particular place, you cannot a +fungus; if the conditions be favourable." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I think this may be a good alternative." + +The lady looked a little hard at the doctor. "There is one +book I wish you could hinder her from reading," she said, +lowering her tone. + +"What is that, madam?" + +"She is just the child not to bear it; and she is injured by +poring over the Bible." + +"Put the Bibles out of her way," suggested the doctor. + +"I have, as much as I can; but it is not possible to do it +perfectly." + +"Then I counsel you to allow her the use of this medicine," +said Dr. Sandford, glancing towards the tray, which no longer +held Daisy's attention. For, together with her mother's +lowering of voice, the one word "Bible" had come to her +consciousness. + +Daisy was at no loss to guess what it meant. The low tones of +the speakers gave her sufficient information. Thus far; that +her Bible was reckoned an undesirable treasure for her by her +mother. Was her own dear little particular Bible in danger? +the one that Mr. Dinwiddie had given her? Daisy was alarmed. +She did not enjoy any more battle-fields, nor enter with good +heart into her history work from that time, until she could +get up stairs again and see that it was safe, and contrive +some way or place to keep it safe in time to come. Where could +such a place be? It was a puzzle, because all Daisy's things +were, of course, open to her mother. Perhaps Daisy's fears +were needless; but, after the affair of her Egyptian spoon, +she looked with jealous eyes not only on her Bible, but on her +trilobite. + +She sat down with a dismayed little face, to think where she +could find a hiding-place. She thought of putting the Bible +under her bed or pillow; but the bed was turned over every +morning, and the servants would find it. None of her bureau +drawers or cabinet drawers were secure. Daisy pondered all +manner of impossible places. At last fixed upon a spot of the +floor covered by an ottoman. The ottoman was hollow and not +very heavy, and never moved after the room was put in order +every day. Till the room was put in order Daisy hid her Bible +in a drawer; then took it out, and consigned it to the +obscurity of the ottoman. + +She was greatly afraid, then, of being found reading it. She +had not heard the words which passed between the doctor and +her mother; only the word "Bible;" but the low tones made her +well enough aware that the matter of their talk was somehow +adverse; it boded nothing kindly to her and the Bible. So +Daisy was in another perplexity; and resolved that to be as +safe as she could, she would read with locked doors for the +future. And as doors must not be locked at times when her +mother might be coming and going, Daisy chose early morning +and late evening for her Bible-reading. She used to let June +undress her, and finish all her duties of dressing-maid; then +she sent her away, and locked her doors, and read in comfort. +This lasted a little while; then one unlucky night Daisy +forgot to unlock her doors. The morning came, and June with +it; but June could neither get in nor dare knock loud enough +to make Daisy hear; she was obliged to come round through her +mistress's dressing-room. But Daisy's door on that side was +locked too! June was going softly away. + +"What do you want?" said her mistress. + +"If you please, ma'am," said June, stopping very unwillingly +"I thought it was time to wake Miss Daisy." + +"Why do you not go in, then?" + +"Ma'am the door is locked," said June, in a scarce audible +undertone. + +"Locked? knock." June went back and knocked. + +"Louder," said Mrs. Randolph, who was under her maid's hands; +"you would not waken a cat at that rate. Make yourself heard." + +June's taps, however, continued so fearfully gentle, that Mrs. +Randolph arose and came to the door herself. One or two of the +touches of her imperative fingers brought a little figure in +white night-dress and just-awakened face, to open the door. + +"Daisy," said her mother, "what is your door fast for?" + +"Mamma I wanted it fast for a few minutes." + +"Did you lock it last night or this morning?" + +"Last night I thought I meant to have opened it." + +"Both your doors?" + +"Yes, mamma." + +"All night locked! Now, Daisy, I forbid you ever to turn the +key in your door again, night or day." + +"Oh, mamma! I want it shut sometimes." + +"Hush. Go and let June dress you." + +June was vexed enough with herself to have inflicted some +punishment on her awkward tongue and head, when she saw that +Daisy was for some reason or other deeply grieved. The tears +gathered and fell, quietly, all through the process of +dressing; and a sort of sob heaved from the child's breast now +and then, without words and most involuntary. Juanita's +cottage was a palace to Melbourne House, if peace made the +furniture. But June did not know what to say; so she was +silent too. + +When June was gone, Daisy went to her beloved window, and +stood there. She did not like to kneel, because her mother +might come in, or even June, while she was doing so. She stood +at the sweet open window, and prayed that the Lord would take +care of her, and help her to pray however she could. And then +the thought of those words came to Daisy: "Thou, therefore, +endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." She +remembered very well how Captain Drummond had described the +way a good soldier takes things hard and disagreeable +things, as well as others. It is part of his business to +endure them; he expects them, and minds them not at all in +comparison with the service in which he is engaged. And a +soldier of Jesus Christ has only to obey Him, and take +willingly whatever comes in the line of his service. What +matter? The only thing was to obey orders, and do the work she +was set upon. Hardships did not seem much like hardships when +she thought of them in this way. And then it occurred to +Daisy, that, if she _could_ not fasten her doors, she had better +just kneel down as usual with them open. She could not do +without praying; and if she must be intruded upon, why, it was +a little hardship that she had better not mind. And when she +had thought that, Daisy kneeled down; and she never had any +more trouble about it. She did fancy, even that first morning, +that she heard the lock of her door turn; but she did not move +to see, and hearing nothing more, she soon forgot it. Nobody +wore such a bright and fresh face at the breakfast-table as +Daisy; such a glad and uncareful face; and Mrs. Randolph, +seeing it, was reassured; though she had just seen her little +daughter at her prayers, on her knees, by the window. She +looked so happy now, that the lady was inclined to hope her +religion was a childish folly, which would pass away and be +forgotten in time. + +But for the present Daisy was a soldier; and meditating much +on a service which she had to perform. That very day, if you +had been there, and worn an invisible cap, you might have gone +into her room, and seen what she was about. On the ottoman +aforesaid Daisy's writing-desk was placed; and before it, on a +cricket, sat Daisy, with a face, oh, how grave and busy! A +very weight of care of some sort seemed to lie under her +childish little brow. She was opening her desk and looking out +paper; some she felt and rejected it was too thin or too +blue, or something; she tried her pen on another kind; it did +not go well. At last a thick little sheet of note paper was +chosen; and Daisy began to write. Or rather, sat over the +paper with her pen in her fingers, thinking how to write. She +looked very anxious; then took bits of paper and a pencil, and +tried different forms of a sentence. At last, with slow care, +and fingers that trembled, a line or two was inscribed on the +beautiful thick little sheet of English note-paper. + + +"Dear papa, won't you think about being a Christian? Do not be +displeased with + +"DAISY." + + +It was written all out, as fair as she could; and then you +might have seen Daisy's little round head go down on her hands +on the desk. It did not move for a good while. When it was +lifted up, she sought out an envelope rather hurriedly, +directed it, folded and put in her note, and sealed it. + +Daisy shut her desk then, and with a manner not quite as calm +and careless as usual, went to her father's dressing table, +and stood considering where she should put the note. Under the +cushion, it might be seen first by a servant, and then +delivered to Mr. Randolph in the midst of company. Under his +dressing-box, the same fate threatened it. Daisy peered about, +and thought, and trembled for several minutes. She had a fancy +that she did not want him to get it before the next morning, +when he would be quietly dressing here alone. He would +certainly be opening his dressing-box before that. The only +place Daisy could be sure would not be invaded before that, +was the place she chose; she took off the cover of his box of +shaving soap, and with some trouble squeezed the note in so +that it would lie safely hid; then put on the cover, and put +the box in its place, and went away with light hands and a +heavy heart. Heavy, that is, with a burden of doubt mingled +with fear. Would Mr. Randolph be angry? Daisy could not feel +sure that that would not be the consequence of her proceeding. +Perhaps he would be very much displeased, and think it very +disrespectful and improper that his little daughter should +take so much upon herself. Daisy knew quite well all that. But +who else in the world would take the responsibility if she did +not? No one; and Daisy with all her fear did not once think of +going to get her note away again before it should be read. + +Her heart yearned towards her father. He was so very gentle +and tender in his manner with her, more than ever, Daisy +thought; she felt that the love between them was growing, +strong and deep, even beyond what it used to be. And while he +knew nothing of the joy that filled her own heart, and while +he refused obedience to the laws that she knew were binding on +him as well as on her, he must be also, she knew, without the +favour and blessing of God. He had no part in it; nothing to +do with it; and Daisy's heart swelled with childish sorrow and +longing. She had thought a great deal about it, and concluded +that she must bear "the message," even plainly in words, to +her father, before she could feel satisfied. Little hands +might take the message, Juanita had said; so humbly Daisy's +took it; and then she prayed that it might not be for nothing. + +She knew all her hands could do was not much. All the +remainder of that day, Daisy never forgot her note in the box +of shaving soap. She knew it was extremely unlikely that the +box would be opened sooner than the next morning; +nevertheless, whenever Mr. Randolph came near where she was, +Daisy looked up with something like a start. There was nothing +in his face to alarm her; and so night came, and Daisy kissed +him twice for good night, wondering to herself whether he +would feel like kissing her when they met again. Never mind, +the message must be delivered, cost what it might. Yes, this +was soldier's service. Daisy was going into the enemy's +country. + +Mr. Randolph had felt the lingering touch of Daisy's lips, and +the thought of it came to him more than once in the course of +the evening "like the wind that breathes upon a bank of +violets" with a breath of sweetness in the remembrance. +Nevertheless, he had pretty well forgotten it, when he pulled +off the cover of his box of shaving soap the next morning. He +was belated, and in something of a hurry. If ever a man +suddenly forgot his hurry, Mr. Randolph did, that morning. He +knew the unformed, rather irregular and stiff handwriting in a +moment; and concluded that Daisy had some request to make on +her own account which she was too timid to speak out in words. +That was what he expected when he opened the paper; but Eve +could not have been much more surprised when the serpent spoke +to her in the garden of Eden, than was Mr. Randolph at finding +that his little lamb of a child had dared to open her mouth to +him in this fashion. + +"Mr. Randolph, you will be late," said the lady who owned that +name, coming to his door. And, seeing her husband standing +still, with his elbow leaning on his dressing-table, she +walked in. + +"You will assuredly be late! what have you got there?" + +The little sheet of English note-paper lay spread out on the +dressing-table. Mr. Randolph was looking at it. He did not +answer, and the lady bent nearer for a moment and then stood +upright. + +"Daisy!" exclaimed Mrs. Randolph. + +Her husband made an inarticulate sort of a noise, as he turned +away and took up his neglected shaving soap. + +"What is this?" said the lady, in astonishment. + +"What you see " said Mr. Randolph. + +"Where did it come from?" + +"The signature tells you." + +"But where did you get it?" + +"Here this moment." + +"The impertinent little minx!" + +"Hush. She does not mean to be impertinent, Felicia." + +"Do you like misbehaviour that is not meant, Mr. Randolph?" + +"Better than that which is meant." + +"I told you the child would get ruined in that place," said +Mrs. Randolph, after musing a few minutes over the little +sheet of note-paper. + +Mr. Randolph made a lather, and applied it. That might be the +reason why he made no answer. + +"I call it impertinence," the lady went on, "and very well- +grown impertinence too from a child like that! It is the +trick of all religious people, to think themselves better and +wiser than the rest of the world; but I think Daisy has learnt +the lesson early!" + +Still silence on Mr. Randolph's part, and steady attention to +his toilet duties. + +"What notice do you mean to take of this?" + +"I think, none at all." + +"Mr. Randolph, Daisy is ruined!" + +"I do not quite see it yet." + +"I wish you would see it. She is full of stupid stiff ways, +which will be habits fixed as iron in a little time, if we do +not break them up. She does not act like a child." + +"She is very like a child to me," said Mr. Randolph. + +"You do not see. Do you observe her way whenever she sits +down to table? She covers her face, and remains in silent +prayer, I suppose, a minute or so." A slight laugh came from +Mrs. Randolph with the words. + +Mr. Randolph could not well laugh, for he was shaving. He +remarked that he had never seen it. + +"I wish you would remember and take notice. She does it +regularly. And she is not a docile child any longer, I give +you warning. You will find it very difficult to do anything +with her in the way of breaking up this religious stiffness of +hers." + +Mr. Randolph was silent a while, and Mrs. Randolph looked +vexed. At length he remarked that indirect ways were the best. + +"It will take both," said his wife; "direct and indirect." And +after that they went down to breakfast. + +Mr. Randolph was the last, and he was not early; but this +morning Daisy was later still. Her father watched for her +coming, and did not see it after all; Daisy stole in so +quietly, she was in her seat by his side before he had noticed +her. Then, perceiving the gentle, sweet, quiet little face +beside him, and recognising the timid feeling which made Daisy +afraid to meet his eye, he could not refrain; he bent down +and gave her a kiss. He was very much touched by the little +fluttering start and glance which Daisy returned to this +salutation, and he saw that a pink flash of pleasure came into +her cheeks. Perhaps all this put the subject of watching her +out of Mr. Randolph's head; he certainly did not see the +minute, a few minutes later, when Daisy's hand stole to her +brow, and her eyes were for a short space hidden and her hand +moveless. Mrs. Randolph saw it, and saw that he did not. Daisy +had forgotten that anybody could see her. The thanksgiving of +her heart had more burden to-day than the ordinary gifts of +the morning which she was wont to remember. Her father was not +angry with her! It took a load off Daisy's heart; and she +looked so happy all breakfast time that Mr. Randolph was very +much inclined to slight his wife's fears. + +Juanita's constant habit of thankfulness and of expressing her +thankfulness, during the weeks Daisy had spent with her, had +gone down into the child's heart. With every meal, though +taken by herself all alone, Daisy had seen the old woman +acknowledging gratefully from whose hand she got it. And with +other things beside meals; and it had seemed sweet and +pleasant to Daisy to do so. At home, when she was suddenly +transferred to her father's stately board, where every +beauty and luxury were gathered together, and an array of +friends to help each other enjoy it; and no one remembered, no +one acknowledged that any gratitude was due to the hand that +had supplied the board and given the friends, Daisy's heart +was pained by a great sense of want. Not thank God for all +these things? give no acknowledgment of praise to Him? She +could not bear to have it so. + +She thought nobody would notice her, or know what she was +doing if they did notice her; and she used to put her hand +over her brow, and comfort her own heart with giving the +thanks she wanted to express. She soon forgot to be afraid +anybody would notice her. But Mrs. Randolph marked it all, and +now never missed the minute when Daisy's face was shielded. + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE PIC-NIC PARTY. + + +The thing on hand now was the expedition to Silver Lake. +Daisy's foot and ankle were getting sufficient strength to +bear all the work that need be asked of them; and it was best +to go while the hot weather still lingered. It was early in +September, and the day was fixed. Quite a party was going. +There were no visitors at Melbourne House now except Mrs. Gary +and her children; but that brought the home party up to seven. +Dr. Sandford was going, of course. Then some other neighbours. +Mrs. Stanfield had promised to go, with her little daughter +Ella, and her older daughter Theresa. Mrs. Fish was coming +from another quarter of the country, with her children, +Alexander and Frederica. Mr. Fish and Mr. Stanfield were to go +too; and Mr. and Mrs. Sandford, the doctor's brother and +sister-in-law. However, though this was to be such a strong +muster, Daisy thought of only two or three of the number that +concerned her personally. Preston and Ransom, of course; +Alexander Fish; though the two latter she thought of as likely +to make disturbance more than anything else; and Daisy liked a +most lady-like quietness and propriety in everything in which +she was engaged. But, besides these, there was only Ella +Stanfield whose age would bring her into contact with Daisy; +and Daisy, very much of late accustomed to being alone or with +older people, looked with some doubtfulness at the prospect of +having a young companion to entertain. With that exception, +and it hardly made one, nothing could look brighter in the +distance than Silver Lake. + +Several days passed between Daisy's giving the note to her +father and the one fixed on for the expedition. In all that +time Daisy was left to guess whether or not it had been seen +and read by him. No sign or token told her; there was none; +and Daisy could only conclude that he _must_ have seen it, +because he could not very well help doing so. But she was not +at all discouraged. Rather the contrary; seeing that certainly +her father was not displeased with her. + +In all these days too, Mr. Randolph had ample time and chance +to observe Daisy's action which had so disturbed her mother at +meal times. Yet hitherto he had never spoken of it. In fact it +was so quietly done that often the moment escaped him; and at +other times, Daisy's manner so asked for a shield rather than +a trumpet, and the little face that looked up from being +covered with her hand was so bright and sweet, that perhaps +his heart shrank from saying anything that would change the +expression. At any rate, Daisy had been safe thus far. + +Great preparations were making for the Silver Lake day. +Thursday it was to be. Wednesday evening, Dr. Sandford was at +Melbourne. Daisy was considering the arrangements of a little +packed basket of her own. + +"Are you expecting to have a good time to-morrow, Daisy?" he +asked. + +Daisy smiled as she said yes. + +"But you will have to keep quiet. I shall not let you run +about like the rest." + +"I can sit quiet and look at the lake," said Daisy; with so +absolutely contented a face, that the doctor smiled. + +"But in parties of pleasure, do you know, my friend, it +generally happens that people cannot do what they expected to +do." + +"Then I can do something else," said Daisy, looking very +fearless of anything disagreeable. + +"Will you let your old friend, Nora Dinwiddie, join the +party?" + +"Nora! Oh, is Nora coming?" exclaimed Daisy. + +"Mrs. Sandford commissioned me to make the enquiry, Mrs. +Randolph, whether one more would be too many? Her little +relation, Daisy's friend I believe, has returned to her for +the rest of the season." + +"Certainly!" Mrs. Randolph said, "there was room for +everybody." + +The lady's manner told nothing; but, nevertheless, Daisy did +not venture to show her joy. She did not say another word +about Nora. The hour of meeting was determined, and the doctor +withdrew. Daisy looked over the contents of her basket again +with fresh satisfaction, made sure that all was right and +everything there; and went to bed happy. + +Thursday morning broke fair as eye could see. The September +sun rose in a haze of warm rays; promising, as Mrs. Randolph +said, that the heat would be stifling by and by. Daisy did not +care, for her part. They had breakfast earlier than usual; for +the plan was to get on the other side of the river before the +sun should be too oppressive. They had scarcely risen from the +table when the Sandford party drove up to the door. These were +to go in a boat with the party from Melbourne House. Mr. and +Mrs. Fish, from higher up the river, were to cross in their +own boat, and join the rest at the spot appointed on the +opposite shore. The Stanfields were to do the same, starting +from a different point; friends having arrived that would +swell their numbers beyond the original four. + +Of all this, Daisy cared just for one thing; that Nora was +come, and was to go in the boat with her, and no other. The +meeting between the two children, on the steps at Melbourne, +was most joyous. "Oh, Nora! I'm so glad you have come!" and, +"Oh Daisy! I'm so glad to be here!" and a small host of +small questions and answers, that indeed meant a great deal, +but would not read for much. + +"Oh, Nora, isn't it nice!" said Daisy, as they stood on the +steps, while the carriages waited below before the door. + +"It's grand," said Nora. "Why, aunt Frances says we shall be +gone all day." + +"To be sure, we shall," said Daisy. "Papa is going to fish; +and so is Preston, and Dr. Sandford, and other people, I +suppose; and some of the men take their tackle along too. +There is nice fish in the Lake." + +"What men do you mean?" said Nora. + +"Oh, the men that manage the boat, and carry the baskets; +there are ever so many baskets to go, you know; and the men +must carry them; because the path won't let a wagon go." + +"Who is going to carry you?" said Dr. Sandford coming out +behind them. + +"Me?" said Daisy. + +"Yes." + +"Why, I do not want anybody to carry me, Dr. Sandford." + +"Don't you? I do. And I shall want two men to do it. Whom will +you have? I have arranged a mountain chair for you, Daisy." + +"A chair!" said Daisy. How could that be? And then she saw in +Dr. Sandford's wagon, a chair to be sure; a common, light, +cane-bottomed arm-chair; with poles sticking out before and +behind it very oddly. She looked up at the doctor, and Nora +demanded what that was? + +"Something like the chairs they use in the mountains of +Switzerland, to carry ladies up and down." + +"To carry me?" said Daisy. + +"For that purpose. Now see whom you will have to do it." + +Daisy and Nora ran away together to consult her father. The +matter was soon arranged. James the footman, and Michael the +coachman, were to go to carry baskets, and help manage the +boat; James being something of a sailor. Now Logan and Sam +were pressed into the service; the latter to take James's +business, as porter, and leave the latter free to be a chair- +bearer. + +"I don't see how the boat is to carry all the people," Nora +remarked. + +"Oh, yes," said Daisy, "it is a big boat; it will hold +everybody, I guess; and it goes with a sail, Nora. Won't that +be nice? Papa knows how to manage it." + +"It will want a very large boat to take us all," Nora +persisted. "I went out with Marmaduke in a sail-boat once he +knows how to manage a sail-boat too; and I am sure it +wouldn't have held half as many people as we have got here. +No, nor a quarter as many." + +"Oh, yes, but our boat is bigger, I suppose," said Daisy. +"Don't you like to go in a boat, Nora?" + +"I like it if it don't lean over too far," said Nora. "I +thought it was going to turn over once or twice, when I was +out with Marmaduke that time. I was afraid." + +"I am not afraid with papa," said Daisy. "I know he can manage +it." + +"Why, so can Marmaduke manage it," said Nora; "and he said I +needn't be afraid; but I was." + +The carriages took the whole party down to the shore in a few +minutes. There lay the sail-boat all ready, her sails shaken +out; and James and Sam, on board already, received basket +after basket from the hands of Logan and the coachman, and +stowed them away in what seemed to be a place of ample +accommodations. + +Daisy and Nora, hand in hand, stood on the shore looking at +all that was done, and with eager eyes. The summer breeze just +played lightly and rippled the water, on which the morning sun +made a warm glow, early in the day as it was. + +"What _could_ so many baskets be wanted for?" said Nora. + +"Why, to carry all the things. You know there will be a great +many people to eat dinner at Silver Lake." + +"Dinner?" said Nora; "do people eat dinner when they go to a +pic-nic?" + +"Why, yes. What do you think they do?" + +"I thought it was just a pie-nic." + +"What is that?" said Daisy, curiously. + +But just then there was a stir; the ladies and gentlemen were +getting into the boat, and the children had to be ready for +their turn. It came; and Mr. Randolph handed one after other +safe over the gunwale of the big sail-boat, and placed them +happily beside each other in the middle space, where they +could have an excellent time for talking. But they wanted no +talking at first. + +When all were aboard and ready, the boat was cast loose from +the shore, and her sail trimmed to catch the soft northerly +air that came blowing down the river. Slowly the sail caught +the breeze would it be strong enough to take her? the +children thought slowly, very slowly, the boat edged its way +out from the shore then the breeze filled the sail full, +took good hold, and began to push the little vessel with a +sensible motion out towards the river channel. Steady and +sweet the motion was, gathering speed. The water presently +rippled under the boat's prow, and she yielded gently a little +to the pressure on the sail, tipped herself gracefully a +little over, and began to cleave her way through the rippling +water in good earnest. Then how the waves sparkled! how cheery +the movement was! how delicious the summer air over the water! +although the sun was throwing down his beams with great power +already, and the day promised to be sultrily hot. + +"It is going to be intense," said Mrs. Randolph. + +"Melting!" said Mrs. Gary. + +"You will have enough of it before the end of the day " +remarked Mr. Sandford. + +Mr. Sandford was a good-humoured looking gentleman, with a +sensible face and black whiskers; but he was a gentleman, and +Daisy approved of him. He was very unlike his brother. His +wife was a very plain person, in feature, and not very +talkative; letting her husband do that for her; but kindly and +pleasant, nevertheless; and Daisy approved of her too. + +"At what hour do you expect the day _will_ end, practically?" +inquired Mrs. Randolph of her husband. + +He smiled. "I should say judging from present tokens not +till the sun gets well down on his western way." + +"First-rate!" said Preston, aside. "We'll have a good time for +fishing." + +"But that will make it very late crossing the river, Mr. +Randolph? will it not?" + +"It may." + +"There is a moon," said Mrs. Sandford. + +"Moon! I hope we are not to be beholden to the moon's good +offices!" exclaimed the other lady. "It is only ten o'clock +now not that. We shall be tired to death of the woods before +we have done with them." + +"You must try fishing, aunt Felicia," said Preston. + +"Yes a good idea," remarked Mr. Sandford. "I do not know how +the ladies can get along without some sport ha, ha! There is +a boat on the lake isn't there?" + +"They say so," Mr. Randolph returned. "I have not been there +for a long time." + +"Then I shall take the charge of your entertainment, Mrs. +Randolph," Mr. Sandford went on. "I shall persuade you to put +yourself under my guidance, and let me initiate you into the +mysteries of pickerel catching." + +"I do not think you can persuade me out of the shade if once +I get in it again " said the lady. + +"Why, mamma," said Ransom, "pickerel-fishing is splendid!" + +Mr. Randolph looked at Daisy. No heat nor shadow too much for +her! With one hand clasped in Nora's, her little face was a +pattern of perfect content; nay, it was full of delighted joy. +Mr. Randolph thought he could endure his portion of the heat. + +"Nora," said Daisy, "isn't it nice?" + +"It goes nicely now," said Nora. + +"But isn't it pleasant?" + +"Yes. It is a great deal pleasanter than in a little boat. +This one is good and large." + +"Isn't the water pretty?" + +"I like the green grass better," said Nora. + +"Oh, yes! but then I like this too. I like it very much. Nora, +what did you mean by a pic-nic?" + +"A pic-nic?" said Nora. + +"Yes; you said you thought people did not eat dinner, but it +was a pic-nic." + +"Well, I thought they didn't." + +"What did you mean by a pic-nic?" + +"Why I meant just that. You know what a pic-nic is." + +"We always have dinner when we go on a pie-nic," said Daisy. + +"Then I don't think it is a pic-nic." + +"What is it?" + +"I don't know. Daisy, are you going to ride in that queer +chair?" + +"I suppose so. My ankle isn't quite strong yet, you know. +Wasn't it nice of Dr. Sandford to prepare it for me?" + +"I don't know. _I_ don't think he is nice," said Nora. Which +expression of opinion was so very startling to Daisy that it +took her some time to recover from it. She sought out the +doctor with her eye where he was sitting forward of the mast, +somewhat hid from her by a piece of the sail; she scanned his +countenance, with its calm nobleness of feature, and +steadfast, reserved, beautiful blue eyes. Doubtless, he was +not everything Daisy wished him; nevertheless, to her he was +very "nice" indeed. Her eye came back satisfied. + +At the other end of the boat the party were talkative and gay. +Mr. Randolph held the main sheet in his own hand; Mr. Sandford +had the rudder; neither of them had much to do; for the wind +was gentle and fair, and the boat kept her straight course for +the opposite shore. The river was wide, however, at this +place; the other shore was an object in view for a good while +before they reached it. Slowly and steadily the little skiff +skimmed over; they got to the middle of the river; then the +trees before them on the other side, with the cleared fields +in one or two spots, began to show in more distinct forms and +colours. The sun was very hot! So hot, that it seemed to kill +the breeze. As they drew near their place of disembarkation, +the motion of the vessel grew slack; the sail fluttered now +and then; the propelling force just lasted till they got to +shore, and then nobody said anything more of any air felt to +be stirring. + +"I think we had better stay on the water," said Mrs. Gary. "It +is positively stifling here." + +"It will be better when we get in the woods," suggested Mr. +Sandford. + +"No, begging your pardon," Mr. Randolph answered. + +"No? will it be worse, Mr. Randolph?" said his wife. + +"I hope not for I think you could broil a beefsteak here in +another hour; when the sun gets on the meridian." + +"Then do let us move away from here at once! it is oppressive. +I do not know how we are going to walk, but I suppose we shall +find out. We may hope there will be a little freshness by the +lake." + +Mr. Stanfield's boat however had to be waited for a few +minutes. It got to shore just as Mr. Fish's skiff appeared in +sight coasting down on the same side, from behind a point. The +whole party were soon together, exchanging shakes of the hand +and puffs of condolence on the state of the atmosphere. There +was presently a division of forces. All the boys, Preston, +Ransom, and Alexander Fish, compared notes and fishing tackle. +The ladies and gentlemen, with one or two elder girls, +Frederica Fish and Theresa Stanfield and Eloise Gary, +congregated into a moving mass of muslins and parasols. While +Daisy and Nora were joined by Ella Stanfield; and a great +constraint fell upon all three. Ella was a comparative +stranger; a nice-looking child, thoughtful and old beyond her +years. She looked like gravity; Nora liked gaiety; while Daisy +was most like the thing that bears her name. + +They stood like little pinks of propriety, without saying +anything to each other. This constraint was soon broken up by +the preparations for the march. On enquiry it was found I that +there were two or three ways to the lake. One was short and +easy in comparison but very narrow; a mere footpath +through the woods. Another had a wider track; but it had also +a rough footing of rocks and stones, and was much longer; +taking a circuit to reach the place. Another still was only +used by eager lovers of the picturesque, though it was said to +reward them. + +As soon as all this was explained to the understanding of the +company, the larger division set off immediately for the +easiest and quickest road to the lake; no other recommendation +was worth a moment's considering. With quick disappearance one +after another muslin dress and gay parasol was lost within the +edge of the woods which their chosen path immediately entered. +They vanished from the shore. Every one of them was presently +out of sight. Mr. Randolph had seen that Dr. Sandford was +putting Daisy into her travelling conveyance; and thinking no +attention of his own could be needful, he had gone on in +advance of the party with Mrs. Stanfield. The very last of +them, muslins and parasols and all, was swallowed up in the +enclosing woods, almost before Daisy was established in her +chair. Her bearers lifted it then to receive instructions from +Dr. Sandford as to their method of playing their part. They +were Logan and Sam; James was devoted to his own particular +charge. + +"Why, where are Nora and Ella?" Daisy suddenly exclaimed. + +"Everybody seems to have gone on," answered the doctor. +"Except the boys. Now Daisy, are you comfortable? is it all +right?" + +"It is nice, Dr. Sandford!" But at the same time Daisy +wondered much, and grieved not a little that her companions +should have left her to go alone. Was that kindness? or good +manners? + +"Did they know which way I was going?" she said. + +"I fancy so," said the doctor; "they have done as everybody +else does gone with the crowd. Now, you fellows, you know +the way." + +"Yes, sir." + +"When you come to a house, remember, you must turn sharp to +the right. Boys, you must go with the chair as a body-guard." + +"Why must we?" said Ransom. + +"You would not have your sister go alone?" + +"You are going that way." + +"You are mistaken. I am not." + +"She has got Logan and Sam to take care of her. Girls always +have to be taken care of!" exclaimed Ransom, in disgust. + +"I am astonished at your want of gallantry. Preston, I shall +depend on you to see that the chair is properly attended." + +"Which way are you going, sir?" + +"By myself to see if I can get a shot at something." + +Preston did not look delighted, Daisy saw, though he accepted +the charge the doctor gave him. The doctor himself strode off +with his gun, disappearing in the woods at the nearest point. +Daisy was left with her two bearers and her three attendants. + +"Well, boys, we may as well get along," said Ransom, +discontentedly. "There is no occasion that we should keep +poking on behind this concern." + +They passed it and took the lead. Preston as he passed asked +Daisy how it went, and if she were comfortable. It went very +nicely, and she was very comfortable; and receiving this +assurance, Preston sprang forward to regain Alexander Fish's +company, with whom he was holding an animated discourse on the +making and using of artificial flies. The three boys trudged +along in advance; the motions of their busy heads, and of +their active feet, telling that there was no lack of interest +or excitement there. + +The chair followed steadily with its little burden. It went +nicely; she was very comfortable; it was a new and most +pleasant mode of getting over the ground; and yet there was +something at work in Daisy's heart that was not pleasure. She +was sadly disappointed. She was left alone. It had tried her a +good deal that Nora and Ella should have run after the larger +party with so cavalier an abandonment of her, when they knew +her chair must go another road. Then she was very sorry that +the doctor had seen good to forsake her; and felt that from +the thoughtfulness or unselfishness of boys she had little to +hope for. Look at them! there they went before her, putting +more and more distance between them and the chair every +minute. Perhaps they would entirely forget their little +convoy? and be out of sight in a trifle more time. And in all +that big party of pleasure, everybody engaged with somebody +else, she was left with no one to speak to her, and no company +at all but that of Logan and Sam. Daisy two or three times put +up her hand stealthily to her face to get rid of a tear that +had found its way there. + +Daisy thought at first that she would not have done so to her +friends, as they had done to her; but then presently she +reflected what reason she had to know better and to do better, +that they had not; and instead of anything like resentment, a +very gentle and tender feeling of pity and kindness arose in +Daisy's mind toward them. + +Her hurt sense of unfriendliness quite soothed itself away; +and now Daisy began to enjoy herself and the day and the party +of pleasure. Her share of it, at least. Her chair was under +shadow of the tall woods now. It is true, it was very hot +there. No air seemed moving. The chair-bearers often raised an +arm to their brows to wipe away the heated moisture that stood +there and ran down their faces. But Daisy had no exertion to +make; and instead of that, her own motion seemed to give a +little life to the lifeless air. Then she was at leisure to +look and enjoy; not having even to take care of her own +footing. The depth of green leafage over her head when she +looked up; the depth of green shade on either hand of her, +pierced by the endless colonnade of the boles of trees; how +wildly beautiful it was! + +Daisy thought of a good many things she would like to ask Dr. +Sandford if she had the liberty; but he did not talk about +wonderful things to her now that she was well, and had her own +means of amusement. + +Now and then Daisy had the sight of a red squirrel, running +along a tree bough, or scampering over the ground from one +rock to another. What jumps he would make to get out of her +way! And birds were singing too, sometimes; and mosses were +spread out in luxuriant patches of wood carpeting in many +places; and rocks were brown and grey, and grown with other +mosses and ferns; and through all this fairy work of beauty, +Daisy's chair went at an easy, quiet pace, with a motion that +she thought it very pleasant to feel. + +It was a wild old wood, which nobody had ever meddled with. +Things were just as nature's work had made them. The path the +little party were travelling was a wood road merely, where +country wagons had made a track; or more properly, where the +country people had made a track for their wagons. It was but a +rough way; stumps of trees that had been cut down stood right +in the middle of it; and rocks and stones were in some places +very thickly strewn over it. After some time of wandering over +level ground, the path took a turn and began to get among the +hills. It wound up and down, and was bordered now by steep +hillsides and sharp-rising rocks. It was all the wilder and +prettier. The house Dr. Sandford spoke of had been passed; the +turn had been taken; there was nothing to do now but follow on +till they found the lake; but there were no signs of it yet, +nor any sound of voices to be heard in the distance. Even the +boys were gone on out of sight; the stillness of summer noon +was all through the deep woods, for it is a time of day when +the birds do not feel like singing much. Daisy enjoyed it. She +thought no one of all their company was having a better time +probably than she. + +Suddenly Sam, who was foremost of the bearers, gave a great +shout; and at the same instant dropped his end of Daisy's +chair and sprang to one side. Then stood still. + +"What for air ye playing capers like that?" inquired Logan, +with an ail of great disgust and a strong Scotch accent. + +Sam stood still, drawing his countenance into all manner of +grimaces. + +"Speak then, can't ye! What ails ye? Don't stand there like a +Merry Andrew, boy!" + +"I've hurted myself!" Sam groaned. + +"And how did ye hurt yourself? When ye were walking along, +couldn't ye go for'rard quietly? Where's the hurt?" + +"My foot!" said Sam, bending down to it. "I can't stir it. +Oh!" + +"Did ye hurt yourself before or after ye gave such a loup?" +Logan grunted, going over, however, now to bring his own +wisdom to bear on Sam's causes of trouble. "Whatever possessed +ye, boy, with the end of the chair in your hand?" + +"I see a sarpent " said Sam, submissively. + +"A sarpent!" echoed Logan "it's not your pairt to be +frighted if you see a sarpent. What hurt would the sight of +the brute do ye? There's no harm come to ye, boy, but the +start." + +"I can't move it " repeated Sam, under his breath. + +"Logan, perhaps he has sprained his ankle," said Daisy from +her chair; where at first she had been pretty well frightened. + +"Weel I don't see it," replied Logan, slowly and +unbelievingly. + +"How does it feel, Sam?" Daisy asked. + +"It don't feel without I stir it, Miss Daisy and then, it's +like a knife." + +"He has sprained it, I am afraid, Logan," said Daisy, getting +out of her chair and coming to the consultation. "I think it +is swelling now." + +Sam had bared his unfortunate ankle. Logan looked up from it +to the little speaker whose words were so quietly wise, with +unspoken admiration. + +"Can't ye walk then, Sam?" he urged. "Here is Miss Daisy in +the middle of the road, and wanting to be at the Lake and +how much further it may be to the Lake is a subject unknown to +me. Can't ye bear your foot surely?" + +Sam's reply was sorrowful but decided; he could not bear it at +all, with any weight upon it. + +"Never mind, Logan," said Daisy; "I can wait. You had better +go forward and see if you can find the boys. They can take +care of me." + +Logan felt the justness of this proposition, and at once put +his long legs in swift motion to overtake the advance party; +exercising a good strong voice too presently in hallooing to +them. Daisy was left with Sam. The thought crossed her mind +that this was getting to be an odd party of pleasure; but her +real concern was for the sprained ankle. That, she was very +sorry for. Her own delay and disappointment she took +patiently. + +Logan's halloos brought the boys to a stand. They waited till +he came up to them, not deeming it necessary on their part to +go back to see what was the matter. When they heard his news +there was a disagreeable pause. What was to be done? + +"Daisy can walk the rest of the way," was the decision of her +brother. + +"How far is it?" said Preston. + +"I don't know! it's no great things of a walk anyhow. Girls +are always getting into trouble!" + +"But what has got to be done with Sam?" said Preston. + +"He can take care of himself," said Sam's young master + +"He can't move, sir, on his own feet," said Logan. + +"You'll have to carry him, then. I suppose we cannot leave him +in the woods, for humanity." + +"There's Miss Daisy, sir." + +"What a plague!" exclaimed Ransom. "Daisy can walk. She must, +at any rate; and you can bring her chair along to make +firewood. Boys, we ought to be there this minute at the +Lake. We shall be cheated out of all our fishing before +dinner. That's along of mounting guard on a girl! And after +dinner there won't be two inches of time." + +"Hush, Ransom!" said Preston. + +At this point the consultation was enlarged, and its character +somewhat modified by the coming of Dr. Sandford upon the +scene. From a height not far off, where he was roaming with +his gun, he had perceived the group, discerned that something +was wrong, and come down with a quick step to reach them. His +eye rather than his voice asked what was the matter. He was +answered in various styles by the different members of the +group. + +"Here is a muss!" said Ransom. + +"Miss Daisy, sir she is left standing in the middle o' the +forest!" said Logan. + +"Sam has very stupidly sprained his ankle," said Preston, "and +cannot move." + +The doctor without a word turned in the direction from which +Logan had come. "Follow me, young gentlemen," said he, looking +over his shoulder, "I shall need your help." So, unwillingly +enough, the boys, fishing tackle and all, turned back upon +their steps, and followed. They soon came to Daisy's emptied +chair, where she stood mounting guard over Sam. + +The ankle was badly sprained; there was no doubt of that. Sam +not only could carry nobody; he must himself be carried. The +doctor ordered that Logan should take him on his back and +convey him as far as the poor little house they had passed on +the way. A good lift it was, for Sam was a well grown, stout +fellow; but Logan was a long-limbed, sinewy, brawny Scotchman, +and he made no difficulty of the job. The doctor in the first +place deposited his gun against a tree, and did what was +needful for the hurt ankle. + +"Now," said he to Daisy, "how are you going to get forward?" + +"I can walk the rest of the way," said Daisy. + +"Pardon me. Not with my leave. Boys, which of you will take +the honour of being chair-bearers? I have my gun to care for." + +"I will be one," said Preston. + +"And Ransom will be the other. Come, sir!" + +"Honour!" said Ransom, as he moved sullenly forward. "I +think girls ought to stay at home when there is anything going +on. They are plaguily in one's way!" + +"That is a very womanish speech," said the doctor; "in so far +as that it is very unmanly." + +Ransom's temper nowise improved by this reply, he took up +sulkily his ends of the chair-poles; and once more the party +set forward. It was not quite so pleasant now for Daisy; her +chair was no longer carried smoothly. Preston, who was in +advance, did his part perfectly well; but Ransom, behind her, +let the chair go up and go down and sway about very +unsteadily, besides that every step was with a jolting motion. +It kept Daisy in constant uneasiness. Dr. Sandford walked on +just before with his gun; Alexander Fish came after, laughing +and jesting with the other boys. + +"How does it go, Daisy?" said the doctor, stopping after a +while to inquire. + +"Mayn't I get out and walk, Dr. Sandford?" + +"What for?" + +"I should like it very much!" + +"Do you not ride easily." + +"Not quite," said Daisy. "It throws me about a good deal." + +"Ah! Did it do so when Logan and Sam carried you?" + +"I did not feel it then," said Daisy, unwillingly. + +"Your porters are unskilled." + +The doctor took his station by Ransom's hand, remarking that +he would see that he did his work well. And he was as good as +his word. He kept a constant eye on the management of the +chair; and when Ransom neglected his duty, gave him a word of +admonition or advice, so keen and contemptuous in its rebuke, +though slight and dry, that even Ransom's thickness of +apprehension felt it, and sheered off from meeting it. The +last part of the distance Daisy was thoroughly well cared for, +and in silence; for the doctor's presence had put a stop to +all bantering between the boys. In furious silence on Ransom's +part this last portion of the way was accomplished. + +At the lake at last! And in Daisy's breast at least, +everything but pleasure was now forgotten. A very beautiful +sheet of water, not very small either, with broken shores, lay +girdled round with the unbroken forest. Close to the edge of +the lake the great trees rose up and flung their arms over; +the stems and trunks and branches were given back again in the +smooth mirror below. Where the path came out upon the lake, a +spread of greensward extended under the trees for a +considerable space; and this was spotted and variegated now +with the scattered members of the pleasure party. Blue and +pink and white and green, the various light muslins contrasted +with the grey or the white dresses of the gentlemen; while +parasols were thrown about, and here and there a red shawl lay +upon the ground, for somebody's reclining carpet. To add to +all this, which made already a very pretty picture under the +canopy of the great trees, a boat lay moored at a little point +further on; baskets and hampers congregated with great promise +in another quarter under guard of James and one or two of his +helpers; and upon it all the sunlight just peeped through the +trees, making sunny flecks upon the ground. Nobody wanted more +of it, to tell the truth; everybody's immediate business upon +reaching the place had been to throw himself down and get +cool. Daisy and Dr. Sandford were the two signal exceptions. + +Nora and Ella came running up, and there was a storm of +questions. "Oh, Daisy, isn't it beautiful?" "How came you to +be so long getting here?" "Did you have a nice ride?" "Oh, +Daisy, what are we going to do, you and Ella, and I? Everybody +else is going to do something." + +"What are they going to do?" said Daisy. + +"Oh, I don't know! everything. Mr. Randolph is going out in +the boat to fish, and all the ladies are going with him. +Mrs. Sandford and Mrs. Stanfield and your mother; only Mrs. +Fish isn't going; but Mr. Sandford is. And Eloise, your +cousin, is going to see about having the dinner ready; and +Theresa Stanfield is in that too; I think they have got the +most fun; but nobody is doing anything yet. It's too hot. Are +you hot, Daisy?" + +"Not very." + +"Oh, Daisy," said Ella Stanfield, "couldn't we fish?" + +"There are so many boys " said Daisy; "I do not believe there +will be any fishing tackle for us." + +"Can you fish, Daisy?" asked the doctor, who stood near, +looking after his gun. + +"No, sir. I did catch a fish once but it was only my line +caught it." + +"Not your hand at the end of the line?" + +"My hand was not there. The line was lying on the bank and my +hook in the water." + +"Oh! that was it!" + +Away went the doctor with his gun, and the boys sped off with +their fishing rods. The heat was too great for anybody else to +move. Nevertheless, what are parties of pleasure for _but_ +pleasure? they must not let the whole day slip away with +nothing done but lying in the shade of the trees. There was a +little island in the lake, well wooded like its shores. It was +proposed that the ladies' fishing party should row over to the +island, and there, under another shady grove, carry on their +designs against the pickerel. Daisy's wish was to go with that +party in the boat and watch their sport; especially as Mr. +Randolph was the leader and manager of it. She was not asked +to go there was no room for the little people; so they stood +on the shore and saw the setting off, and watched the bright +dimples every stroke of the oars made in the surface of the +lake. + +The people were pretty well scattered now. Nobody was left on +the ground but Mrs. Gary and Mrs. Fish, sitting under a tree +at some distance, talking; and Eloise and Theresa, who were +charged to superintend the laying of the cloth. Having nothing +particular to do, the three children became hangers-on, to +watch how this business would be conducted; ready to help if +they got a chance. + +It was found a difficult business to arrange places for so +many people on the grass; and the girls finally and wisely +gave it up. They determined to set out the eatables only, on a +tablecloth spread to receive them; but to let everybody eat +where he felt disposed, or where he could find the best bit of +shade. Shade was the best thing that day, Theresa Stanfield +declared. But the first thing of all was to light a fire; for +coffee must be boiled, and tea made. The fire was not a +troublesome thing to have, for dead wood was in plenty for the +gathering. James and Logan, who had come to the scene of +action, soon had that going; and the children forgot that it +was hot, in the beauty and the novelty of the thing, and +laughed at Theresa's red cheeks as she stooped over the coals +with her coffee-pot. About coffee Daisy was ignorant. But tea +had been made in her behalf by Juanita too many times for her, +not to have the whole proceeding fixed in her memory. + +"Oh, Eloise, you must not make that tea now!" she exclaimed. + +"Mustn't I!" + +"No. It will be spoiled." + +"Some other things have had the same fate," said Eloise. + +"It will not be good for anything, Eloise," Daisy persisted, +gently. "It should not be made but just before you want it +just a few minutes." + +"You are wise, Daisy," returned her cousin. "I do not know so +much as you do, you see." + +Daisy fell back a little. Eloise and Theresa went to unpacking +the hampers; and James, acting under their direction, carried +and placed the various articles they took out, placed and +replaced; for as new and unlooked-for additions were made to +the stock of viands, the arrangement of those already on the +tablecloth had to be varied. There was a wonderful supply; for +a hamper had come from every house that had sent members to +the party. + +"What shall we do with it all?" said Eloise. "Find out what +people like or are expected to like. Just look at the cold +chickens! and the ham! I am so thankful for that red lobster, +to make a variety. There are three boxes of sardines and +what is that?" + +"Anchovy paste." + +"Well! and look at the other things! We want an army to eat +them. There is a dog, to begin with." + +Theresa said it with comical coolness; but Eloise screamed, as +a little spaniel was perceived to be snuffing round the +tablecloth. + +"It's Ransom's dog! Run, Daisy, run, and keep him off. Just +stay there and keep watch of him, or he'll be all over +everything. Daisy, run!" + +Daisy left the hampers, and walked, or indeed obeyed orders +and ran, to where the little spaniel was threatening a rout +among the whole army of cold chickens. Daisy called him off, +and then stood by to take care of him. It was very amusing to +see Eloise and Theresa unpack the hampers; and Ella and Nora, +finding it so, made no move to join Daisy in her distant +watch. The men were busy running to and fro with the unpacked +eatables, and keeping up the fire, and setting piles of plates +everywhere, and laying glasses all round the tablecloth for +they would not stand up and putting wine in coolers, that is +to say, in pails of ice water. Daisy felt alone again, left +out of the play. She looked at Nora and Ella in the distance +that is, just far enough away to be out of her society, +eagerly standing over the hampers; and for a moment felt not +very well pleased, either with them or her cousin Eloise. But +then she remembered that she was tired, and sat down with her +back against a tree; resolved to take all things patiently, if +she could; and she very soon found enough to do, and amusing +enough, in ordering the arrangement of the dishes on the +tablecloth. Logan was sure to set a thing down in the wrong +place, if he set it anywhere; and even James was confused in +such a very novel state of his department. Daisy found +exercise for all her wisdom, and full content came with full +employment, naturally. + +You can make pleasure out of almost anything, if you set about +it. In the intervals, she rested, and watched the distant +figures of the fishing party on the island; and gladdened +herself with the beauty and the sweet air of the wood, and the +flecks of sunshine and moving shadow on the ground beneath the +trees. I am afraid nobody else found the air sweet, unless it +were the doctor. He was hardy, and besides had a philosophical +way of looking at things. Daisy watched for his coining, +afraid that he might wander off beyond luncheon time; but he +did not come. The three boys, however, a less welcome sight, +had recollected that there was something forward besides +fishing; and came strolling along through the trees towards +the tablecloth. Preston was stopped to speak to his mother; +the other two approached Daisy. + +"Hollo!" said Ransom, "here we are! now where's everybody +else? I'm furious as a lion." + +"A hungry lion," said Alexander Fish. "I wish we had got some +fish for the people to cook. That's fun. I tell you, Ransom, +it's fun to see the work they make with it." + +"Fish is no count, I think," said Ransom. "Its only good to +catch. I can stand a lobster salad, though. But I can't stand +long without something. What's the use of waiting? They aren't +coming back yonder till night. They haven't stirred yet." + +Ransom's eyes indicated the party on the island. And acting +upon his announced opinion, Ransom paid his respects in a +practical form, not to cold chicken and bread, but to a dish +of cream cakes which stood conveniently near. And having eaten +one, in three mouthfuls, he stretched out his hand, and took +another. Happily then, some meringues attracted his attention; +and he stood with a cream cake in one hand, and a meringue in +the other, taking them alternately, or both together. The +meringues began to disappear fast. Daisy warned him that the +only dish of those delicacies in all the entertainment was the +one into which he was making such inroads. Ransom paid her no +heed, and helped himself to another. + +"Ransom, that is not fair," said his sister. "There are no +more but those, and you will have them all gone. Just look, +now, how the dish looks!" + +"How the dish looks!" said Ransom, mockingly. "None of your +business." + +"It is not right. Don't, Ransom!" Daisy said, as his hand was +extended for a fourth meringue. + +"Want 'em for yourself?" said Ransom, sneeringly. "I say, +Alexander here's a game! Here's something just fit for a +man's luncheon in a summer day something nice and light and +nourishing. Here's a lark pie I know what it is, for I saw +Joanna making it. Now we'll have this and be off." + +"You must not, Ransom," Daisy urged, anxiously. + +But Ransom seized the pie from its place, and proceeded to cut +into it, seeing that nobody was near to hinder him. + +"Ransom, you ought not to do it," pleaded Daisy. "You ought to +wait your turn. You are worse than Fido." + +"Am I?" said Ransom, fiercely. "Take that! Mind your own +affairs, and let mine alone. You are not queen here yet, if +you think you are." + +A tolerably smart box on the ear was the accompaniment to this +speech. Nobody was near. Alexander, after joining his friend +in a meringue or two with a cream cake, not feeling quite +comfortable in the connection, had moved off. So did Ransom +now, but he carried his pie with him, and called the other two +boys to bear him company in making lunch of it. Preston was +much too gentlemanly a fellow to take part even of a lark pie +in such circumstances; he walked off in disdain, leaving +Ransom and Alexander to do what they liked. And they liked the +pie, so well that I am bound to say nothing of it remained +very soon excepting the dish. Even the bones were swallowed by +Fido. + +Daisy was left alone under the tree with her occupation gone; +for Fido was after the lark bones. Her ear rang a few minutes +from the application of Ransom's hand; but that effect had +passed off long before Daisy's mind was quieted. For, gentle +as she was, Daisy was a little lady who had a very deep and +particular sense of personal dignity; she felt wronged as well +as hurt. Her father and mother never indulged in that method +of punishment; and if they had, Ransom's hand was certainly +not another one to inflict it. + +Daisy was quite as much stung by the insult as by the +unkindness; but she felt both. She felt both so much that she +was greatly discomposed. Her watch over the feast was entirely +forgotten; luckily Fido had gone off with his master, and +chickens were no longer in immediate danger. Daisy rubbed away +first one tear and then another, feeling a sort of bitter fire +hot at her heart; and then she began to be dissatisfied at +finding herself so angry. This would not do; anger was +something she had no business with; how could she carry her +Lord's message, or do anything to serve Him, in such a temper? +It would not do; but there it was, offended dignity and pride, +hot at her heart. Nobody would have thought perhaps that Daisy +was proud; but you never can tell what is in a person's heart +till it is tried; and then the kinds of pride are various. It +does not follow because you have none of one sort that you +have not plenty of another sort. However, finding this fire at +her heart quite too much for her to manage, Daisy went away +from her watching-place; crept away among the trees without +any one's observing her; till she had put some distance +between her and the party, and found a further shelter from +them in a big moss-grown rock and large tree. There was a bed +of moss, soft and brown, on the other side of the rock; and +there Daisy fell down on her knees and began to remember +"Thou therefore endure hardship, as a good soldier of Jesus +Christ." + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +A SHOWER. + + +Certainly the sun was very hot that day. The fishers on the +island found it so, notwithstanding that they had sought out +every one for himself the shadiest, freshest nook that could +be found. Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the +sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept +off none of it from the water; and the glare from that was +said to be unendurable. Even where there was not much glare +strictly speaking; people were not particular in their speech +that day. At last they voted that holding lines in the water +was of no use; fish could not be expected to leave their cool +depths below to seek the sunny regions near the surface of the +water; "they would be fools if they did," one of the ladies +remarked. Fish never were supposed to be very wise creatures, +Mr. Sandford informed her; but, nevertheless, it was resolved +not to reckon upon their want of wisdom at this time, but to +put up and go back to shore, and try what cold chicken would +do. So just about the hour when the sun's work for the day +verges towards the hottest, the little boat was seen again +stealing over the sunny surface of the lake, back to where the +tablecloth lay spread for the tired people. + +A little while before it reached that place, Dr. Sandford +arrived upon the scene. He locked a little warm in the face; +but his white shooting coat did not seem less affected by the +state of the weather than the doctor's temper. Mrs. Gary and +Mrs. Fish he found sunk in somnolency at the foot of the tree +where they had been talking. The young ladies were sitting by +the emptied hampers, deep in confab. The boys and Fido, over +against the outspread feast, were arranging fishing-tackle, +and watching the return of the boat; with eyes of +anticipation. To them came the doctor. + +"Where is your sister, Ransom?" + +"I don't know." The tone meant, "I don't care." + +"I do not see her anywhere." + +"No more do I," said Ransom, without raising his eyes from his +fishing line. + +"Where is she?" + +"I told you, I don't know." + +"Did she go with the fishing party?" + +"No, sir; she was here when we came," Alexander Fish spoke up. + +"Yes, I remember she was here," said Preston. "I remember +seeing her. She cannot be far off. It's hot enough to keep +people from straying far." + +The doctor, being not absolutely satisfied with this +reasoning, and having nothing better to do, occupied himself +with a search after the missing Daisy. It lasted some time, +and he was beginning to be not quite easy in his mind; when, +being a sportsman, his eye detected something at a distance +which was not moss nor stone. In two minutes the doctor came +up with it. It was Daisy, fast asleep on her moss bed behind +the rock. Her head lay on her arm which was curled up under +it; and profound slumber had left the little pale face as +serene as usual. The doctor was warm by this time. He sat down +on the moss beside her; and putting his arm under Daisy's +shoulders lifted her up, by way of waking her, speaking to her +at the same moment. But to his amusement, Daisy no sooner got +her eyes well open than she shook herself free of him, and sat +as demure as possible opposite to him on the moss. + +"Dr. Sandford! I believe I got asleep," she said, in a +bewildered kind of way. + +"How did you get _here_, Daisy?" + +"I came here, sir." + +"What for did you come here?" + +Daisy looked troubled; glanced at the doctor's face, and then +rested her head on her hand. + +"Who has been vexing you now?" said he at haphazard. + +"I am not vexed," said Daisy, in the gentlest of all possible +tones. + +"Tired?" + +"I think I am tired." + +"Honour bright, Daisy! has not some one been vexing you?" + +"I ought not to have been vexed," said Daisy, slowly. + +"I will wager that you are wrong there, and that you ought to +have been vexed. Who was it, Daisy?" + +"Never mind, please, Dr. Sandford! It is no matter at all +now." + +She put her little hand confidingly in the doctor's as she +spoke, and looked very earnest. He could not resist her. + +"I wish I had come sooner," he said. "I shall be suspicious of +everybody, Daisy. Come you and I must go to dinner, or there +will be a hue and cry after us." + +Indeed by this time the whole party were gathered, and in +impatient expectation that the dinner would make up to them in +some degree for the various disappointments of the morning. + +All were gathered and had arranged themselves conveniently +upon the grass, around the feast which was spread out upon the +tablecloth, before anybody knew that two of their number were +wanting. The cry was just raised, "Where is the doctor?" +when the doctor hove in sight, with Daisy by his side. +Everybody was placed already; and it was very natural that the +doctor, keeping hold of Daisy's hand, led her with him to the +spot that seemed to be left for his occupancy, and seated her +there beside him. On the other side of Daisy was Mrs. +Stanfield. She was very well satisfied with this arrangement, +seeing that her father was surrounded by people, and busy +besides; and that Nora and Ella were with Alexander and +Ransom. + +What a gay tableful they were! all talking and laughing, +though everybody declared himself exceeded by the heat, and +bored by the fishing, and generally tired of everything but +eating and drinking. But iced champagne was now at the parched +lips, and boned turkey and jellied ham were waiting attention, +and a good time had come. + +It was some while, of course, before Daisy could be served. +She waited, feeling very happy and amused; for a party of +people taking a cold dinner out of doors do not look nor act +exactly like the same people taking a hot dinner in the house. +Daisy never dreamed that anybody was noticing her. She had a +disagreeable surprise. + +"Daisy," said Mrs. Randolph, from a little distance, and +across several people, "Daisy, what did you do that for?" + +"Mamma!" said Daisy. "What, mamma?" + +"Have you a headache?" + +"Oh, no, mamma." + +"What did you put up your hand to your brow for?" + +"Mamma?" said Daisy, very much bewildered. For she knew +nothing was the matter, and she could not guess what her +mother was thinking of. Moreover, somehow, Mrs. Randolph's +words or manner had acted to stop the voices of all the +company in her neighbourhood; and everybody was waiting and +looking to see what the subject of interest might be. Mrs. +Randolph's words could come now with their usual calm +distinctness; and Daisy's answers, no matter how softly +spoken, could be well heard. In a good deal of wonder Daisy +repeated, "Mamma?" + +"You put up your hand and sat with your eyes covered did you +not, just now?" + +"Yes, mamma." + +No need to bid anybody look and listen now; the rosy flush +that had spread itself all over Daisy's pale cheeks +sufficiently aroused curiosity. + +"I notice that you do so before every meal is it not the +case?" + +"Yes, mamma." + +Dr. Sandford could hear the caught breath. He did not look, +except by a glance, but he listened. + +"What does that mean, Daisy?" + +"Mamma?" said the child in distress. + +"I ask you, what that means? what is it for?" + +"Mamma may I come round there and speak to you?" + +"Certainly not. Sit still in your place and answer." + +But Daisy was silent, very flushed. + +"Do you hear, Daisy? what does that action mean? I wish to +know." + +"Mamma, may I speak to you in private and tell you?" + +"Are you ashamed of it? are you ashamed to tell me?" + +"No, mamma." + +"Then, do it at once." + +But everybody waited in vain to hear the answer. It did not +come. + +"I shall not ask you again, Daisy." + +"Mamma," said the child, low and modestly, but with +steadiness, "I was praying." + +"Praying! were you! Why do you choose that particular time for +your private devotions?" + +It was almost too much. The tears started in Daisy's eyes; but +presently she answered, "Because God is good to us, mamma." + +"He is always good," said Mrs. Randolph. "That is a very silly +practice of yours, Daisy, and very unbecoming. There is a +proper way of doing everything." + +The lady's manner said that the subject was dismissed, and her +guests returned to their ordinary conversation. Except the +doctor and Daisy. She was overwhelmed, and he was gravely +unsocial. + +Was it silly? that bound her heart had made up to the feet +of her King? That joyful thanksgiving, and expression of love, +and pledge of obedience, and prayer for help? It was something +better than the meal often to Daisy; something sweeter and +happier. Was it silly? and must she do so no more except when +she was alone? + +Daisy had quite forgotten that eating and drinking was part of +the present matter in hand, when Dr. Sandford softly asked her +what she would like to have. Daisy said anything he pleased; +not caring herself, and indeed in too much confusion of mind +yet to know or think about the business. And her appetite was +gone. Dr. Sandford provided for her with kind care, what she +liked too; but nothing was good to Daisy. She broke bread and +swallowed milk mechanically; the more substantial food she +refused utterly. Bread and milk and grapes were Daisy's +dinner. + +"It's good to be somebody's favourite," Ransom said to her +after the meal was over. "Nobody got any grapes but you." + +"Nobody? Why, Ransom, I thought everybody had them." + +"_I_ didn't, nor Preston, nor Alexander not a berry; and +Nora and Ella Stanfield didn't. You are the favourite." + +"Oh, Nora," said Daisy, "didn't you have any grapes? I'm +sorry!" + +"I had peaches," said Nora. "I like peaches a great deal the +best. Daisy, what shall we do now?" + +"Suppose we sit down, and have a talk." + +"A talk?" said Nora. "Suppose we have a game of hide and seek? +It's such a good place." + +"Or forfeits?" said Ella. "It is too hot to play hide and +seek." + +"I don't think it is hot," said Nora. "The sun don't shine +now." + +"Daisy, don't you want to go out with me in the boat?" said +Preston, coming up. "We'll get in the shade, and see if you +can catch a pickerel as well as you did a trout." + +"Oh, I should like that!" said Daisy, eagerly. She saw the +kindness of Preston's meaning. He wanted to make her forget +her vexations. + +"And may we go too?" Nora asked. + +"Certainly; but Daisy and I are going to do the fishing. You +must be content to look on. We will go round to the other side +of the island, Daisy; it is pretty there, I know. And we shall +have a better chance for the pickerel, for the sun is gone +under a cloud." + +So the sun had; but at that very moment the cloud passed off +and the brilliant hot beams fell with what seemed renewed +brilliancy on the lake, and on all the ground which they could +touch. + +"It will go under again," said Preston. "We do not mind +trifles. Come, Daisy." + +"Daisy, you must not go," said Dr. Sandford, looking round. He +was just moving away to see some one else, and was gone in a +minute. + +"The doctor is all very well when one is sick," said Preston; +" but I never heard he had a right to command people when they +are well. Daisy, we will not mind him." + +"I must," said Daisy, meekly. "But you can go without me, if +you want to." + +"Nonsense, dear little Daisy! you are not obliged to do what +_everybody_ says," her cousin urged. "Dr. Sandford has no more +business to say what you shall do than what I shall do. I will +not let him rule you so. Come! we will go try for the +pickerel. Go, Nora and Ella, run away with the baskets to the +boat. Come, Daisy, come!" + +"No, Preston, I cannot." + +"Because of what that stupid man says? or don't you want to +go!" + +"I would like to go very much, thank you, Preston." + +"Then you shall!" + +"No. I cannot." + +"Daisy, you might as well obey me as Dr. Sandford." + +"I do not think so." + +"Nora and Ella are going. You will be left alone." + +"I hope you will catch some pickerel," said Daisy, steadily. + +But Preston was vexed. He did not like it that his word should +not have as much weight with his little cousin as any other +person's, after her father and mother. Like other boys, and +men, for the most part, he was fond of having his own way even +in little things; though he sought it in a polite fashion. And +Daisy was very fond of him, and always followed his lead; but +now he could not move her. He went off at a bound, and soon +was out upon the water, with the girls, and Alexander and +Ransom also who had joined him. + +Daisy would have liked the shelter of her mossy hiding-place +again. She stood in the shade of a tree looking after the +boat; feeling very much left alone and greatly disposed to +have a good crying time; but that was not her way of meeting +trouble. What a strange day of pleasure this Silver Lake +business had turned out! Yet Daisy had enjoyed many things in +it; but her mother's attack upon her at luncheon had sobered +her completely. It was such a sign of what she might expect. +Daisy presently fell to considering what she should do; and +then remembered her old refuge, prayer; and then concluded +that she was a very happy little girl after all. And instead +of being hurt that Nora had been with her so little that day, +it was very natural, Daisy said to herself. Of course, Nora +wanted to go in the boat with Preston after fish; it was too +good an opportunity to be lost; and of course she had liked +the walk in the morning with the larger and gayer party. It +was all right, Daisy decided, although not what she herself +would have done ill the circumstances. Would her note to her +father have been reckoned "silly" too? Very likely. Daisy +turned her wistful eyes to where he was; sitting in a group of +ladies and gentlemen, talking. Daisy could not go to him. +Further along, Mrs. Gary was fighting the heat under a tree by +herself. No attraction there. Still further the doctor was +standing talking to the two young ladies. As Daisy looked, he +quitted them and came towards her. + +"Have I spoiled all your pleasure, Daisy?" + +"No, sir." + +"Are you angry with me?" + +The answer this time was given with such an affectionate +bright smile that the doctor must have been hard not to feel +it. + +"You do not seem to have much pleasure on hand just now," said +he; "would you like to take a little walk with me, and see if +we can find any wonderful things?" + +Daisy's face was quite answer enough, it was so full of +content. The doctor had no intention to tire her; he strolled +along the borders of the lake, which was wild and lovely all +the more as they got further away from the picnic ground. Firs +and oaks stood thick all along, with many other trees also; +the ground was carpeted with layers of moss; great rocks rose +up by the water's edge, grey and brown with lichens. It was +not so hot now. The sun's glare was shielded off. On a mossy +carpet beside the water's edge the doctor and Daisy sat down. + +Undoubtedly the doctor had never taken so much trouble with a +child before; but Daisy was a study to him. + +"We do not find the wonderful things, Daisy," he remarked, +throwing himself back upon the moss with his hands under his +head. His cap fell off; his blue eyes looked at her with a +sort of contented laziness; never sleepily. + +Daisy smiled at him. "I do," she said. + +"You do! What have you found?" + +"I think everything is wonderful." + +"A profound truth," said the doctor; "but you are very young +to find it out. Instance, Daisy." + +"But you want to go to sleep, sir." + +"How dare you say so? No, I don't. I want to have a talk with +you about something wonderful." + +Daisy thought he looked a little sleepy, for his eyelids +drooped well over his eyes; nevertheless, the eyes saw keenly +enough the start of pleasure into hers. And they had seen the +pale, subdued look of the face that it had worn before. +Nevertheless, in spite of that start, Daisy remained as quiet +as a mouse, looking at him. + +"Don't you think I can talk while I am enjoying myself in this +fashion?" said the doctor. + +"I think you can talk any way," said Daisy; "but you look a +great deal more like sleeping, sir." + +"None of that. Go on, Daisy. Only do not say anything about +the sun, now that it has gone under a cloud. Let us forget it +for a little while." + +"What shall I take, then?" + +"I don't care. Something green and refreshing." + +Daisy looked around her. On every side she saw things that she +had no doubt would be very interesting to talk about; she did +not know which to choose. There were the trees; the firs and +hemlocks, and the oaks and maples, growing thick on every +hand. No doubt those beautiful structures had uses and +characters of wonder; she had a great mind to ask the doctor +to tell her about them. But the great boulder beside which +they were hid from view, divided her attention; it was very +large, and rounded off on all sides, lying quietly on the +ground; and Daisy was curious to know how it came to be so +grown over with green things; mosses and ferns draped it all +over; how could they grow on the bare rock? + +"Well, Daisy?" said her friend, watching how Daisy's +countenance woke up from its subdued expression. + +"Dr. Sandford, how could these things grow on the rock? these +green things?" + +"What green things?" + +"Why, ever so many sorts. Here is moss, a great deal of it, of +different kinds; and there is beautiful brake at the top, like +plumes of feathers. How can they grow there?" + +"Why not?" + +"I thought everything wanted some earth to grow in." + +"Have they none?" + +"I don't know. I thought not. They must have very little +indeed, Dr. Sandford." + +"Very little will do, I suppose." + +"But I do not see how any earth got there," said Daisy. "It +was only a bare rock at first, of course." + +"At first," repeated the doctor. "Well, Daisy, I suppose it +was no more. But there is something else growing there, which +you have not spoken of." + +"Is there?" said Daisy. "I do not see anything else." + +"Pardon me you do see it." + +"Then I do not know what it is," said Daisy, laughing. +Absolutely, the sober, sober little face had forgotten its +care, and the eyes were alight with intelligence and +curiosity, and the lips were unbent in good honest laughter. +The doctor raised himself up to a sitting posture. + +"What do you call those grey and brown patches of colour that +hide your rock all over?" + +"Grey and brown?" said Daisy, wistfully "those are just the +colours of the rock, aren't they?" + +"No. Look close. + +"Why, Dr. Sandford, what is it? It is not the rock some of +it is not but here is a spot of yellow that is nothing else, +I think." + +"You must learn not to trust your eyes, Daisy. That is +something that grows; it is not rock; it is a vegetable. If I +had my pocket lens here I would show you; but I am afraid +yes, I have left it at home." + +"Why, it is!" cried Daisy. "I can see now it is not rock. +What is it, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Lichen." + +"What is that, sir?" + +"It is one of the lowest forms of vegetable life. It is the +first dress the rocks wear, Daisy." + +"But what does it live on?" + +"Air and water, I suppose." + +"I never knew that was a vegetable," said Daisy, musingly. "I +thought it was the colour of the rock." + +"That goes to prepare soil for the mosses, Daisy." + +"Oh, how, Dr. Sandford?" + +"In time the surface of the rock is crumbled a little by its +action; then its own decay furnishes a very little addition to +that. In favourable situations a stray oak leaf or two falls +and lies there, and also decays, and by and by there is a +little coating of soil or a little lodgment of it in a crevice +or cavity, enough for the flying spores of some moss to take +root and find home." + +"And then the moss decays and makes soil for the ferns?" + +"I suppose so." + +Daisy stood looking with a countenance of delighted +intelligence at the great boulder, which was now to her a +representative and witness of natural processes she had had no +knowledge of before. The mosses, the brakes, the lichen, had +all gained new beauty and interest in her eyes. The doctor +watched her, and then scrambled up to his feet and came to her +side. + +"Look here, Daisy," said he, stooping down at the foot of the +rock, and showing her where tufts of a delicate little green +plant clustered, bearing little umbrella-like heads on tiny +shafts of handles. + +"What is that, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Something wonderful." + +"Is it? It is pretty. What is it, sir?" + +"It is a plant somewhere between the mosses and the lichens in +its character it is one of the liverworts, and they are some +of the first plants to go in advance of superior vegetation. +This is called _Marchantia_." + +"And is it wonderful, Dr. Sandford?" + +"If I could show it to you, you would think so. Look here, +Daisy on the surface of this leaf do you see little raised +spots here and there?" + +"Yes, I see them." + +"Those are, when they are finished, little baskets." + +"Baskets?" exclaimed Daisy, delightedly. "I can't see anything +like a basket now." + +"No, it is too small for you to see; you must take it on my +word, who have seen it. They are baskets, and such baskets as +you never dreamed of. The shape is elegant, and round the +edge, Daisy, they are cut into a fringe of teeth, and each +tooth is cut again into teeth, making a fringe around its tiny +edge. + +"I wish I could see it," said Daisy. + +"Now if you were my little sister, and lived with me, I could +show you these things in the evenings." + +Daisy responded to this with a very grateful and somewhat +wistful smile, but immediately went on with the business in +hand. + +"Do these little baskets hold anything, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Yes. Baskets are always made to hold something." + +"What do they hold?" + +"They hold what are called _spores;_ that is, little bits of +things which, whenever they get a chance, begin to grow and +make new plants." + +"Seeds?" said Daisy. + +"They answer the purpose of seeds." + +"How do they get out of the basket? Do the winds blow them +out." + +"Or the rain washes them out. If they lie long enough in the +basket, they will take root there, and then there is a new +plant seen growing out of the old one." + +"How wonderful it is!" said Daisy. + +"There is another wonder about it. It does not matter which +way these little spores lie on the ground or in the basket; +but the side that happens to be exposed to the light, after a +time, prepares itself to expand into the surface of a frond, +while the dark side sends down a tiny root." + +"And it does not matter which side lies uppermost?" + +"No, not in the beginning." + +"What is a _frond_, Dr. Sandford?" + +"This sort of seed-bearing leaf is called so." + +"How pretty it is!" said Daisy. "What are these little things +like umbrellas?" + +"These carry the real seed vessels of the plant." + +"Other seeds. Dr. Sandford, is _everything_ wonderful?" + +"What do you think about it?" + +"I do not know but a very little," said Daisy; "but I never +should have thought this little green moss or what did you +say it was?" + +"Liverwort. Its name is Marchantia." + +"This liverwort; I never should have supposed it was anything +but pretty, and of course good for something; but now I never +heard anything so wonderful." + +"More than the sun?" said Dr. Sandford, smiling. + +"It is more surprising, I think," said Daisy. + +"Pray, what makes you conclude so securely that this little +Marchantia is _good for something?_" + +Daisy gave him a quick look of wisdom and suspicion mingled. +The doctor was getting a very good amusement himself, and +quite entered into the matter. He waited for Daisy's answer. +It came diplomatically. + +"_Isn't_ everything good for something, sir?" + +" 'Pon my word, I don't know," said the doctor. "My enquiry was +for the grounds of your opinion, Daisy." + +"It was not an opinion. I do not think I am old enough to have +an opinion." + +"What was it, Daisy?" + +The doctor was still crouching down by the side of the rock, +examining carelessly whatever he found there. Daisy looked at +him, and waited, and felt at last that good manners required +her to speak. + +"You said, sir, that baskets were made to hold something." + +"So your remark was an inference from mine." + +"No, sir." + +"Go on, Daisy." + +"I only said it, sir, because I knew it was true." + +There was an odd contrast between the extreme modesty of +Daisy's manner and the positiveness of her words. + +"It is said to be a great philosophical truth, Daisy; but what +I want to know is how you, not being a philosopher, have got +such firm hold of it?" + +He faced Daisy now, and she gave way as usual before the +searching blue eyes. One soft look, and her eyes fell away. + +"I only thought it, Dr. Sandford, because in the beginning +when God had made everything the Bible says he saw that it +was all good." + +"Daisy, how came you to be such a lover of the Bible?" + +Daisy did not speak at once, and when she did it was a +departure from the subject. + +"Dr. Sandford, I felt a drop of rain on my face!" + +"And here is another," said the doctor, getting up. "This is +what I have expected all day. Come, Daisy you must be off in +your chaise-ΰ-porteurs without delay." + +"But Nora, and Ella, and the boys! they are away off on the +lake." + +"They will scuttle home now," said the doctor, "but I have +nothing to do with them. You are my business, Daisy." + +Accordingly he carried her back to the lunching-place, not +indeed in his arms, but with a strong hand that made her +progress over the stones and moss very rapid, and that gave +her a great flying leap whenever occasion was, over any +obstacle that happened to be in the way. There was need enough +for haste. The light veil of haze that had seemed to curtain +off the sunlight so happily from the lake and the party, +proved now to have been only the advancing soft border of an +immense thick cloud coming up from the west. No light veil +now; a deep, dark covering was over the face of the sky, +without break or fold; the drop or two of rain that had been +felt were merely the outriders of an approaching storm. Low, +threatening, distant mutterings of thunder from behind the +mountains, told the party what they might expect before long. + +There was sudden confusion. Nobody wanted to be out in the +storm, and to avoid it seemed a difficult problem. Hastily the +ladies caught up their scarfs and bags, and set off upon a +scattering flight through the woods to the shore, those who +were nearest or first ready not stopping to wait for the +others. Quickly the luncheon-ground was deserted; fast the +blue and white flutter of muslins disappeared in the +enveloping woods; hastily the remainder of the packing went on +to get the hampers again in readiness to move. In the midst of +all this, who was to carry Daisy's chair? + +"You say there is a house somewhere on the way," said Mr. +Randolph to the doctor. "If you will go forward with Daisy at +once, I will stay to look after those children in the boat. +They are coming now as fast as they can." + +"Can you carry my gun?" + +"Certainly. Doctor, I will take that office, if you will stay +behind till the boat gets to land." + +"Thank you it is better arranged the other way. The storm +will be upon us before the ladies get to the shore, I fear." + +"Then they had better take the other route." + +Mr. Randolph in haste despatched one of the men to recall the +fleeing members of the party, and bring them round by the +other road to the house. But before that, the doctor had put +Daisy in her chair, and with Logan at the other end of it, had +set off to reach shelter. It grew very dark; and it was +sultrily still in the woods. Not a leaf trembled on its stem. +The steps of the two chair-bearers sounded ominously in the +entire hush of everything. The gloom still deepened. The +doctor and Logan with swift, steady strides carried the chair +along at a goodly rate; not as it had come in the morning. In +the midst of this, and after it had gone on some time in +silence, Daisy twisted herself round to look at the doctor and +give him a smile. + +"You do not seem concerned, Daisy, in the view of getting +wet?" + +"Why, no," said Daisy, twisting round again, "it is nice. I am +only sorry for the people who are so frightened." + +"What is nice? getting wet?" + +"Oh, no," said Daisy. "Maybe I shall not get wet you go so +fast." + +But at this moment there came a nearer growl of thunder, and +the leaves in the tops of the trees rustled as if a breath had +passed over them. Then were still. + +"Can you mend your pace, Logan?" said the doctor. + +"Ay, sir!" came in the deep, cheery utterance of Logan's +Scotch voice. + +"Hold fast, Daisy" said the doctor; and the two chair- +bearers changed their pace for a swinging trot. It was needful +to hold on now indeed, for this gait jolted the chair a good +deal; but it got over the ground, and Daisy found it +excessively amusing. They passed the thick-standing tree-stems +in quick succession now; the rocks uprising from the side of +the path were left behind one after another; they reached the +sharp bend in the road; and, keeping up the swinging trot with +a steadiness which showed good wind on the part of both the +chair-bearers, at last the little house where Sam had been +left hove in view. Time it was; full time. One and another +sough of the wind had bowed the tree-tops with a token of what +was coming; one and another bright flash of lightning had +illumined the woody wilderness; and now, just as the chair +stopped, drops began to fall which seemed as large as cherry- +stones, mingled with hail a good deal larger. Their patter +sounded on the leaves a minute or two; then ceased. + +"That will do, Logan," said the doctor. "Bring the chair in +under shelter if you can; and come in yourself. This will be a +shower." And he led Daisy into the house. + +If ever you saw a dark-looking place, that was the room into +which the house-door admitted them. Two little windows seemed +at this instant to let in the darkness rather than the light; +they were not very clean, besides being small a description +which Daisy would have said applied to the whole room. She +stood still in the middle of the floor, not seeing any place +to sit down, that she could make up her mind to take. The +doctor went to the window. Logan took a chair. Sam was sitting +disconsolately in a corner. It was hard to say to what class +of people the house belonged; poor people they were of course; +and things looked as if they were simply living there because +too poor to live anywhere else. A slatternly woman stared at +the intruders; a dirty child crawled over the hearth. Daisy +could not endure to touch anything, except with the soles of +her shoes. So she stood upright in the middle of the floor; +till the doctor turned round. + +"Daisy! are you going to stand there till the shower is +over?" + +"Yes, sir," Daisy answered, patiently. A smile curled the +doctor's lips. He opened the door and lifted in the chair with +its long poles, which indeed half filled the little room; but +Daisy sat down. The woman looked on in astonishment. + +"Be she weakly, like?" she asked at length of the doctor. + +"Has been " he answered. + +"And what be that thing for?" + +"It is for going up and down mountains." + +"Have you come from the mountings!" she asked, in great +surprise. The doctor was in for it. He was obliged to explain. +Meanwhile the darkness continued, and the rain did not yet +fall. A breath of wind now and then brushed heavily past the +house, and sunk into silence. The minutes passed. + +"It will be a happiness if they get here before it begins," +said Dr. Sandford; "it will come when it comes!" + +"Be there _more_ comin'?" said the woman. + +"A housefull. We are only the beginning." + +She moved about now with somewhat of anxiety to get sundry +things out of the way, which yet there seemed no other place +for; a frying-pan was set up in a corner; a broom took +position by the fire place; a pail of water was lifted on the +table; and divers knives and forks and platters hustled into a +chimney cupboard. Little room enough when all was done. At +last the woman caught up the sprawling baby and sat down with +it opposite the broom, on the other side the fire, in one of +the three chairs the place contained. Sam had another. Logan +was on a box. The woman's eyes said, "Now I am ready to see +all that comes." + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +DAISY'S SUPPER. + + +It was some time first, and the rain still did not fall. It +was very black, and flashes from distant lightning with +mutterings of the thunder were frequent and threatening; still +no rain unless a few ominous drops. At last voices and +fluttering muslins came down the road; the flutter came near, +and in poured a stream of gay people at the door of the poor +little room. Gay as to their dress and attire, that is; for +gaiety was not to be found at present in their words and +behaviour. The woman in the chimney corner hugged up closer +her dirty baby with the delight of so unwonted a feast to her +eyes. + +"Is there nothing better than _this_ to be had?" said Mrs. Fish. +And her tone was indescribable. + +"How long have we got to remain here, doctor?" said a more +cheery voice. + +"Mrs. Stanfield, until the rain has come, and gone." + +"It would be better to be out in it," whispered Theresa to her +mother. + +"My love, there is no other shelter on this side the river." + +"There will not be standing room for us all presently " said +Eloise Gary. + +Pretty nearly so; for when the second detachment of the party +arrived, in a minute more, people looked at each other across +a throng of heads. They got in; that was all. To sit down or +to move much was out of the question. + +"Daisy, you can't have this big chair of yours in here," said +Ransom in an energetic whisper. "Don't you see there is no +room for it?" + +Daisy saw there was very little. She got up patiently and +stood, though feeling very tired; while her chair was got out +of the door with a good deal of difficulty. + +"Are you tired, my darling?" said her father, bending down to +the pale little face. + +"A little, papa," said Daisy, sighing. + +No more words, but Mr. Randolph lifted Daisy in his arms and +gave her a resting place there. Daisy was afraid she was too +heavy for him, but it was very comfortable to sit there, with +her arm on his shoulder. Her face looked its content; the only +face in which such an expression could be seen at present; +though the gentlemen took the thing coolly, and Mr. Randolph +and the two Sandfords looked as usual. But now the delayed +storm drew near. The thunder notified with every burst the +fact that it was coming speedily; the lightning became vivid +and constant. A premonitory sweep of the wind and the clouds +gave out their treasures of rain and hail with tremendous +fury. The lightning was terrible now, and the darkness of the +intervals between so great that the company could scarcely see +each other's faces. This was more than some of the party had +bargained for, and there was a degree of confusion. Screams +from a few of the ladies and exclamations of terror from +others were mixed now and then with words that sounded very +like an oath to Daisy's ear, though they were not spoken in +levity. She bent her head round to look in the face of the +lady who had last used them, as if to assure herself what was +meant; and then her head went down on Mr. Randolph's shoulder +and her face was hidden. + +"Daisy " whispered her father. + +"Yes, papa." + +"Are you afraid?" + +"No, papa not for myself." + +"What? Look up here, Daisy." + +She lifted her face; it was wistful and troubled. + +"Are you concerned about the storm, my darling?" + +"No, papa; not myself." + +"How then, Daisy?" + +She shuddered. "Papa, I wish they would not scream so!" + +"Why does that trouble _you?_" said Mr. Randolph, smiling. + +But Daisy's face was unutterably grave, as a new brilliant +band of forked lightning glittered outside the windows, and +the burst of the thunderbolt sounded as if at their very feet, +making a renewal of the same cries and exclamations. + +"Why does it trouble you, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, +soothingly, feeling the quiver of the child's frame. + +"Papa," said Daisy, with intense expression, "they do not +love Jesus!" And her head went down again to be hid on her +father's shoulder. + +Mr. Randolph did nothing to bring it up again; and Daisy lay +quite still, while the storm raged in full fury, and the +screams and ejaculations of the ladies were joined now and +then by a word of impatience from one of the gentlemen, or a +"Hech, sirs!" in Logan's smothered Scotch brogue. Once Mr. +Randolph felt Daisy's lips pressed against his face, and then +her other arm came round his neck, and nestling there closely +she was after that as still as a mouse. The storm lasted a +long time. The lightning and thunder at last removed their +violence some distance off; then the wind and the rain did +their part, which they had not fully done before. And all the +while the poor party of pleasure sat or stood as thick as bees +in a hive, in the miserable shelter of the cottage. +Miserable, yet welcome. Very tired and impatient the people +became as they grew less frightened. Daisy had long been fast +asleep. The day waned and drew near its ending. When sunset +was, nobody could tell by the light; but that night was at +hand was at last evident from the darkness. + +"Your arms must be weary, Mr. Randolph," said Dr. Sandford. +"Let me relieve you of your burden." + +"I cannot let you do that." + +"I will," said the doctor. "Daisy being my charge as well as +yours, gives me a right." And the transfer was actually made +before Daisy was aware of it. She waked up however, with a +feeling of some change and a doubt upon her mind as to what +custody she was in; but she was not sure, till the woman of +the house lit a miserable dip candle, which threw a light that +mocked the darkness over the weary company. Daisy did not like +the arrangement at all. + +"Dr. Sandford!" she exclaimed. "I shall tire you. Please put +me on the floor and let me stand." + +"No, you cannot," said the doctor, decidedly. "Be a good +child, Daisy. Lay your head down and go to sleep again." + +And greatly to Daisy's astonishment the doctor's moustache +brushed her lip. Now Daisy had always thought to herself that +she would never allow anybody that wore a moustache to kiss +her; here it was done, without leave asked; and if the doctor +was so independent of rules as that, she thought she had best +not provoke him. Besides, she remembered that her father must +be tired with carrying her so long; and moreover, if Dr. +Sandford liked her well enough to kiss her, maybe he would not +care for the trouble of holding her for a while. At any rate +Daisy submitted peaceably to the necessity; put her arm over +the doctor's shoulder to support herself, and laid her head +down; though not to sleep. She watched everything that was +going on now. What a roomful of weary and impatient people +they were! packed like cattle in a pen, for closeness; and how +the rain poured and beat outside the house! The shelter was +something to be thankful for, and yet how unthankful everybody +looked. Some of the gentlemen showed calm fortitude under +their trials; but the poor ladies' chagrined faces said that +days of pleasure were misnamed. Alexander Fish had gone to +sleep; Ransom looked cross; Preston as usual gentlemanly, +though bored. From one to another Daisy's eye roved. Nora and +Ella were sitting on the table; in full confab. Other people +were sitting there too; the table was full. + +"The storm is slackening " Mr. Randolph remarked to the +doctor. + +"It will be over in a little while more." + +"What do you think of it, Daisy?" said her father, noticing +her look. + +"Of what, papa?" + +"Parties of pleasure in general." + +"Papa, I have had a very nice time." + +"You have had a nice sleep," said her father, laughing; "and +that colours your views of things. The rest of us have not had +that advantage." + +"Daisy, I am surprised to hear you say what you do," the +doctor remarked as Mr. Randolph turned away. He spoke softly. + +"Why, sir?" + +"I thought your day had not been _altogether_ agreeable?" + +"Do you think anything is apt to be altogether agreeable, Dr. +Sandford?" Daisy said, with a demure waiving of the subject +which was worthy of much older years. The quaintness of this +remark was infinite. + +"What has been the agreeableness to-day, for instance?" + +"Oh, a great deal; my ride in the chair, that was nice! and +all our walk, and what, you were telling me; and coming over +the river " Daisy paused. + +"And what do you think of being carried in the arms of +gentlemen," said Mrs. Gary, who had overheard a few words, +"while other little girls have to get along as they can? as +tired as you are, I dare say." + +"I cannot help it, aunt Gary," said Daisy. But the remark +served to justify her view of things; for what had in truth +been altogether agreeable up to that minute was so no longer. +Daisy was uneasy. + +"Dr. Sandford," she whispered after a few moments, "I am +rested I can stand now. I am tiring you. Please set me +down." + +"No. Be quiet, Daisy," said her friend, peremptorily. And as +the little head went down again obediently on his shoulder, he +gave again a gentle kiss to her lips. Daisy did not mind Mrs. +Gary after that. + +The storm slackened off now rapidly. The patter of the rain +lessened and grew still; a sweet reviving air blew in at the +windows. Of course the road was drenched with wet and every +tree dripping; nevertheless the journey must be made to the +boats, and the poor ladies were even glad to set out to +undertake it. But it would not be an easy journey either, on +the whole. Some time before this the doctor had despatched +Logan on an errand. He now declared he must wait for his +return; and desired Mr. Randolph to go forward and help take +care of the rest of the party and have no concern about Daisy; +he would keep her in charge. + +"Shall I do that, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, fearing it might +trouble her. + +But Daisy said, "Yes, papa" with no hesitation; and the plan +was acted upon. Gathering up their floating muslin dresses, +tying handkerchiefs over their heads, with shrinking and yet +eager steps, one by one they filed out at the door of the +little hut. Just as the last one went, Logan came; he had been +to the boats and brought thence the doctor's cloak, which, +with more providence than the rest of the party who were less +used to travelling, he had taken the precaution to bring. Now +this, by the doctor's order, was spread over Daisy's chair, +which having been pushed out of doors, had got wet; she was +placed in it then, and the folds of the cloak brought well +round and over her, so that nothing could be more secure than +she was from the wet with which every leaf and bough was +dripping overhead, and every foot of soil loaded underneath. +Dr. Sandford took one end of the poles and Logan the other, +and the last of the party they set forth. Why Dr. Sandford had +made this arrangement, was best known to himself. Perhaps he +preferred it to having Mrs. Fish on his arm, who was a very +fine lady; perhaps he preferred it to the attentions he might +have had to pay to the younger damsels of the party, who would +all three have been on his hands at once, very likely. At all +events he did prefer to be one of the chair-bearers, and Daisy +was very glad of it. + +The rest of the party were well in advance, out of sight and +hearing. Tramp, tramp, the steady regular footfall of her +bearers, and the light plashing of rain drops as they fell, +and the stir of the wind in the leaves, were all the sounds +that Daisy heard. No rain fell now; on the contrary the heaven +was clear as a bell, and light enough came through the woods +to show the way with comfortable certainty. Overhead, the +stars were shining down with wonderful brilliancy, through the +air which the storm had cleansed from all vapours; the moon +was coming up somewhere, too. The smell of the trees and other +green things was exceedingly sweet after the rain; and the +delicious soft air was very delicious after the sultry day. +Never in her life after did Daisy forget that night's work. +This ride from the cottage to the shore was something she +enjoyed with all her might. It was so wild and strange as well +as sweet. Rocks and tree-trunks, and the turnings of the road +had all such a mysterious new look, different from what +daylight showed them; it was an endless pleasure. Till the +walk ended. It came out at last upon the shore of the river +and into the moonlight. High in the eastern sky the moon hung, +shedding her broad light down all over the river, which +crisped and sparkled under it; and there by the water's edge +the members of the party of pleasure were huddled together +preparing to embark. Over their heads the sails of Mr. +Randolph's boat stood up in the moonlight. The doctor and +Logan set down their burden and waited. The Fish's were +getting on board their little vessel, which was moved by oars +alone. + +"Mrs. Stanfield, you had better come with us," Mr. Randolph +said. "There is plenty of room. Your boat is too small. You +would find it unpleasantly rough in mid-channel." + +"Oh, is it rough?" exclaimed the lady. + +"For your little row-boat I am afraid you would find it so. +The wind has roughened the water considerably, and it has not +had time to get quiet. Come with us, and we will all take +supper together at Melbourne." + +It was arranged so. The party were stowed away in the large +sail-boat, which held them all well enough; the children being +happy at finding themselves seated together. + +"What are we waiting for?" said Mrs. Gary when all had been in +their places some minutes, and conversation was the only thing +moving. "What are we staying here for?" + +"Sam." + +"Where's Sam?" + +"He is yonder in our late place of shelter. James and +Michael have gone to fetch him with Daisy's chair." + +"Sam! Why, he might have stayed there till to-morrow and no +hurt. Have we got to wait till the men go there and bring him +back? We shall be late at supper!" + +"The river will be all the quieter, Mrs. Gary," said Mr. +Randolph, mischievously. + +"The river? You don't mean to say it is not quiet?" + +"It was not quiet a while ago, I assure you." + +"Well, I do think, if ever there was a misnamed thing, it is a +party of pleasure," said the lady, disconsolately. + +"They are very pleasant when they are over, sister Gary," said +Mr. Randolph. + +"Daisy," Nora whispered, "are you afraid?" + +"No." + +"Your father says it is rough." + +"He knows how to manage the boat," said Daisy. + +"It isn't rough, I don't believe," said Ella Stanfield. "It +isn't rough now." + +"I wish we were at the other side," said Nora. + +"Oh, Nora, I think it is nice," said Daisy. "How bright the +moonlight is! Look! all over the river there is a broad +strip. I hope we shall sail along just in that strip. Isn't it +wonderful, Nora?" + +"No. What?" said Nora. + +"That there should be something like a looking-glass up in the +sky to catch the sunlight and reflect it down to us when we +cannot see the sun itself." + +"What looking-glass?" + +"Well, the moon catches the sunlight just so, as a looking- +glass would." + +"How do you know, Daisy? _I_ think it shines." + +"I know because I have been told. It does not shine, any more +than a looking-glass." + +"Who told you?" + +"Dr. Sandford," Daisy whispered. + +"Did he! Then why don't we have the moon every night?" + +"Because the looking-glass, if you can imagine that it is a +looking-glass, does not always hang where it can catch the +sun." + +"Don't it? I don't like to think it is a looking-glass," said +Nora. "I would a great deal rather think it is the moon." + +"Well, so it is," said Daisy. "You can think so." + +"Daisy, what should we do if it should be rough in the middle +of the river?" + +"_I_ like it," said Ella Stanfield. + +"Perhaps it will not be very rough," said Daisy. + +"But suppose it should? And where the moon don't shine it is +so dark!" + +"Nora," said Daisy, very low, "don't you love Jesus?" + +Nora at that flounced round, and turning her face from Daisy. +and the moonlight, began to talk to Ella Stanfield on the +other side of her. Daisy did not understand what it meant. + +All this while, and a good while longer, the rest of the +people were waiting with various degrees of patience and +impatience for the coming of Sam and the men. It was pretty +there by the shore, if they had not been impatient. The +evening breeze was exceedingly fragrant and fresh; the light +which streamed down from the moon was sparkling on all the +surface of the water, and laid a broad band of illumination +like a causeway across the river. In one or two places the +light showed the sails of a sloop or schooner on her way up or +down; and along the shore it grew daintily hazy and soft. But +impatience was nevertheless the prominent feeling on board the +sail-boat; and it had good time to display itself before +Michael and James could go all the distance back to the house +and bring Sam away from it. + +"Here he is!" "There they are at last!" were the words of hail +with which their appearance was greeted. "Now off" and with +all haste the three were received on board and the vessel +pushed out into the stream. Immediately her sail caught the +breeze which came fair down the river, and careening a little +as she took it, her head began to make good speed across the +causeway of moonlight. But then the ladies began to scream; +for in mid-channel the wind was fresh and the waters had not +quite forgotten yet the tumult of the late storm, which had +tossed them well. The sail-boat danced bravely, up and down, +going across the waves. Among the frightened people was Nora, +who, grasping Daisy's dress with one hand and some part of the +boat with the other, kept uttering little cries of "Oh Daisy +" "Oh! Daisy," with every fresh lurch of the vessel. Ella +Stanfield had thrown herself down in her mother's lap. Daisy +was very much tried. + +"Nora," she said, "I wish you would not cry so!" + +"But I am afraid!" + +"I wish you would be comforted, and not cry out so," sighed +Daisy. "Papa says there is no danger didn't you hear him?" + +"But, oh, I am afraid!" re-echoed Nora. + +Daisy folded her hands, and tried to bide patiently the time +of smooth water. It came, partially at least, as they neared +the opposite bank. The boat went steadily; spirits revived; +and soon the passage was brought to an end and the sail-boat +laid alongside the little jetty, on which the party, men, +women and children, stepped out with as sincere a feeling of +pleasure as had moved them all day. Carriages were in waiting; +a few minutes brought the whole company to Melbourne House. + +Here they were to stay supper; and the ladies and gentlemen +dispersed to various dressing rooms to prepare for it. Soonest +of all ready and in the drawing-room were the three children. + +"I am so hungry!" said Nora. + +"So am I!" said Ella Stanfield. + +"We shall have supper presently," said Daisy. + +"Oh, Daisy, weren't you afraid in the boat, when it went up +and down so?" + +"I do not think I was afraid," said Daisy, "if other people +had not been so disturbed." + +"I don't see how they could help being disturbed," said Ella +Stanfield. "Why, the boat didn't sail straight at all." + +"But _that_ does not do any harm," said Daisy. + +"How do you know?" said Nora. "_I_ think it does harm; I do not +think it is safe." + +"But you know, Nora, when the disciples were in the boat, and +thought it was not safe the wind blew so, you know they +ought to have trusted Jesus, and not been afraid." + +Nora and Ella both looked at Daisy for a minute after this +speech, and then by some train of association Nora started +another subject. + +"Daisy, have you got my Egyptian spoon yet?" + +Now was Daisy in a great difficulty. She flushed; the little +face which had been pale enough before, became of a delicate +pink hue all over. Not knowing what to say, she said nothing. + +"Have you got it yet?" repeated Nora, curiously. + +"No, Nora. I have not." + +"You have not? What have you done with it?" + +"Nothing." + +"My Egyptian spoon! that Marmaduke gave me to give to you! You +have not kept it! What did you do with it, Daisy?" + +"I did nothing with it." + +"Did you break it?" + +"No." + +"Did you give it away?" + +"Oh, Nora, I loved it very much," said poor Daisy; "but I +could not keep it. I could not!" + +"Why couldn't you? I would not have given it to you, Daisy, if +I had thought you would not have kept it." + +"I wanted to keep it very much but I could not," said Daisy, +with the tears in her eyes. + +"Why 'could not'? why couldn't you? Did you give it away, +Daisy? that spoon I gave you?" + +"Nora, I could not help it! Somebody else wanted it very much, +and I was obliged to let her have it. I could not help it." + +"I shall tell Marmaduke that you did not care for it," said +Nora in an offended tone. "I wish I had kept it myself. It was +a beautiful spoon." + +Daisy looked very much troubled. + +"Who has got it?" Nora went on. + +"It is no matter who has got it," said Daisy. "I couldn't keep +it." + +"She is right, Nora," said Preston, who came up just then, at +the same time with the doctor. "She could not keep it, because +it was taken away from her without any leave asked. I mean she +shall have it back, too, one of these days. Don't you say +another word to Daisy! she has behaved like a little angel +about it." + +Preston's manner made an impression, as well as his words. +Nora was checked. + +"What is all that, Nora?" the doctor asked. + +Now Nora had a great awe of him. She did not, dare not answer. + +"It is about a spoon I gave Daisy, that she gave away." + +"She did not, I tell you!" said Preston. + +"A spoon?" said the doctor. "Silver?" + +"Oh, no! A beautiful, old, very old, carved, queer old spoon, +with a duck's bill, that came out of an old Egyptian tomb, and +was put there ever so long ago." + +"Did your brother give it to you?" + +"Yes, to give to Daisy, and she gave it to somebody else." + +"Nora, I did not give it as you think I did. I loved it very +much. I would not have let anybody have it if I could have +helped it." + +"Who has got it, Daisy?" asked the doctor. + +Daisy looked at him, looked perplexed, flushed a little, +finally said with demure gentleness, "Dr. Sandford, I think I +ought not to tell." + +The doctor smiled, took Daisy's hand, and led her off to the +supper room, whither they were now invited. So it happened +that her seat at the table was again by his side. Daisy liked +it. Just then she did not care about being with Nora. + +The people gathered, bright and fresh, around the supper +table, all seeming to have forgotten their fatigues and +frights; and every face looked smiling or gracious. The day +was over, the river was crossed; the people were hungry; and +the most dainty and perfectly arranged supply of refreshments +stood on the board. Coffee and tea steamed out their grateful +announcements; ice cream stood in red and white pyramids of +firmness; oysters and cold meats and lobster salad offered all +that hungry people could desire; and everybody was in a +peculiar state of gratified content and expectation. + +Daisy was no exception. She had let slip her momentary trouble +about the Egyptian spoon; and in her quiet corner, quite +unnoticed as she thought, looked at the bright scene and +enjoyed it. She liked being under the doctor's care too, and +his care of her was very thoughtful and kind. He did not +forget the little quiet mouse at his elbow; but after he had +properly attended to the other people whose claims came first, +he served her nicely with whatever was good for her. Was Daisy +going to omit her usual giving of thanks? She thought of her +mother's interference with a moment's flash of hesitancy; but +resolved to go on just as usual. She did not think she would +be noticed, everybody was so busy; and at any rate there was a +burden of gladness in her little heart that must speak. While +the talking and laughing and click of knives and forks was +thick all around her, Daisy's little head bent in a moment's +oblivion of it all behind her hand. + +She had raised her head and just taken her fork in her fingers +when she heard her own name. She looked up. + +"Daisy " said her mother, quietly "come here." + +Daisy left her seat, and went round to her mother's side. + +"You may go up stairs," said Mrs. Randolph. + +"Mamma?" + +"Go and remain till I send for you." + +Daisy slipped away quietly, before anybody could notice that +she was gone or going. Then slowly went up the stairs and +along the passages to her own room. It was empty and dark, +except for the moonlight without; June had not expected her to +be there, and had not made preparation. Daisy went, and +kneeled down in her old place by her window; her eyes filled +as full of tears as they could hold. She bent her little head +to brush them away, but they came again. Daisy was faint and +tired; she wanted her supper very much; and she had enjoyed +the supper-table very much; it was a great mortification to +exchange it for the gloom and silence of her moonlit room. She +had not a bit of strength to keep her spirits up. Daisy felt +weak. And what was the matter? Only that she had, against +her mother's pleasure, repeated her acknowledgment of the hand +that had given her all good things. How many good things that +day! And was she not to make such acknowledgment any more? +Ought she to please her mother in this? Had she really done +wrong? Daisy could not tell; she thought not; she could not +wish she had not done what she did; but at the same time it +was very miserable to have Mrs. Randolph at odds with her on +such a point as this. + +Daisy shed some tears about it; yet not a great many, and +without the least bitterness in them. But she felt faint and +tired and disappointed. Here, however, at her own room-window, +and alone, there was no bar to thanksgivings; and Daisy had +them in her heart, as well as prayers for the people who had +them not. She was too tired to pray at last; she only knelt at +the window with her arms on the sill, Daisy was raised up on +an ottoman and looked out at the moonlight, feeling as if +she was going into a dream. + +"Miss Daisy!" said the smothered voice of June behind her +"are you there, Miss Daisy?" + +June's accent was doubtful and startled. Daisy turned round. + +"Miss Daisy! I thought you was in the supper-room." + +"No, June I'm here." + +"Will you go to bed, Miss Daisy?" + +"I wish, June, you would get me something to eat, first," said +Daisy, languidly. + +"Didn't you get your supper, Miss Daisy?" + +"No, and I'm hungry. I haven't had anything since the dinner +at the lake. I wish you'd make haste, June." + +June knew from Daisy's way of speaking, as well as from the +facts of the case, that there was some trouble on foot. She +went off to get supper, and as she went along the passages the +mulatto woman's hand was clenched upon itself, though her face +showed only its usual wrinkles. + +Small delay was there before she was back again, and with her +June had brought a supply of very nearly everything there had +been on the supper-table. She set down her tray, prepared a +table for Daisy, and placed a chair. The room was light now +with two wax candles. Daisy sat down and took a review. + +"What will you have now, Miss Daisy? Here's some hot oysters +nice and hot. I'll get you some ice-cream when you're ready to +eat it Hiram's got it in the freezer for you. Make haste, +Miss Daisy these oysters is good." + +But Daisy did not make haste. She looked at the supper tray +thoughtfully. + +"June," she said, with a very gentle pure glance of her eyes +up at the mulatto woman's face "I am very much obliged to +you but I don't think mamma means me to eat these things to- +night Will you just get me some milk and some bread? I'll +take some bread and milk!" + +"Miss Daisy, these oysters is good for you," said June. + +"I'll take some bread and milk to-night if you will please +make haste. Thank you, June." + +"Miss Daisy, then, maybe take a sandwich." + +"No I will have nothing but bread and milk. Only quick, +June." + +June went off for the bread and milk, and then very +unwillingly carried her supper-tray down stairs again. Going +through one of the passages she was met by her master. + +"Where is that coming from, June?" he asked her, in surprise. + +"From Miss Daisy's room, sir." + +"Has she been taking supper up there?" + +"No, sir Miss Daisy wouldn't touch nothing." + +"Is she unwell?" Mr. Randolph asked, in a startled tone. + +"No, sir." June's tone was dry. + +Mr. Randolph marched at once to the room in question, where +Daisy was eating her bread and milk. + +"What are you doing, Daisy?" + +"Papa!" said the child, with a start; and then quietly, "I +am taking my supper." + +"Were you not at the table down stairs?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"How came you not to have your supper there?" + +"I had to come away, papa." + +"Are you not well, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, tenderly, +bending down over her chair. + +"Yes, papa quite well." + +"Then, why did you come away?" + +Daisy's spoon lay still in her fingers and her eyes reddened. +"Mamma sent me." + +If the child was to have any supper at all, Mr. Randolph saw, +he must forbear his questioning. He rose up from leaning over +her chair. "Go on, Daisy " he said; and he left her, but did +not leave the room. He walked up and down the floor at a +little distance, while Daisy finished her bread and milk She +was too much in want of it not to do that. When it was done +she got out of her chair and stood on the floor looking at her +father, as gentle as a young sparrow. He came and wheeled her +chair round and sat down upon it. + +"What is the matter, Daisy?" + +"Mamma was displeased with me." The child dropped her eyes. + +"What about?" + +"Papa" said Daisy, slowly, trying for words and perhaps also +for self-command "mamma was displeased with me because I +" + +"What?" + +"Papa because I did what she did not like at dinner." + +"At dinner? what was that?" + +The child lifted her eyes now to her father's face, a little +wistfully. + +"Papa don't you know? I was only praying a minute." + +Mr. Randolph stretched out his arm, drew Daisy up to him, +placed her on his knee, and looked down into her face. + +"Did you have no supper downstairs?" + +"No, sir." + +"Do you like bread and milk better than other things?" + +"No, papa." + +"I met June with a great tray of supper things, and she said +you would not eat them. Why was that?" + +"Papa," said Daisy, "I thought mamma did not mean me to have +those things to-night." + +"She did not forbid you?" + +"No, papa." + +Mr. Randolph's arm was round Daisy; now he wrapped both arms +about her, bringing her up close to his breast, and putting +down his lips to her face, he kissed her over and over, with a +great tenderness. + +"Have you had a pleasant day?" + +"Papa, I have had a great many pleasant things," said Daisy, +eagerly. Her voice had changed and a glad tone had come into +it. + +"Dr. Sandford took proper care of you?" + +"Papa, he is _very_ good!' said Daisy, strongly. + +"I rather think he thinks you are." + +"He is nice, papa." + +"Nice " said Mr. Randolph. "He is pretty well. But now, +Daisy, what do you think of going to bed and to sleep?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"And to-morrow, if you have got into any difficulty, you may +come to me and talk about it." + +Daisy returned a very earnest caress to her father's good- +night kiss, and afterwards had no difficulty in doing as he +had said. And so ended the day on Silver Lake. + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +RANSOM AND FIDO. + + +Daisy reflected the next morning as to what was her right +course with respect to the action that had troubled her mother +so much. Ought she to do it? In the abstract it was right to +do it; but ought _she_ in these circumstances? And how much of a +Christian's ordinary duty might she be required to forego? and +where must the stand be made? Daisy did not know; she had +rather the mind of a soldier, and was much inclined to obey +her orders, as such, come what might. That is, it seemed to +her that so she would be in the sure and safe way; but Daisy +had no appetite at all for the fighting that this course would +ensure. One thing she knew by experience; that if she drew +upon herself a direct command to do such a thing no more, the +order would stand; there would be no dealing with it +afterwards except in the way of submission. That command she +had not in this case yet received, and she judged it prudent +not to risk receiving it. She went down to breakfast as usual, +but she did not bow her little head to give any thanks or make +any prayers. She hoped the breakfast would pass off quietly. +So it did as to that matter. But another subject came up. + +"What became of you last night at supper, Daisy?" her aunt +asked. "Dr. Sandford was enquiring for you. I think you +received quite your share of attention, for so young a lady, +for my part." + +"Daisy had more than anybody else, yesterday," remarked +Eloise. + +"A sprained or a broken ankle is a very good thing +occasionally," said Mr. Randolph. + +"Yes," said Mrs. Gary "I think Daisy had quite the best time +of anybody yesterday. A palanquin with gentlemen for her +porters, and friendly arms to go to sleep in most devoted +care!" + +"Yes, I was one of her porters," said Ransom. "I think Dr. +Sandford takes rather too much on himself." + +"Did he take _you?_" said Mr. Randolph. + +"Yes, sir, when there was no occasion." + +"Why, Ransom," said Daisy, "there was no one else to carry my +chair but Preston and you." + +"Did Preston feel aggrieved?" asked his uncle. + +"Certainly not, sir," replied the boy. "It was a pleasure." + +"It was not Ransom's business," said Mrs. Randolph. + +"I suppose it was not the doctor's business either," said Mr. +Randolph "though he made it so afterwards." + +"Oh, I dare say it was a pleasure to him, too," said Mrs. +Gary. "Really, the doctor did not take care of anybody +yesterday, that I saw, except Daisy. I thought he admired +Frederica Fish I had heard so but there was nothing of it. +Daisy was quite queen of the day." + +Mr. Randolph smiled. + +Ransom seemed to consider himself insulted. "I suppose that +was the reason," he said, "that she called me worse than a +dog, because I took a meringue from the dinner-spread." + +"Did you do that, Daisy?" asked her mother. + +"No, mamma," said Daisy, low. Her face had flushed with +astonishment and sorrow. + +"You did," said Ransom. "You said just that." + +"Oh, no, Ransom you forget." + +"What _did_ you say, Daisy?" asked her mother. + +"Mamma, I did not say _that_. I said something I did not mean +it for anything like that." + +"Tell me exactly what you did say and no more delay." + +"Wait till after breakfast," said Mr. Randolph. "I wish to be +present at the investigation of this subject, Felicia but I +would rather take it by itself than with my coffee." + +So there was a lull in the storm which seemed to be gathering. +It gave Daisy time to think. She was in a great puzzle. How +she could get through the matter without exposing all Ransom's +behaviour, all at least which went before the blow given to +herself, Daisy did not see; she was afraid that truth would +force her to bring it all out. And she was very unwilling to +do that, because in the first place she had established a full +amnesty in her own heart for all that Ransom had done, and +wished rather for an opportunity to please than to criminate +him; and, in the second place, in her inward consciousness she +knew that Mrs. Randolph was likely to be displeased with her, +in any event. She would certainly, if Daisy were an occasion +of bringing Ransom into disgrace; though the child doubted +privately whether her word would have weight enough with her +mother for that. Ransom also had time to think, and his brow +grew gloomy. An investigation is never what a guilty party +desires; and judging her by himself, Ransom had reason to +dread the chance of retaliation which such a proceeding would +give his little sister. So Daisy and Ransom wore thoughtful +faces during the rest of breakfast-time; and the result of +Ransom's reflections was that the investigation would go on +most pleasantly without him. He made up his mind to slip away, +if he had a chance, and be missing. He had the chance; for Mr. +and Mrs. Randolph were engaged with a call of some neighbours +immediately after breakfast; all thought of the children's +affairs seemed to be departed. Ransom waited a safe time, and +then departed too, with Preston, on an expedition which would +last all the morning. Daisy alone bided the hour, a good deal +disturbed in the view of what it might bring. + +She was summoned at last to the library. Her father and mother +were there alone; but just after Daisy came in she was +followed by Dr. Sandford. The doctor came with a message. Mrs. +Sandford, his sister, he said, sent by him to beg that Daisy +might come to spend the day with Nora Dinwiddie, who much +desired her presence. In the event of a favourable answer, the +doctor said he would himself drive Daisy over, and would call +for that purpose in another hour or two. He delivered his +message, and Mrs. Randolph replied at once that Daisy could +not go; she could not permit it. + +Mr. Randolph saw the flush of hope and disappointment on +Daisy's face and the witness of another kind in her eyes; +though with her characteristic steady self-control she neither +moved nor spoke, and suffered the tears to come no further. +Dr. Sandford saw it too, but he said nothing. Mr. Randolph +spoke. + +"Is that decision on account of Daisy's supposed delinquency +in that matter?" + +"Of course " Mrs. Randolph answered, dryly. + +"Can you explain it, Daisy?" her father asked, gravely, and +kindly drawing her up to his side. Daisy struggled with some +thought. + +"Papa," she said, softly, "will mamma be satisfied to punish +me and let it go so?" + +"Let it go how?" + +"Would she be satisfied with this punishment, I mean, and not +make me say anything more about it?" + +"I should not. I intend to know the whole. Can you explain +it?" + +"I think I can, papa," Daisy said, but with a troubled +unwillingness, her father saw. He saw too that it was not the +unwillingness of a troubled conscience. + +"Dr. Sandford, if you are willing to take the trouble of +stopping without the certainty of taking Daisy back with you, +I have some hopes that the result may be satisfactory to all +parties." + +"_Au revoir_, then," said the doctor, and he strode off. + +"Now, Daisy," said her father, still having his arms about her + "what is it?" + +Mrs. Randolph stood by the table and looked coldly down at the +group. Daisy was under great difficulty; that was plain. + +"Papa I wish Ransom could tell you!" + +"Where is the boy?" + +Mrs. Randolph rang the bell. + +"It is no use, mamma; he has gone off with Preston somewhere." + +"That is a mere subterfuge, Daisy, to gain time." + +Daisy certainly looked troubled enough, and timid also; though +her meek look at her mother did not plead guilty to this +accusation. + +"Speak, Daisy; the telling whatever there is to tell must come +upon you," her father said. "Your business is to explain the +charge Ransom has brought against you." + +All Daisy's meditations had not brought her to the point of +knowing what to say in this conjuncture. She hesitated. + +"Speak, Daisy!" her father said, peremptorily. + +"Papa, they had put me Eloise and Theresa Stanfield they +had put me to watch the things." + +"What things?" + +"The dinner the things that had been taken out of the hampers +and were spread on the tablecloth, where we dined." + +"Watch for fear the fishes would carry them off?" + +"No, sir, but Fido; Ransom's dog; he was running about." + +"Oh! Well? " + +"I kept Fido off, but I could not keep Ransom " Daisy said, +low. "He was taking things." + +"And why should he not?" said Mrs. Randolph, coldly. "Why +should not Ransom take a sandwich, or a peach, if he wanted +one? or anything else, if he was hungry. There was enough +provision for everybody." + +Daisy looked up at her mother, with a quick refutation of this +statement of the case in her mind, but something stayed her +lips. Mr. Randolph saw and read the look. He put his arm round +Daisy and drew her up to him, speaking with grave decision. + +"Daisy, say all you have to say at once do you hear me? and +spare neither for Ransom nor yourself. Tell all there is to be +told, without any shuffling." + +"Papa, I should not have objected to his having a sandwich +or as many as he liked. I should have thought it was proper. +But he took the meringues and so many that the dish was left +very small; and then he carried off Joanna's lark pie, the +whole of it; and he did not mind what I said; and then, I +believe I suppose that is what Ransom meant I believe I +told him he was worse than Fido." + +"Was Ransom offended at that?" + +"Yes, papa. He did not like my speaking to him at all." + +"Of course not," said Mrs. Randolph. "Boys never like to be +tutored by girls; and Daisy must expect her brother will not +like it if she meddles with him; and especially if she +addresses such language to him." + +"I said only exactly that, mamma." + +"Ransom put it differently." + +A flush came up all over Daisy's face; she looked at her +mother appealingly, but said nothing and the next moment her +eyes fell. + +"Did Ransom answer you at the time, Daisy?" + +"Yes, sir," Daisy said, in a low voice. + +"How?" + +"Papa! " said Daisy, confounded. + +"What did he say to you?" + +"He did not say much " said Daisy. + +"Tell me what his answer was?" + +"Papa, he struck my ears," said Daisy. A great crimson glow +came all over her face, and she hid it in her father's breast; +like an injured thing running to shelter. Mr. Randolph was +lying on a sofa; he folded his arm round Daisy, but spoke +never a word. Mrs. Randolph moved impatiently. + +"Boys will do such things," she said. "It is very absurd in +Daisy to mind it. Boys will do such things she must learn +that it is not her place or business to find fault with her +brother. I think she deserved what she got. It will teach +her a lesson." + + +"Boys shall not do such things in my house," said Mr. +Randolph, in his usual quiet manner. + +"As you please!" said the lady, in a very dissatisfied way; +"but I think it is only what all boys do." + +"Felicia, I wish to reverse your decision about this day's +pleasure. Seeing Daisy has had her lesson, do you not think +she might be indulged with the play after it?" + +"As you please!" returned the lady, very dryly. + +"Do you want to go, Daisy?" + +"If you please, papa." Daisy spoke without showing her face. + +"Is Mr. Dinwiddie at Mrs. Sandford's?" inquired Mrs. Randolph. + +"Oh, no, mamma!" Daisy looked up. "He is not coming. He is +gone a great way off. I do not suppose he is ever coming here +again; and Nora is going away soon." + +Mrs. Randolph moved off. + +"Felicia " said her husband. The lady paused. "I intend that +Ransom shall have a lesson, too. I shall take away the +remaining week of his vacation. To-morrow he goes back to +school. I tell you, that you may give the necessary orders." + +"For this boy's freak, Mr. Randolph?" + +"For what you please. He must learn that such behaviour is not +permitted here." + +Mrs. Randolph did not share the folly with which she charged +Daisy; for she made no answer at all, and only with a slight +toss of her haughty head resumed her walk out of the room. +Daisy would fain have spoken, but she did not dare; and for +some minutes after they were left alone her father and she +were profoundly silent. Mr. Randolph revolving the behaviour +of Daisy as he now understood it; her willing silence and +enforced speech, and the gentleness manifested towards her +brother, with the meek obedience rendered to her mother and +himself. Perhaps his thoughts went deeper still. While Daisy +reflected with sorrow on the state of mind sure to be produced +now both in Ransom and Mrs. Randolph towards her. A matter +which she could do nothing to help. She did not dare say one +word to change her father's purpose about Ransom; she knew +quite well it would be no use. She stood silent by his sofa, +one little hand resting fondly on his shoulder, but profoundly +quiet. Then she remembered that she had something else to talk +about. + +"Papa" she said, wheeling round a little to face him. + +"Well, Daisy?" + +"Do you feel like talking?" + +"Hardly it is so hot," said Mr. Randolph. "Set open that +sash-door a little more, Daisy. Now come here. What is it?" + +"Shall I wait till another time, papa?" + +"No." + +He had passed an arm round her, and she stood as before with +one hand resting on his shoulder. + +"Papa it was about what last night you said I might talk +to you about." + +"I remember. Go on, Daisy." + +"Papa," said the child, a little in doubt how to go on "I +want to do what is right." + +"There is generally little difficulty in doing that, Daisy." + +Daisy thought otherwise! + +"Papa, I think mamma does not like me to do what I think is +right," she said, very low and humbly. + +"Your mother is the best judge, Daisy. What are you talking +about?" + +"_That_, papa that you said I might talk to you about." + +"What is it? Let us understand one another clearly." + +"About it was only that I liked to pray and give thanks a +minute at meal times." Daisy spoke very softly and as if she +would fain not have spoken. + +"That is a mere indifferent ceremony, Daisy, which some people +perform. It is not binding on you, certainly, if your mother +has any objection to your doing it." + +"But, papa," Daisy began eagerly, and then checked herself, +and went on slowly "you would not like it if you were to +give me anything, and I should not thank you?" + +"Cases are not parallel, Daisy." + +She wondered in her simplicity why they were not; but her +questions had already ventured pretty far; she did not dare +count too much upon her father's gentleness. She stood looking +at him with unsatisfied eyes. + +"In one sense we receive everything we have from the bounty of +Heaven." + +"Yes, papa." + +"If your wish were carried out, we should be covering our +faces all the time if that formality is needed in giving +thanks." + +Daisy had thoughts, but she was afraid to utter them. She +looked at Mr. Randolph with the same unsatisfied eyes. + +"Do you see, Daisy?" + +"No, papa." + +"Don't you!" said Mr. Randolph, smiling. "Difficulties still +unsolved. Can you state them, Daisy?" + +"Papa, you said I might show you in the Bible things do you +remember?" + +"Things? What things?" + +"Papa, if I wanted to do things that I thought were right +you promised that if you thought they were in the Bible, I +might do as it said." + +"Humph!" said Mr. Randolph, with a very doubtful sort of a +grunt, between displeasure at his own word, and annoyance at +the trouble it might bring upon him. Nevertheless, he +remembered the promise. Daisy went on timidly. + +"When you get up by and by, papa, may I show you what is +in the Bible?" + +"You need not wait till I get up show it to me now." + +"I cannot lift that big Bible, papa." + +Mr. Randolph rose up from the sofa, went to the shelves where +it lay, and brought the great Bible to the library table. Then +stood and watched Daisy, who kneeled in a chair by the table +and busily turned over the large leaves, her little face very +wise and intent, her little hands small to manage the big book +before her. Had such a child and such a book anything to do +with each other, Mr. Randolph thought. But Daisy presently +found her place, and looking up at him drew a little back that +her father might see it. He stooped over Daisy and read, "In +everything give thanks." + +"Do you see it, papa?" + +"Yes." + +"Then here is another place I know where to find it " + +She turned over more leaves, stopped again, and Mr. Randolph +stooped and read, "Giving thanks always for all things unto +God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." + +Mr. Randolph read, and went and threw himself on his sofa +again. Daisy came beside him. A wistful earnestness in the one +face; a careless sort of embarrassment on the other. + +"You are led astray, little Daisy, by a common mistake of +ignorant readers. You fancy that these words are to be taken +literally whereas they mean simply that we should cultivate +a thankful spirit. That, of course, I agree to." + +"But, papa," said Daisy, "is a thankful spirit the same thing +quite as giving thanks?" + +"It is a much better thing, Daisy, in my opinion." + +"But, papa, would not a thankful spirit like to _give_ thanks?" + +"I have no objection, Daisy." + +The tears came into Daisy's eyes. Her mother _had_. + +"Papa " + +"Well? Let us get to the end of this difficulty if we can." + +"I am afraid we cannot, papa. Because if you had told me to do +a thing so, you would mean it just so, and I should do it." + +Mr. Randolph wrapped his arms round Daisy and brought her +close to his breast. "Look here, Daisy," said he "tell me. +Do you really try to give thanks everywhere, and for all +things, as the word says?" + +"I do not _try_, papa I like to do it." + +"Do you give thanks for _everything?_" + +"I think I do, papa; for everything that gives me pleasure." + +"For Mrs. Sandford's invitation to-day, for instance." + +"Oh, yes, papa," said Daisy, smiling. + +He brought the little head down within reach of his lips and +kissed it a good many times. + +"I wish my little Daisy would not think so much." + +"I think only to know what is right to do, papa." + +"It is right to mind mamma and me, and let us think for you." + +"And the Bible, papa?" + +"You are quite growing an old woman a good while before the +time." + +Daisy kissed him with good childlike kisses, laying her little +head in his neck and clasping her arms around him; for all +that, her heart was busy yet. + +"Papa," she said, "what do you think is right for me to do?" + +"Thinking exhausts me, Daisy. It is too hot to-day for such an +exercise." + +Daisy drew back and looked at him, with one hand resting on +his shoulder. She did not dare urge any more in words; her +look spoke her anxious, disappointed questioning of her +father's meaning. Perhaps he did not care to meet such a gaze +of inquiry, for he pulled her down again in his arms. + +"I do not want you to be an old woman." + +"But, papa that is not the thing." + +"I will not have it, Daisy." + +"Papa," she said with a small laugh, "what shall I do to help +it? I do not know how I came to be an old woman?" + +"Go off and play with Nora Dinwiddie. Are you ready to go?" + +"Yes, papa except my hat and gloves." + +"Do not think any more to-day. I will think for you by and by. +But, Daisy, why should you and I set ourselves up to be better +than other people?" + +"How, papa?" + +"Do you know anybody else that lives up to your views on the +subject of thanksgiving?" + +"Oh, yes, papa." + +"Who?" + +Daisy softly said, "Juanita does, papa, I think." + +"A poor ignorant woman, Daisy, and very likely full of +superstitions. Her race often are." + +"What is a superstition, papa?" + +"A religious notion which has no foundation in truth." + +"Then papa, can it be superstition to do just what God tells +us to do?" + +"You are too deep for me, Daisy," said Mr. Randolph, +languidly. "Go and get ready for Dr. Sandford. He will be here +presently." + +So Daisy went, feeling very uncertain of the result of her +talk, but doubtful and discouraged. Mr. Randolph had a book in +hand when she returned to the library: she could not speak to +him any more; and soon indeed the doctor came, helped her into +his gig, and drove off with her. + +Now it was pleasant. The fine gravelled roads in the grounds +of Melbourne were in beautiful order after the rain; no dust +rose yet, and all the trees and flowers were in a refreshed +state of life and sweetness. Truly it was a very hot day, but +Daisy found nothing amiss. Neither, apparently, did the +doctor's good horse. He trotted along without seeming to mind +the sun; and Daisy in a good deal of glee enjoyed everything. +It was private glee in her own mind; she did not offer any +conversation; and the doctor, of Mr. Randolph's mind, perhaps, +that it was a warm day, threw himself back in his seat and +watched her lazily. Daisy on the contrary sat up and looked +busily out. They drove in the first place for a good distance +through her own home grounds, coming out to the public road by +the church where Mr. Pyne preached, and near which the +wintergreens grew. It looked beautiful this morning, with its +ivy all washed and fresh from the rain. Indeed all nature was +in a sort of glittering condition. When they came out on the +public way it was still beautiful; no dust, and fields and +grass and trees all shining. + +The road they travelled now was one scarce known to Daisy; the +carriages from Melbourne never went that way; another was +always chosen at the beginning of all their excursions whether +of business or pleasure. No gentlemen's seats were to be seen; +an occasional farmhouse stood in the midst of its crops and +meadows; and more frequently a yet poorer sort of house stood +close by the roadside. The road in this place was sometimes +rough, and the doctor's good horse left his trot and picked +his way slowly along, giving Daisy by this means an +opportunity to inspect everything more closely. There was +often little pleasure in the inspection. About half a mile +from the church, Daisy's attention was drawn by one of these +poor houses. It was very small, unpainted and dreary-looking, +having a narrow court-yard between it and the road. As the gig +was very slowly going past, Daisy uttered an exclamation, the +first word she had uttered in a long while. + +"Oh, Dr. Sandford! what is that? Something is the matter!" + +"No," said the doctor coolly, "nothing is the matter more +than usual." + +"But a woman was on her hands and knees on the ground? Wasn't +it a woman?" + +"Yes. She cannot move about in any other way. She is a +cripple." + +"She cannot stand up?" said Daisy, looking distressed and +horrified. + +"No. She has no use of her lower limbs. She is accustomed to +it, Daisy; she never had the use of them, or never for a very +long while." + +"Is she _old?_" + +"Pretty old, I fancy. But she does not know her age herself, +and nobody else knows it." + +"Has she got nice people to take care of her?" + +The doctor smiled at the earnest little face. "She has +nobody." + +"No one to take care of her?" said Daisy. + +"No. She lives there alone." + +"But, Dr. Sandford, how does she do how does she manage?" + +"In some way that would be difficult for you and me to +understand, I suppose like the ways of the beavers and +wasps." + +"I can understand those," said Daisy, "they were made to get +along as they do; they have got all they want." + +Daisy was silent, musing, for a little time; then she broke +out again. + +"Isn't she very miserable, Dr. Sandford?" + +"She is a very crabbed old thing, so the inference is fair +that she is miserable. In fact, I do not see how she can avoid +it." + +Daisy pondered perhaps this misery which she could so little +imagine; however, she let the subject drop as to any more +words about it. She was only what the doctor called "quaintly +sober," all the rest of the way. + +"Why, she looks child-like and bright enough now," said Mrs. +Sandford, to whom he made the remark. + +Daisy and Nora were exchanging mutual gratulations. The doctor +looked at them. + +"At the rate in which she is growing old," said he, "she will +have the soul of Methuselah in a body of twenty years." + +"I don't believe it," said Mrs. Sandford. + +Nora and Daisy had a great day of it. Nothing broke the full +flow of business and pleasure during all the long hours; the +day was not hot to them, nor the shadows long in coming. +Behind the house there was a deep grassy dell through which a +brook ran. Over this brook in the dell a great black walnut +tree cast its constant flickering shadow; flickering when the +wind played in the leaves and branches, although to-day the +air was still and sultry, and the leaves and the shadows were +still too, and did not move. But there was life enough in the +branches of the old walnut, for a large family of grey +squirrels had established themselves there. Old and young, +large and small; it was impossible to tell, by counting, how +many there might be in the family; at least now, while they +were going in and out and running all over; but Nora said Mrs. +Sandford had counted fifteen of them at one time. That was in +cold weather, when they had gathered on the piazza to get the +nuts she threw to them. This kind of intercourse with society +had made the squirrels comparatively tame, so that they had no +particular objections to show themselves to the two children; +and when Nora and Daisy kept quiet they had great +entertainment in watching the gambols of the pretty grey +creatures. One in particular, the mother of the family, Nora +said, was bolder or more familiar than the rest; and came +often and came pretty near, to look at the children with her +bright little eyes, and let them see her beautiful feathery +tail and graceful motions. It was a great delight to Daisy. +Nora had seen them before, as she said, and did not care quite +so much about the sight. + +"I wonder what use squirrels are?" said Daisy. + +"I guess they are not of any use," said Nora. + +"Oh, I guess everything is of use." + +"Why, no, it isn't," said Nora. "Grass is not of any use." + +"Oh, Nora! Think what would the cows and horses do?" + +"Well, then, stones are not of any use." + +"Yes, they are to build houses don't you know?" + +"Houses might be built of wood," said Nora. + +"So they might. But then, Nora, wooden houses would not last +so long as stone ones." + +"Well people could build new ones." + +"But houses might be wanted where there was not wood enough to +build them." + +"I never saw such a place," said Nora. "I never saw a place +where there was not wood enough. And if there is such a place +anywhere, people could not live in it, because they would have +nothing to make fires with." + +Daisy considered. + +"But Nora, I think it cannot be so. I guess everything is made +for some use. Dr. Sandford told me yesterday what the use is +of those queer brown leaves that grow upon rocks you know +and the use of little mosses, that I never thought before were +good for anything. They are to begin to prepare a place on the +rocks where things can grow." + +"Why, they grow themselves," said Nora. + +"Yes, but I mean other things ferns and flowers and other +things." + +"Well, what is the use of _them?_" said Nora. + +"Oh, Nora just think how pretty they are." + +"But prettiness isn't use." + +"I think it is," said Daisy; "and I dare say they have other +uses that we do not know. And I think, Nora, that God would +not have taken such care to dress up the old rocks if the +rocks were no good." + +"Did He do it?" said Nora. + +"Why, certainly. He did everything, you know." + +"Of course; but I thought they just grew," said Nora. + +The children were silent a little, watching the squirrels. +Daisy began again abruptly. + +"Nora, did you ever see that crippled woman that lives on the +mill road a little way from our church?" + +"Old Molly Skelton, do you mean?" + +"I do not know what her name is she cannot walk; she creeps +about as if she had no legs." + +"I've seen her. Isn't she horrid?" + +"Did you ever see her near by?" + +"No, I guess I haven't. I have heard Duke tell about her." + +"What? do tell me." + +"Oh, she's a horrid old thing that is all I know." + +"How, horrid?" + +"Why, she is wicked, and she don't know anything. She would +hardly listen to Marmaduke when he wanted to talk to her." + +"Has she got a Bible, I wonder?" said Daisy, in an awestruck +voice. + +"She? She can't read. She don't know anything; and she is as +ugly and cross as she can be." + +"Was she cross to Mr. Dinwiddie?" + +"Yes, indeed. He said he never saw such a crabbed old thing. +Oh, she's horrid. I don't like to ride by that way." + +The children were called in to dinner, and kept in the house +by Mrs. Sandford during the intensest heat of the day. But +when the afternoon was cooling off, or at least growing less +oppressive, the two children again sought the shade under the +walnut tree, where the gurgle of the water over the stones, +and the company of the squirrels in the tree, made the place +pleasant. And there they sat down in a great state of mutual +contentment. Nora's feet were swinging about for very jollity. +But Daisy sat still. Perhaps she was tired. Nevertheless it +could not be that which made her little face by and by take on +it as profound an expression as if she had been looking over +all Methuselah's years. + +"Nora " said Daisy, and stopped. + +"What?" said Nora, kicking her heels. + +"You know that poor old crippled woman what did you call +her?" + +"Molly Skelton." + +"Suppose you were in her place what do you think you would +wish for," + +"In her place!" said Nora. "I should wish for everything." + +"Yes, but I mean, things that you could have." + +"I should wish some doctor would come and make me straight, +the first thing; and then " + +"No, Nora, but I mean, things that might be possible, you +know. I do not mean things like a fairy tale." + +"I don't know," said Nora. "I don't believe Molly Skelton +wishes for anything." + +"But what would you wish for, in her place?" + +"I should want to be straight, and stand and go about like +other people." + +"Yes, Nora, but I say! I mean, what would you wish for that +would not be impossible?" + +"Why, Daisy, how funny! Let me see. I should wish that +somebody would come and be good to me, I think." + +"How?" + +"Oh tell me stories and read to me, and take tea with me +and I don't know what!" + +"Do you suppose nobody ever does take tea with her?" said +Daisy, upon whose fancy a new shadow of wretchedness darkened. + +"I guess not," said Nora. "I don't believe anybody would. I +guess nobody likes her well enough, she is so bad." + +"Who gets her tea for her then?" + +"Why, nobody. She does it herself." + +"How can she?" + +"I don't know. Marmaduke says she keeps her house clean too, +though she only goes about on her hands and knees." + +"Nora," said Daisy, "that isn't like the Bible." + +"What isn't?" + +"Don't you remember what the Bible says? that whatever we +would like other people to do to us, we should do so to them." + +"What do you mean, Daisy?" + +"I mean just so." + +"But what isn't like the Bible?" + +"Why to let that poor old woman go without what we would +like if we were in her place." + +"Why, Daisy! Molly Skelton! The Bible does not mean that we +ought to go and make visits to such horrid people as that." + +"You said you would like it if you were in her place," +observed Daisy, "and I know I should. I thought so when you +told me." + +"But, Daisy, she is wicked!" + +"Well, Jesus loves wicked people," said Daisy, calmly. "Maybe +she will wear a white robe in heaven, and have a crown of gold +upon her head." + +"Daisy! she is wicked," exclaimed Nora, indignantly. "Wicked +people do not go to heaven." + +"Yes, but if Jesus gives them His white robe, they do," said +Daisy. "He came to save wicked people." + +"I don't want to talk any more about Molly Skelton," said +Nora. "Look, Daisy! there's the old mother squirrel peeping +out of her hole. Do you see? Now she is coming out see her +black eyes! now there's her beautiful feather tail!" + +This subject was to the full as interesting to Daisy as it was +to her friend; and in watching the grey family in the walnut +tree, and trying to induce them to come near and get some +almonds, the rest of the afternoon flew by. Only the "mother +squirrel" could be tempted near; but she, older in experience +and wisdom than her young ones, did venture into the +neighbourhood of the children, attracted by the nuts they +threw down; and getting pretty close to them, before she would +venture quite so far as where the nuts lay, she sat down on +her haunches to look and see whether all were safe; curling +her thick, light plume of a tail up along her back, or +whisking it about in various lines of beauty, while her bright +little black eyes took all the observations they were equal +to. It was unending amusement for the children; and then to +see Mrs. Bunny finally seize an almond and spring away with +it, was very charming. So the afternoon sped; nor ever brought +one moment of weariness, until the summons came to bid the +children into the house again to tea. + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +MRS. GARY'S PRESENT. + + +After tea the doctor took Daisy in his gig and drove her home. +The drive was unmarked by a single thing; except that just as +they were passing the cripple's house Daisy broke silence and +asked, "Is that woman Molly Skelton is she very poor, Dr. +Sandford?" + +"If to live on charity be poor. I do not suppose the +neighbours let her suffer." + +"Is she cross to everybody, Dr. Sandford?" + +"She has the name of it, I believe, Daisy. I really do not +remember whether she was cross to me or not." + +"Then you know her?" + +"Yes. I know everybody." + +The family at Melbourne were found just taking their late tea +as the doctor and Daisy entered. They were met with complaints +of the heat; though Daisy thought the drawing room was +exceeding pleasant, the air came in at the long windows with +such gentle freshness from the river. + +The doctor took a cup of tea and declared the day was +excellent if you only rode fifty miles through the heat of it. +"Coolness is coolness, after that," he said. + +Daisy sat in a corner and wondered at the people. Hot? and +suffocating? she had no recollection of any such thing all +day. How delicious it had been in that green dell under the +walnut tree, with the grey squirrels! + +"How has it been with you, Daisy?" said her aunt at last. + +"Nice, aunt Gary." + +Two or three people smiled; Daisy's favourite word came out +with such a dulcet tone of a smooth and clear spirit. It was a +syrup drop of sweetness in the midst of flat and acid +qualities. + +"It has been satisfactory, has it?" said her aunt, in a tone +which did not share the character. "Come here, Daisy I have +got something for you. You know I robbed you a little while +ago, and promised to try to find something to make amends. Now +come and see if I have done it. Preston, fetch that box here." + +A neat wooden case of some size was brought by Preston and set +at his mother's feet. Mrs. Gary unlocked it, and went on to +take out of its enveloping coverings a very elegant French +doll; a real empress Eugιnie. The doll's face was even +modelled into some likeness to the beauty she was named after; +a diadem sat gracefully on her head, and her robes were a +miniature imitation of royalty, but very exquisitely +fashioned. Everybody exclaimed at the perfection of the +beautiful toy, except Daisy herself who stood quite still and +quiet looking at it. Mrs. Gary had not done yet. The empress +had a wardrobe; and such variety and elegance and finish of +attire of all sorts rarely falls to the lot of a doll. A very +large wardrobe it was, and every article perfectly finished +and well made as if meant for actual wear. Mrs. Gary displayed +her present; Daisy looked on, standing by her father's knee +and with one hand resting on it. + +"Have you nothing to say to express your pleasure, Daisy?" +This was Mrs. Randolph's question. + +Daisy at the word pronounced a sober "I thank you, aunt Gary." +But it was so very sober and passionless that Mrs. Randolph +grew impatient. + +"I do not hear you express any pleasure, Daisy," she said, +meaningly. + +Daisy turned her face towards her mother with a doubtful look, +and was silent. + +"Speak!" said Mrs. Randolph. + +"What, mamma?" + +"Whatever you choose, to show your sense of your aunt's +kindness." + +"Do not concern yourself, my dear," said her sister. "I am +sorry if I have failed in meeting Daisy's taste that is +all." + +"Daisy, speak, or leave the room" said Mrs. Randolph. + +"Mamma," said Daisy, pushed into a corner, "I would speak, but +I do not know what to say." + +"Tell your aunt Gary she has given you a great deal of +pleasure." + +Daisy looked again mutely at her mother, somewhat distressed. + +"Tell her so, Daisy!" Mrs. Randolph repeated, in a tone of +command. + +"I cannot, mamma " the child answered, sorrowfully. + +"Do you mean to tell your aunt that her exquisite present +gives you _no_ pleasure?" + +"I did not intend to tell her so," Daisy answered, in a low +voice. Another storm rising! Storms seemed to get up very +easily in these days. + +"My dear," said Mrs. Gary, "do not concern yourself. It is not +of the least consequence, as far as I am concerned. Preston, +remove this box. If Daisy chooses to receive it, perhaps it +will find more favour at another time." + +Mrs. Gary got up and moved off. + +"Mr. Randolph, I will trouble you to dismiss Daisy," said his +wife. "If she cannot behave properly she cannot be in the room +with me." + +Daisy was still standing with her hand on her father's knee. +The other little hand came for a moment across her brows and +rested there; but she would not cry; her lip did not even +tremble. + +"First let me understand," said her father; and he lifted +Daisy on his knee kindly. "Daisy, I never saw you uncivil +before." + +"Papa, I am very sorry " said the child. + +"Can you explain it?" + +"Papa, I would have been civil if I could; but I had nothing +to say." + +"That is the very place where a person of good manners shows +himself different from a person who has no manners at all. +Good manners finds something to say." + +"But, papa, there was nothing _true_." + +"The doll gave you no pleasure?" + +"No, papa," said Daisy, low. + +"And you felt no obligation for the thoughtfulness and +kindness of your aunt in getting for you so elegant a +present?" + +Daisy hesitated and flushed. + +"Daisy, answer," said her father, gravely. + +"No, papa," Daisy said, low as before. + +"Why not?" + +"Papa," said Daisy, with a good deal of difficulty and +hesitation "that is all passed I do not want to say +anything more about it." + +"About what?" + +"About papa, I do not think mamma would like to have me talk +about it." + +"Go on, Daisy. About what?" + +"All that trouble we had, papa." + +"What I want to know is, why you did not feel grateful for +your aunt's kindness just now, which she had been at some +pains to show you." + +"Papa," said Daisy, wistfully, "it was not kindness it was +pay; and I did not want pay." + +"Pay? For what?" + +"For my Egyptian spoon, papa." + +"I do not understand what you are talking of, Daisy." + +"No, papa," said Daisy; so simply showing her wish that he +should not, as well as her knowledge that he did not, that Mr. +Randolph could not forbear smiling. + +"But I mean to understand it," he said. + +"It was my old Egyptian spoon, papa; the doll was meant to be +pay for that." + +A little explanation was necessary in order to bring to Mr. +Randolph's mind the facts Daisy referred to, the spoon itself +and the time and occasion when it was bestowed on her. + +"Did you give your Egyptian spoon to your aunt Gary?" + +"I said she might have it, papa." + +"Unwillingly?" + +"No, papa willingly." + +"In exchange for this doll?" + +"Oh, no, papa not in exchange for anything. I did not want +any exchange." + +"If I remember, Daisy," said Mr. Randolph, "your aunt Gary +desired to have that spoon the very day it was given to you; +and I thought you did not wish she should have it?" + +"No, papa so I didn't." + +"Your mind changed afterward?" + +"I do not think my mind changed," said Daisy, slowly "but I +was willing she should have it." + +"Daisy, this whole affair is a mystery to me yet. In this +case, why was it not kind in your aunt to bestow this French +doll upon you? It seems to me very kind." + +"Yes papa you do not understand." + +"Make me understand. Daisy, I command you to tell me all that +you have not told me. You need not think of anything now, +except my command." + +Daisy did, perhaps; for now her lip quivered slightly; and for +a moment she hid her face, in her father's bosom. Mr. Randolph +wrapped his arms round her and stooped his head to hear the +story which Daisy was obliged to give. She gave it fully, and +he heard it quite through in silence. And he made no +observation upon it when it was finished; he only asked her, +"Was there no resentment in your refusal of thanks to your +aunt just now?" + +"No, papa" said Daisy; with too sweet and artless utterance +for him to doubt her. + +"But, then, Daisy, we come back to the cause of your mother's +displeasure. Good breeding requires that people should not be +rude, even by silence." + +"Papa, I did not know how to be polite with truth." + +"You could have said you were very much obliged to your aunt." + +"But, I was _not_, papa." + +"Not obliged to her?" + +"No, sir." + +"But, Daisy, that is a civil form of expression which it is +usual to avail oneself of upon such occasions. It does not +necessarily mean much." + +"But, papa, would she not have thought I meant it, if I had +said so?" + +"Very likely. That is the polite advantage gained." + +"But papa, _I_ should have known that I did not mean it; and it +would not have been true." + +"This is getting to be too deep a question for you to discuss +to-night it is time for you to go to bed. But I cannot have +you rude." + +Daisy kissed her father, who had been extremely gentle and +tender with her, and went off to her room. Mr. Randolph's brow +looked moody. + +"Have you brought Daisy's ideas into order?" asked his wife, +who had been engaged in conversation with Dr. Sandford. + +"She has rather brought confusion into mine," said the +gentleman. + +"What is the matter?" + +"Truth and Daisy, _versus_ civility and the world. And it is not +so easy to make a child comprehend some of the fine +distinctions we are accustomed to draw. White and black are +_very_ white and black, to such eyes, and no allowance is made +for a painter's lights and shades." + +"She must make allowance for what your eyes see," said Mrs. +Randolph. + +Mr. Randolph made no answer. + +"Daisy is entirely changed," her mother went on, "and is +become utterly obstinate and unmanageable. Perfectly self- +important too she thinks there is no wisdom now but her own. +I may thank you for it, Dr. Sandford." + +"You do me too much honour," said the doctor. + +"It is an honour you share with Mr. Dinwiddie." + +"I did not know I shared anything with Mr. Dinwiddie." + +"He has infected the child with a set of perfectly fanatical +notions; and you persisted in keeping her under that +creature's care, where they had time to grow strong." + +"I will do all I can to repair mischief done," said the +doctor. "Mrs. Benoit is a good nurse for the body, and you +will bear me witness it was for repairs of _that_ I was called +in. What is the other damage referred to?" + +"Fanaticism." + +"Rather young for that disease to take deep root," said the +doctor. + +"Anything takes deep root in Daisy; whatever she takes up she +holds to." + +"I advise you to let her be fanatical then a little while +longer," said the doctor, "till she has time to lay up some +strength." + +And the doctor took his departure. + +"I am sure that is wise counsel, Felicia," Mr. Randolph said. +But the lady made him no answer. + +Ransom went off to school the next day, as his father had +promised. Mrs. Randolph looked very gloomy; Mrs. Gary looked +lot otherwise; and Daisy thought the mental and social horizon +foreboded stormy weather. But very happily, as it seemed to +her, before dinner there was an arrival of some expected +visitors, coming to stay for a time in the house. They had +been desired as well as expected; there was a famous lady and +a learned gentleman among them; and every eye and ear were +taken up with attending to their words or waiting upon their +movements. Daisy and her concerns were, she thought, +forgotten. + +She enjoyed the feeling of this for a little while; and then +ordered her pony chaise. And presently you might have seen a +little figure in a white frock come out upon the front steps, +with a large flat on her head, and driving gloves on her +hands, and in one of them a little basket. Down the steps she +came and took her place in the chaise and gathered up the +reins. The black pony was ready, with another boy in place of +Sam; nobody interfered with her; and off they went, the wheels +of the little chaise rolling smoothly over the gravel, Loupe +in a gentle waddling trot, and Daisy in a contented state of +mind. It was very pleasant! Clear sunny air, yet not too hot, +and the afternoon shadows beginning to make all things look +lovely. Daisy took the way to the church, passed out upon the +high road, and turned the pony's head in the direction which +she had taken with Dr. Sandford the day before. She did not go +quite so fast, however; so that it was a little time before +she came in sight of the poor old house which she recognised +as Molly Skelton's. Daisy drew the reins then, and let Loupe +walk slowly up a slight ascent in the road which led to it. +But when the chaise was fairly opposite the house door, Daisy +drew the reins still more and brought Loupe to a standstill. +She peered forth then anxiously to see if the poor old inmate +of the house were to be seen anywhere. + +As she looked, the house door opened; and with a very +straitened and touched heart Daisy watched the crippled old +creature come from within, crawl down over the door step, and +make her slow way into the little path before the house. A +path of a few yards ran from the road to the house door, and +it was bordered with a rough-looking array of flowers. +Rough-looking, because they were set or had sprung up rather +confusedly, and the path between had no care but was only worn +by the feet of travellers and the hands and knees of the poor +inhabitant of the place. Yet some sort of care was bestowed on +the flowers themselves, for no weeds had been suffered to +choke them; and even the encroaching grass had been removed +from trespassing too nearly on their little occupation of +ground. The flowers themselves shot up and grew as they had a +mind. Prince's feather was conspicuous, and some ragged +balsams. A few yellow marigolds made a forlorn attempt to look +bright, and one tall sunflower raised its great head above all +the rest; proclaiming the quality of the little kingdom where +it reigned. + +The poor cripple moved down a few steps from the house door, +and began grubbing with her hands around the roots of a bunch +of balsams. Daisy looked a minute or two, very still, and then +bade the boy hold her pony; while, without troubling herself +about his mystification, she got out of the chaise, and, +basket in hand, opened the wicket, and softly went up the +path. The neat little shoes and spotless white dress were +close beside the poor creature grubbing there in the ground +before she knew it, and there they stood still; Daisy was a +good deal at a loss how to speak. She was not immediately +perceived; the head of the cripple had a three-cornered +handkerchief thrown over it to defend it from the sun, and she +was earnestly grubbing at the roots of her balsam; the earth- +stained fingers and the old brown stuff dress, which was of +course dragged along in the dirt too, made a sad contrast with +the spotless freshness of the little motionless figure that +was at her side, almost touching her. Daisy concluded to wait +till she should be seen, and then speak, though how to speak +she did not very well know, and she rather dreaded the moment. + +It came, when, in throwing her weeds aside, a glance of the +cripple saw, instead of stones and grass, two very neat and +black and well-shaped little shoes planted there almost within +reach of her hand. She drew herself back from the balsam, and +looked sideways up, to see what the shoes belonged to. Daisy +saw her face then; it was a bad face; so disagreeable that she +looked away from it instantly to the balsams. + +"What are you doing to your flowers?" she asked, gently. + +The gentle little child-voice seemed to astonish the woman, +although after an instant she made surly answer, "Whose +business is it?" + +"Wouldn't it be easier," said Daisy, not looking at her, "if +you had something to help you get the weeds up? Don't you want +a fork, or a hoe, or something?" + +"I've got forks," said the cripple, sullenly. "I use 'em to +eat with." + +"No, but I mean, something to help you with the weeds," said +Daisy "that sort of fork, or a trowel." + +The woman spread her brown fingers of both hands, like birds' +claws, covered with the dirt in which she had been digging. +"I've got forks enough," she said, savagely "there's what +goes into my weeds. Now go 'long! " + +The last words were uttered with a sudden jerk, and as she +spoke them she plunged her hands into the dirt, and bringing +up a double handful, cast it with a spiteful fling upon the +neat little black shoes. Woe to white stockings, if they had +been visible; but Daisy's shoes came up high and tight around +her ankle, and the earth thrown upon them fell off easily +again; except only that it lodged in the eyelet holes of the +boot-lacing and sifted through a little there, and some had +gone as high as the top of the boot and fell in. Quite +enough to make Daisy uncomfortable, besides that the action +half frightened her. She quitted the ground, went back to her +pony chaise without even attempting to do anything with the +contents of her basket. Daisy could go no further with her +feet in this condition She turned the pony's head, and drove +back to Melbourne. + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE ROSE-BUSH. + + +"Will I take him to the stable, Miss Daisy?" inquired the boy, +as Daisy got out at the back door. + +"No. Just wait a little for me, Lewis." + +Upstairs went Daisy; took off her boots and got rid of the +soil they had brought home; that was the first thing. Then, in +spotless order again, she went back to Lewis and inquired +where Logan was at work. Thither she drove the pony chaise. + +"Logan," said Daisy, coming up to him she had left Loupe in +Lewis's care "what do you use to help you get up weeds?" + +"Maybe a hoe, Miss Daisy; or whiles a weeding fork." + +"Have you got one here." + +"No, Miss Daisy. Was it a fork you were wanting?" + +"Yes, I want one, Logan." + +"And will you be wanting it now?" + +"Yes, I want it now, if you please." + +"Bill, you go home and get Miss Daisy one o' them small hand +forks out o' that new lot them's slenderer." + +"And Logan, I want another thing. I want a little rose-bush +and if you can, I want it with a rose open or a bud on it." + +"A rose-bush!" said Logan. "Ye want it to be set some place, +nae doute?" + +"Yes, I do; but I want to set it out myself, Logan; so it must +not be too big a bush, you know, for I couldn't manage it." + +"Perhaps Miss Daisy had better let me manage it. It's dirty +work, Miss Daisy." + +"No; I only want the rose bush. I will take care of it, Logan. +Have you got one that I can have?" + +"Ou, ay, Miss Daisy! there's a forest of rose bushes ye can +just please yourself." + +"Where is it?" + +Seeing his little mistress was greatly in earnest and must be +presently satisfied, Logan cast a wistful glance or two at his +own proper work in hand which he was abandoning, and walked +away with Daisy. The flower garden and nursery were at some +distance; but Daisy trudged along as patiently as he. Her +little face was busy-looking now and eager, as well as wise; +but no tinge of colour would yet own itself at home in those +pale cheeks. Logan glanced at her now and then and was, as she +said, "very good." He thought he was about the best business, +after all, that could occupy him. He directed his steps to a +great garden that yet was not the show garden, but hid away +behind the plantations of trees and shrubbery. There were a +vast number of plants and flowers here, too; but they were not +in show order, and were in fact only the reserve stock, for +supplying vacancies or preparing changes, or especially for +furnishing cut flowers to the house; of which a large quantity +must every day be sent in. There was a very nursery of rose +trees, smaller and larger. Logan peered about, very particular +in his own line as to how every thing should be done; at last +he found and chose just the right thing for Daisy. A slender, +thrifty young plant, with healthy strong leaves and shoots, +and at the top a bud showing red, and a half opened sweet +rose. Daisy was quite satisfied. + +"Now where is it going, Miss Daisy?" Logan inquired. + +"I am going to plant it out myself, Logan; it is going in a +place where I want it." + +"Surely! but does Miss Daisy know how to plant a rose tree?" + +"Won't you tell me how, Logan?" + +"Weel, Miss Daisy, there must be a hole dug for it, in the +first place; you must take a trowel and make a hole for it +But your dress will be the waur!" he exclaimed, glancing at +his little mistress's spotless draperies. + +"Never mind; only go on and tell me exactly how to manage, +Logan." + +"Does Miss Daisy intend to do it this afternoon?" + +"Yes." + +"Aweel, you must take a trowel and make a hole," said Logan, +nipping off some useless buds and shoots from the plants in +his neighbourhood as he was speaking "and be sure your hole +is deep as it should be; and make the bottom soft with your +trowel, or throw in a little earth, well broken, for the roots +to rest on " + +"How shall I know when my hole is deep enough?" + +"Weel, Miss Daisy, it depends on the haighth of the roots ye +must even try and see till ye get it deep enough; but whatever +ye do, keep the crown of the plant above ground." + +"And what is the crown of the plant, Logan?" + +Logan stooped down, and put his fingers to the stem of a rose +tree. + +"It's just called the crown o' the plant, Miss Daisy, here +where the roots goes one way and the stem springs up another. +Miss Daisy sees, there's a kind o' shouther there." + +"No, I don't see," said Daisy. + +Logan put in his spade, and, with a turn or two, brought up +the little rose bush he had chosen for her purpose; and +holding the ball of earth in his hand, showed her the part of +the plant he spoke of, just above the surface of the soil. + +"It's the most tenderest pairt of the vegetable nature," he +said; "and it must be kept out of the ground, where it can +breathe, like; it won't answer to cover it up." + +"I will not," said Daisy. "Then? " + +"Then, when ye have gotten the place prepared, ye must set in +this ball of earth, as haill as ye can keep it; but if it gets +broken off, as it's like it will! then ye must set the roots +kindly in on the soft earth, and let them lie just natural; +and put in the soft earth over them; and when ye have got a +little in press it clown a bit; and then more, after the same +manner, until it's all filled up." + +"Why must it be pressed down?" + +"Weel, Miss Daisy, it must be dune; the roots is accustomed to +have the soil tight round them, and they don't like it unless +they have it so. It's a vara good way, to have a watering pot +of water and make a puddle in the bottom of the hole, and set +the roots in that, and throw in the soil; and then it settles +itself all round them, and ye need not to coax it with your +fingers. But if ye don't puddle the roots, the bush must be +well watered and soaked when ye have dune." + +"Very well, Logan thank you. Now please put it in a basket +for me, with a trowel, and let me take a watering pot of water +too; or Lewis can carry that, can't he?" + +"He can take whatever ye have a mind," said Logan; "but where +is it going?" + +"I'll take the basket with the rose," said Daisy "it's going +a little way you can set it just here, in my chaise, Logan." + +The gardener deposited the basket safely in the chaise, and +Daisy got in and shook the reins. Lewis, much wondering and a +little disgustful, was accommodated with a watering pot full +of water, by the grinning Logan. + +"See ye ride steady now, boy," he said. "Ye won't want to show +any graces of horsemanship, the day!" + +Whatever Lewis might have wanted, the necessity upon him was +pretty stringent. A watering pot full of water he found a very +uncomfortable bundle to carry on horseback; he was bound to +ride at the gentlest of paces, or inflict an involuntary cold +bath upon himself every other step. Much marvelling at the +arrangement which made a carriage and horses needful to move a +rose-bush, Lewis followed, as gently as he could, the progress +of his little mistress's pony-chaise; which was much swifter +than he liked it; until his marvelling was increased by its +turning out of Melbourne grounds and taking a course up the +road again. Towards the same place! On went Daisy, much too +fast for the watering pot; till the cripple's cottage came in +sight a second time. There, just at the foot of the little +rise in the road which led up to the cottage gate, Loupe +suddenly fell to very slow going. The watering pot went easily +enough for several yards; and then Loupe stopped. What was the +matter? + +Something was the matter, yet Daisy did not summon Lewis. She +sat quite still, looking before her up to the cottage, with a +thoughtful, puzzled, troubled face. The matter was, that just +there, and not before, the remembrance of her mother's command +had flashed on her that she should have nothing to do with +any stranger out of the house unless she had first got leave. +Daisy was stopped short. Get leave? She would never get leave +to speak again to that poor crabbed, crippled, forlorn +creature; and who else would take up the endeavour to be kind +to her? Who else would even try to win her to a knowledge of +the Bible and Bible joys? and how would that poor ignorant +mortal ever get out of the darkness into the light? Daisy did +not know how to give her up; yet she could not go on. The +sweet rose on the top of her little rose-tree mocked her, with +kindness undone and good not attempted. Daisy sat still, +confounded at this new barrier her mother's will had put in +her way. + +Wheels came rapidly coursing along the road in front of her, +and in a moment Dr. Sandford's gig had whirled past the +cottage and bore down the hill. But recognizing the pony +chaise in the road, he too came to a stop as sudden as Daisy's +had been. The two were close beside each other. + +"Where away, Daisy?" + +"I do not understand, Dr. Sandford." + +"Where are you going? or rather, why are you standing still +here?" + +"Because I was in doubt what to do." + +"Did the doubt take you here, in the middle of the road?" + +"Yes, Dr. Sandford." + +"What is it, Daisy? To whom are you carrying a rose-bush?" + +"I am afraid nobody." + +"What is the matter or the doubt?" + +"It is a question of duty, Dr. Sandford." + +"Then I will decide it for you. Go on and do what you wish to +do. That will be right." + +"Oh, no, sir," said Daisy, smiling at her adviser that is +just what would be wrong. I cannot." + +"Cannot what?" + +"Do that, sir; do what I wish to do." And Daisy sighed withal. + +"What do you wish to do?" + +The doctor was quite serious, and as usual a little imperative +in his questions, and Daisy knew him to be trusted. + +"I wanted to take this little rose-bush and set it out in the +garden up there." + +"_There?_ do you mean the garden of that cottage?" said the +doctor, pointing with his whip. + +"Yes, sir." + +"Are you bound thither now?" + +"No, sir I am going home." + +"Rose-bush and all? Daisy, let Lewis get Loupe home, and you +come here and ride with me. Come! I want you." + +Truly Daisy wanted nothing else. She left rose-bush and +watering pot, chaise and pony, to Lewis's management, and +gladly let the doctor take her up beside him. She liked to +drive with him; he had a fine horse and went fast; and there +were other reasons. + +Now they drove off in fine style; fast, over the good roads; +whisked by Melbourne, sped away along south, catching glimpses +of the river from time to time, with the hills on the further +side hazily blue and indistinct with the September haze of +sunbeams. Near hand the green of plantations and woodland was +varied with brown grainfields, where grain had been, and with +ripening Indian corn and buckwheat; but more especially with +here and there a stately roof-tree or gable of some fine new +or old country house. The light was mellow, the air was good; +in the excitement of her drive Daisy half forgot her +perplexity and discomfiture. Till the doctor said, suddenly +looking round at her with a smile, "Now I should like to know +the history of that rose-bush." + +"Oh, there is no history about it," said Daisy, quite taken by +surprise. + +"Everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end," said the +doctor. "What was the beginning of this?" + +"Only, Dr. Sandford," said Daisy, doubtfully, "I was sorry +for that poor woman, after what you told me about her." + +"Molly Skelton?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"And you thought to comfort her with rose-bushes?" + +"No sir, but I wanted to get on good terms with her." + +"Are you on any other terms?" + +"She does not know me, you know, sir," said Daisy, lifting to +her friend a face that was beyond his comprehension, "and I +do not think she was very well pleased to see me in her garden +a little while ago." + +"You have been in her garden, then?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Daisy, will you excuse me for asking, why you should be on +any terms whatever with Molly Skelton?" + +"She is so unhappy, Dr. Sandford," Daisy said, looking up +again. + +"And do you think you can do anything to make her less +unhappy?" + +"I thought" Daisy did not look up now, but the doctor +watching her saw a witnessing tinge that he knew coming about +her eyelids, and a softened line of lip, that made him listen +the closer, "I thought I might teach her something that +would make her happy, if I could." + +"What would you teach her, Daisy?" + +"I would teach her to read perhaps I thought; if she would +like me and let me." + +"Is reading a specific for happiness?" + +"No sir but the Bible!" Daisy said, with a sudden glance. +And so clear and sure the speech of her childish eye was, that +the doctor, though believing nothing of it, would not breathe +a question of that which she believed. + +"Oh, that is it!" he said. "Well, Daisy, this is the +beginning; but though I came in upon the middle of the subject +I do not understand it yet. Why did not the rose-tree get to +its destination!" + +"Because I remembered, just when I had got to the bottom of +the hill, that mamma would not let me." + +Daisy's tone of voice told more than she knew of her subdued +state of disappointment. + +"Mrs. Randolph had forbidden you to go to Molly's cottage?" + +"No sir; but she had forbidden me to speak to anybody without +having her leave. I had forgotten it till just that minute." + +"Ask her leave, and then go. What is the difficulty in that, +Daisy?" + +"She will not give me leave, Dr. Sandford. Mamma does not like +me to do such things." + +"Do you care much about it?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Present your request to Mrs. Randolph to-morrow, Daisy that +is my advice to you." + +"It would be no use, Dr. Sandford." + +"Perhaps not; but I advise you to take my advice; and lay the +rose-bush by the heels till to-morrow afternoon." + +"By the heels, sir." + +"Yes. Logan will tell you what that means." + +Daisy looked with such a gaze of steadfast inquiry up in the +doctor's face, that he had hard work to command his +countenance. She could not make out anything from his face, +except that somehow she got a little encouragement from it; +and then they whirled in at the gate of Melbourne, and in +another minute were at home. Daisy went off to see after her +rose-bush, find Logan, and have it laid by the heels. The +doctor marched in through the hall, into the library, and then +catching sight of Mr. Randolph on the piazza, he went out +there. Mr. Randolph was enjoying the September sunlight, and +seemed to be doing nothing else. + +"Good afternoon!" said the doctor. + +"How do you do?" said Mr. Randolph. "Can you, possibly have +business on hand, doctor, in this weather?" + +"Very good weather for business," said the doctor. + +"Too good. It is enough to look and breathe." + +All Mr. Randolph was doing, apparently. He was lounging on a +settee, with a satisfied expression of countenance. The doctor +put himself in a great cane chair and followed the direction +of his host's eyes, to the opposite river and mountains; over +which there was a glory of light and atmosphere. Came back to +Mr. Randolph's face with an air of the disparaged business. + +"It is not bad, driving." + +"No, I suppose not!" + +"Your little daughter likes business better than you do." + +A smile came over Mr. Randolph's face, a smile of much +meaning. + +"She likes it too well, doctor. I wish I could infuse some +degree of nonchalant carelessness into Daisy's little wise +head." + +"We must deal with things as we find them," said the doctor. +"I met her this afternoon in the road, with a carriage-load of +business on hand; but what was very bad for her, it was +arrested business." + +"How do you mean?" + +The doctor rose here to give his chair to Mrs. Randolph, who +stepped out through the library window. He fetched another for +himself, and went on. + +"She was in the middle of the road, her chaise loaded with +baskets and greenhouse plants, and with a general distribution +of garden tools between herself and her outrider. All in the +middle of the road at a stand-still chaise and pony and all, + and Daisy herself in particular. I found it was an +interrupted expedition, and invited Daisy to take a ride with +me; which she did, and I got at the rationale of the affair. +And I come now to make the request, as her physician, not as +her friend, that her expeditions may be as little interfered +with as possible. Let her energies work. The very best thing +for her is that they should find something to work upon, and +receive no interruption." + +"What interrupted her this afternoon." + +"Conscience as I understand it." + +"There is no dealing with Daisy's conscience, doctor," said +Mr. Randolph, with a smile. "What _that_ says, Daisy feels +herself bound to do." + +"Do not burden her conscience then," said the doctor. "Not +just now till she gets stronger." + +"Where was she going this afternoon?" Mrs. Randolph asked in +her calm voice. + +"On an errand of the most Utopian benevolence " + +"Having what for its object?" + +"A miserable old crippled creature, who lives in a poor +cottage about half a mile from your gate." + +"What was Daisy desiring to do, doctor?" + +"Carry some comfort to this forlorn thing, I believe; whom +nobody else thinks of comforting." + +"Do you know what shape the comfort was to take?" + +"I think," said the doctor, "I am not quite sure, but I +think, it was a rose-bush." + +Mr. Randolph looked at his wife and straightened himself up to +a sitting posture. + +"And what hindered her, Dr. Sandford?" + +"I think, some understanding that she had not liberty to go +on." + +"Very proper in Daisy," said Mrs. Randolph. + +"That is your child who is wanting in docility," remarked Mr. +Randolph. + +"She might have remembered my orders before she got so far," +said the lady. + +"I wish you would change the orders," said Dr. Sandford, +boldly. + +"Not even to oblige you, doctor," said Mrs. Randolph. "Daisy +has an idea that the companions who are not fit for her are +precisely the ones whom she should cultivate." + +"I think Daisy would state the question differently, however," +Mr. Randolph remarked. + +"She has a tinge of the wildest fanaticism," Mrs. Randolph +went on, dropping her work, and facing the doctor. "Wherever +there are rags and dirt, there, by force of contrast, Daisy +thinks it is her business to go. This is a miserable place, I +suppose, that she was aiming for this afternoon is it not?" + +"Very miserable. But the point is, to visit it would have made +Daisy happy." + +"It is sheer fanaticism!" said Mrs. Randolph. "I cannot let +her encourage it. If I did, she would not be fit for anything +by and by. She is fit for very little now." + +"You will of course judge as you please about it," said the +doctor; "but it is my duty to tell you that the danger in that +line is far more than compensated by the advantage to be +gained. For Daisy's health, she should be checked in nothing; +let her go where she will and do what she will; the more +business on hand the better, that carries her out of doors and +out of herself. With a strong body and secure health, you will +find it far easier to manage fanaticism." + +"I am sure Dr. Sandford is right, Felicia," said Mr. Randolph. + +"I know Daisy " said the lady. + +"I think I know fanaticism," said the doctor; "and if I do, +the best thing you can do with it is to give it plenty of sun +and air." + +"Is it quite safe for Daisy to go to this cottage you speak +of?" Mr. Randolph asked. + +"Quite safe." + +"I cannot think of letting Daisy go there, Mr. Randolph!" said +his wife. + +"What danger do you apprehend, Felicia?" + +It was not quite so easy to say. The lady handled her tetting- +pins, which were in her fingers, for a moment or two in +silence; then let them fall, and raised her handsome head. + +"Daisy must be withdrawn entirely from the associations which +have taken possession of her if it is possible. The very +best thing for her in my opinion would be to send her to a +boarding-school. Unless you wish your daughter to grow up a +confirmed _religieuse_, Mr. Randolph. Do you wish that?" + +"I have not considered it. What do you suppose Daisy will do +to harm herself at this place Dr. Sandford speaks of?" + +"Some absurdity, that just cherishes the temper she is in." + +"Quite as likely" to wear it out, Mr. Randolph was going to +say; but some remembrance of Daisy came up and stopped him. + +"Good evening!" said the doctor, rising to his feet. + +"Are you going, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Yes." + +"Then you recommend that we let Daisy go to this place, and +alone?" + +"In my capacity of physician I _should_ order it," said the +doctor, with a smile; "only, I do not like to give orders and +have them dishonoured." + +Off he went. + +"Felicia," said Mr. Randolph, "I believe he is right." + +"I am sure he knows nothing about it," said the lady. + +"Do you? Daisy is very delicate." + +"She will never die of want of resolution." + +"Felicia, I mean to enquire into Daisy's wishes and purposes +about this matter; and if I find them unobjectionable, I shall +give her leave to go on with it." + +"You do not know what you are about, Mr. Randolph." + +"I shall find out, then," said the gentleman. "I would rather +she would be a _religieuse_ than a shadow." + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +MOLLY'S GARDEN. + + +Daisy pondered over the doctor's counsel. It was friendly; but +she hardly thought well advised. He did not know her father +and mother so well as she did. Yet she went to find out Logan +that afternoon on her return from the drive, and saw the rose- +bush laid by the heels; with perhaps just a shadow of hope in +her heart that her friend the doctor might mean to put in a +plea for her somewhere. The hope faded when she got back to +the house, and the doctor was gone, and Mrs. Randolph's +handsome face looked its usual calm impassiveness. What use to +ask her such a thing as leave to go to the cripple's cottage? +No use at all, Daisy knew. The request alone would probably +move displeasure. Every look at her mother's face settled this +conviction more and more deeply in Daisy's mind; and she ended +by giving up the subject. There was no hope. She could do +nothing for any poor person, she was sure, under her mother's +permission, beyond carrying soup and jelly in her pony-chaise, +and maybe going in to give it. And that was not much; and +there were very few poor people around Melbourne that wanted +just that sort of attention. + +So Daisy gave up her scheme. Nevertheless next morning it gave +her a twinge of heart to see her rose-bush laid by the heels, +exactly like her hopes. Daisy stood and looked at it. The +sweet half-blown rose at the top of the little tree hung +ingloriously over the soil, and yet looked so lovely and smelt +so sweet; and Daisy had hoped it might win poor Molly +Skelton's favour, or at least begin to open a way for it to +come in due time. + +"So ye didn't get your bush planted " said Logan, coming up. + +"No." + +"Your hands were not strong enough to make the hole deep for +it, Miss Daisy?" + +"Yes, I think they could; but I met with an interruption +yesterday, Logan." + +"Weel it'll just bide here till ye want it." + +Daisy wished it was back in its old place again; but she did +not like to say so, and she went slowly back to the house. As +she mounted the piazza steps she heard her father's voice. He +was there before the library windows. + +"Come here, Daisy. What are you about?" he said, drawing her +up in his arms. + +"Nothing, papa." + +"How do you like doing nothing?" + +"Papa, I think it is not at all agreeable." + +"You do! So I supposed. What were you about yesterday +afternoon?" + +"I went to ride with Dr. Sandford." + +"Did that occupy the whole afternoon?" + +"Oh, no, papa." + +"Were you doing nothing the rest of the time?" + +"No sir, not _nothing_." + +"Daisy, I wish you would be a little more frank. Have you any +objection to tell me what you were doing?" + +"No, papa; but I did not think it would give you any +pleasure. I was only trying to do something." + +"It would give me pleasure to have you tell about it." + +"I must tell you more then, papa." And standing with her arm +on her father's shoulder, looking over to the blue mountains +on the other side of the river, Daisy went on. + +"There is a poor woman living half a mile from here, papa, +that I saw one day when I was riding with Dr. Sandford. She is +a cripple. Papa, her legs and feet are all bent up under her, +so that she cannot walk at all; her way of moving is by +dragging herself along over the ground on her hands and knees; +her hands and her gown all clown in the dirt." + +"That is your idea of extreme misery, is it not, Daisy?" + +"Papa, do you not think it is it must be very +uncomfortable?" + +"Very, I should think." + +"But that is not her worst misery. Papa, she is all alone; the +neighbours bring her food, but nobody stops to eat it with +her. She is all alone by night and by day; and she is +disagreeable in her temper, I believe, and she has nobody to +love her and she loves nobody." + +"Which of those two things is the worst, Daisy?" + +"What two things, papa?" + +"To love nobody, or to have nobody to love her?" + +"Papa I do not know." Then, remembering Juanita, Daisy +suddenly added, "Papa, I should think it must be the worst +to love nobody." + +"Do you? Pray why?" + +"It would not make her happy, I think, to have people love her +if she did not love them." + +"And you think loving others would be better, without anybody +to give love back?" + +"I should think it would be very hard!" said Daisy, with a +most profound expression of thoughtfulness. + +"Well this poor cripple, I understand, lacks both these +conditions of happiness?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"What then? You were going to tell me something about her." + +"Not much about _her_," said Daisy, "but only about myself." + +"A much more interesting subject to me, Daisy." + +You could only see the faintest expression of pleasure in the +line of Daisy's lips; she was looking very sober and a trifle +anxious. + +"I only thought, papa, I would try if I could not do something +to make that poor woman happier." + +"What did you try?" + +"The first thing was to get her to know me and like me, you +know, papa; because she is rather cross, and does not like +people generally, I believe." + +"So you went to see her?" + +"I have never spoken much to her, papa. But I went inside of +her gate one day, and saw her trying to take care of some poor +flowers; so then I thought, maybe, if I took her a nice little +rose-bush, she might like it." + +"And then like you? Well you tried the experiment?" + +"No, papa. I did get a rose-bush from Logan, and he told me +how to plant it; and I was on my way to the cottage, and had +almost got there; and then I recollected mamma had said I must +not speak to anybody without her leave." + +"So you came home?" + +"Yes, papa. No, papa, I went to ride with Dr. Sandford." + +"Have you asked leave of your mother?" + +"No, papa," said Daisy, in a tone of voice which +sufficiently expressed that she did not intend it. + +"So, my dear little Daisy," said her father, drawing his arm +round her a little more closely "you think a rose-bush would +serve instead of friends to make this poor creature happy?" + +"Oh, no, papa!" + +"What was the purpose of it, then?" + +"Only to get her to like me, papa." + +"What were _you_ going to do to make her happy?" + +"Papa, if you lived in such a place, in such a way, wouldn't +you like to have a friend come and see you sometimes?" + +"Certainly! if you were the friend." + +"I thought by and by she might learn to like it," Daisy +said, in the most sedately meek way possible. + +Her father could not forbear a smile. + +"But, Daisy, from what you tell me, I am at a loss to +understand the part that all this could have had in your +happiness." + +"Oh, papa she is so miserable!" was Daisy's answer. + +Mr. Randolph drew her close and kissed her. + +"_You_ are not miserable?" + +"No, papa but " + +"But what?" + +"I would like to give her a little bit of comfort." + +There was much earnestness, and a little sorrow, in Daisy's +eyes. + +"I am not sure that it is right for you to go to such places." + +"Papa, may I show you something?" said the child, with sudden +life. + +"Anything, Daisy." + +She rushed away; was gone a full five minutes; then came +softly to Mr. Randolph's shoulder with an open book in her +hand. It was Joanna's Bible, for Daisy did not dare bring her +own; and it was open at these words + + +"Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so +to them." + + +"What does this mean, Daisy? It seems very plain; but what do +I want with it?" + +"Only, papa, that is what makes me think it is right." + +"What is right?" + +"To do this, papa." + +"Well, but, are you in want of somebody to come and make you +happy?" + +"Oh, no, papa but if I were in her place, then I should be." + +"Do you suppose this commands us to do in every case what we +would like ourselves in the circumstances?" + +"Papa I suppose so if it wouldn't be something wrong." + +"At that rate, I should have to let you go with your rose- +bush," said Mr. Randolph. + +"Oh, papa!" said Daisy, "do you think, if you asked her, mamma +would perhaps say I might?" + +"Can't tell, Daisy I think I shall try my powers of +persuasion." + +For answer to which, Daisy clasped her arms round his neck and +gave him some very earnest caresses, comprised in one great +kiss and a clinging of her little head in his neck for the +space of half a minute. It meant a great deal; so much that +Mr. Randolph was unable for the rest of the day to get rid of +a sort of lingering echo of Daisy's Bible words; they haunted +him, and haunted him with a strange sense of the house being +at cross purposes, and Daisy's line of life lying quite +athwart and contrary to all the rest. "Whatsoever ye would +that men should do unto you;" who else at Melbourne +considered that for one moment? + +However, Mr. Randolph had a fresh talk with his wife; the end +of which was that he gave Daisy leave to do what she liked in +the matter of Molly Skelton; and was rewarded on the spot by +seeing the pink tinge which instantly started into the pale +cheeks. + +No lack of energy had Daisy for the rest of that day. She went +off first to see what was the condition of her rose-bush; +pretty fair; lying by the heels seemed to agree with it quite +well. Then the pony chaise was ordered, and a watering-pot of +water again; much to the boy's disgust who was to carry it; +and Daisy took her dinner with quiet satisfaction. So soon as +the afternoon had become pleasantly cool, Daisy's driving +gloves and hat went on, the chaise was summoned, and rose-bush +and all she set forth on her expedition. Mr. Randolph watched +her off; acknowledging that certainly for the present the +doctor was right; whether in the future Mrs. Randolph would +prove to have been right also, he was disagreeably uncertain. +Still, he was not quite sure that he wished Daisy anything +other than she was. + +Troubled by no fears or prognostications, meanwhile, the pony- +chaise and its mistress went on their way. No, Daisy had no +fears. She did doubt what Molly's immediate reception of her +advances might be; her first experience bade her doubt; but +the spirit of love in her little heart was overcoming; it +poured over Molly a flood of sunny affections and purposes, in +the warmth and glow of which the poor cripple's crabbedness +and sourness of manner and temper were quite swallowed up and +lost. Daisy drove on, very happy and thankful, till the little +hill was gained, and slowly walking up it Loupe stopped, +nothing loth, before the gate of Molly Skelton's courtyard. + +A little bit of hesitation came over Daisy now, not about what +was to be done, but how to do it. The cripple was in her +flowery bit of ground, grubbing around her balsams as usual. +The clear afternoon sunbeams shone all over what seemed to +Daisy all distressing together. The ragged balsams the +coarse bloom of prince's feather and cockscomb some +straggling tufts of ribband grass and four-o'clocks and +marigolds and the great sunflower nodding its head on high +over all; while weeds were only kept away from the very growth +of the flowers and started up everywhere else, and grass grew +irregularly where grass should not; and in the midst of it all +the poor cripple on her hands and knees in the dirt, more +uncared-for, more unseemly and unlovely than her little plot +of weeds and flowers. Daisy looked at her, with a new tide of +tenderness flowing up in her heart, along with the doubt how +her mission should be executed or how it would be received; +then she gave up her reins, took the rose-tree in her hands, +and softly opened the little wicket gate. She went up the path +and stood beside the cripple, who hearing the gate shut had +risen from her grubbing in the earth and sat back looking at +who was coming. Daisy went on without hesitation now. She had +prayed out all her prayer about it before setting out from +home. + +"I have brought you a rose-bush," she said simply. "Do you +like roses? this is very sweet. I thought maybe you would like +a rose. Where would you like to have it go?" + +The answer was a very strange sort of questioning grunt +inarticulate nevertheless expressive of rude wonder and +incredulity, as far as it expressed anything. And Molly +stared. + +"Where shall I put this rose-tree?" said Daisy. "Where would +it look prettiest? May I put it here, by these balsams?" + +No answer in words; but instead of a sign of assent, the +cripple after looking a moment longer at Daisy and the rose- +tree, put her hand beyond the balsams and grubbed up a tuft of +what the country people call "creepin' Charley;" and then +sitting back as before, signified to Daisy by a movement of +her hand that the rose-bush might go in that place. That was +all Daisy wanted. She fell to work with her trowel, glad +enough to be permitted, and dug a hole, with great pains and +some trouble; for the soil was hard as soon as she got a +little below the surface. But with great diligence Daisy +worked and scooped, till by repeated trials she found she had +the hole deep enough and large enough; and then she tenderly +set the roots of the rose-tree in the prepared place and shook +fine soil over them, as Logan had told her; pressing it down +from time to time, until the job was finished and the little +tree stood securely planted. A great feat accomplished. Daisy +stayed not, but ran off to the road for the watering-pot, and +bringing it with some difficulty to the spot without soiling +herself, she gave the rose-bush a thorough watering; watered +it till she was sure the refreshment had penetrated down to +the very roots. All the while the cripple sat back gazing at +her; gazing alternately at the rose-bush and the planting, and +at the white delicate frock the child wore and the daintily +neat shoes and stockings, and the handsome flat hat with its +costly ribband. I think the view of these latter things must +in some degree have neutralised the effect of the sweet rose +looking at her from the top of the little bush; because Molly +on the whole was not gracious. + +Daisy had finished her work and set down her empty watering +pot, and was looking with great satisfaction at the little +rose-bush; which was somewhat closely neighboured by a ragged +bunch of four-o'clocks on one side and the overgrown balsams +on the other; when Molly said suddenly and gruffly, "Now go +'long!" + +Daisy was startled, and turned to the creature who had spoken +to see if she had heard and understood aright. No doubt of it. +Molly was not looking at her, but her face was ungenial; and +as Daisy hesitated she made a little gesture of dismissal with +her hands. Daisy moved a step or two off, afraid of another +shower of gravel upon her feet. + +"I will come to-morrow and see how it looks" she said +gently. + +Molly did not reply yes or no, but she repeated her gesture of +dismissal, and Daisy thought it best and wisest to obey. She +bid her a sweet "good-bye," to which she got no answer, and +mounted into her chaise again. There was a little +disappointment in her heart; yet when she had time to think it +all over she was encouraged too. The rose-tree was fairly +planted; that would keep on speaking to Molly without the fear +of a rebuff; and somehow Daisy's heart was warm towards the +gruff old creature. How forlorn she had looked, sitting in the +dirt, with her grum face! + +"But perhaps she will wear a white robe in heaven!" thought +Daisy. + +Seeing that the rose-tree had evidently won favour, Daisy +judged she could not do better than attack Molly again on her +weak side, which seemed to be the love of the beautiful! in +one line at least. But Daisy was not an impatient child; and +she thought it good to see first what sort of treatment the +rose-bush got, and not to press Molly too hard. So the next +day she carried nothing with her; only went to pay a visit to +the garden. Nothing was to be seen but the garden; Molly did +not show herself; and Daisy went in and looked at the rose. +Much to her satisfaction, she saw that Molly had quite +discarded the great bunch of four-o'clocks which had given the +little rose tree no room on one side; they were actually +pulled up and gone; and the rose looked out in fair space and +sunshine, where its coarse-growing neighbour had threatened to +be very much in its way. An excellent sign. Molly clearly +approved of the rose. Daisy saw with great pleasure that +another bud was getting ready to open and already showing red +between the leaves of its green calyx; and she went home +happy. + +Next morning she went among the flower-beds, and took a very +careful survey of all the beauties there to see what best she +might take for her next attack upon Molly. The beauties in +flower were so very many, and so very various, and so +delicious all to Daisy's eye, that she was a good deal +puzzled. Red and purple, and blue and white and yellow, the +beds were gay and glorious. But Daisy reflected that anything +which wanted skill in its culture or shelter from severities +of season would disappoint Molly, because it would not get +from her what would be necessary to its thriving. Some of the +flowers in bloom, too, would not bear transplanting. Daisy did +not know what to do. She took Logan into her confidence, so +far as she could without mentioning names or circumstances. + +"Weel, Miss Daisy," said the gardener, "if ye're bent on being +a Lady Flora to the poor creature, I'll tell ye what ye'll do + ye'll just take her a scarlet geranium." + +"A geranium?" said Daisy. + +"Ay. Just that." + +"But it would want to be in the greenhouse when winter comes." + +"Any place where it wouldn't freeze," said Logan. "You see, +it'll be in a pot e'en now, Miss Daisy and you'll keep it in +the pot; and the pot you'll sink in the ground till frost +comes; and when the frost comes, it'll just come up as it is +and go intil the poor body's house, and make a spot of summer +for her in her house till summer comes again." + +"Oh, Logan, that is an excellent thought!" + +"Ay, Miss Daisy I'm glad ye approve it." + +"And then she would have the flowers all winter." + +"Ay if she served it justly." + +The only thing now was to choose the geranium. Daisy was some +time about it, there were so many to choose from. At last she +suited herself with a very splendid new kind called the +"Jewess" a compact little plant with a store of rich purple- +red blossoms. Logan murmured as he took up the pot in which it +was planted "Less than the best will never serve ye, Miss +Daisy" but he did not grumble about it after all, and Daisy +was content. + +She was very content when she had got it in her pony-chaise +and was driving off, with the magnificent purple-red blossoms +at her feet. How exquisitely those delicate petals were +painted, and marked with dashes of red and purple deeper than +the general colour. What rich clusters of blossoms. Daisy gave +only half an eye to her driving; and it was not till she had +almost reached Melbourne gate that she discovered her trowel +had been forgotten. She sent her attendant back for it and +waited. + +Loupe was always willing to stand, lazy little fat fellow that +he was; and Daisy was giving her undivided attention to the +purple "Jewess," with a sort of soft prayer going on all the +while in her heart that her errand might be blessed; when she +was suddenly interrupted. + +"Why, where are you going, Daisy?" + +"Where have you been, Preston?" said Daisy, as suddenly +drawing up. + +"Little Yankee!" said Preston. "Answer one question by another +in that fashion? You mustn't do it, Daisy. What are you +doing?" + +"Nothing. I am waiting." + +"What are you going to do, then?" + +"I am going to drive." + +"Do you usually carry a pot of geraniums for company?" + +"No, not usually," said Daisy, smiling at him. + +"Well, set out the pot of geraniums, and we will have a +glorious ride, Daisy. I am going to the Fish's, to see some of +Alexander's traps; and you shall go with me." + +"Oh, Preston I am sorry; I cannot." + +"Why?" + +"I cannot this afternoon." + +"Yes, you can, my dear little Daisy. In fact you _must_. +Consider I shall be going away before very long, and then we +cannot take rides together. Won't you come?" + +"Not now I cannot, Preston! I have got something to do +first." + +"What?" + +"Something which will take me an hour or two. After that I +could go." + +"Scarcely, this afternoon. Daisy, it is a long drive to the +Fish's. And they have beautiful things there, which you would +like to see, I know you would. Come! go with me that's my +own little Daisy." + +Preston was on horseback, and looked very much in earnest. He +looked very gay and handsome too, for he was well mounted, and +knew how to manage himself and his horse. He wanted to manage +Daisy too; and that was difficult. Daisy would have been +tempted, and would have gone with him at the first asking; but +the thought of Molly and her forlornness, and the words warm +at her heart, "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you" + and a further sense that her visitations of Molly were an +extraordinary thing and very likely to be hindered on short +notice, kept her firm as a rock. She had an opportunity now in +hand; she would not throw it away; not for any self- +gratification. And to tell the truth, no sort of self- +gratification could balance for a moment in Daisy's mind the +thought of Molly's wearing a crown of gold in heaven.. That +crown of gold was before Daisy's eyes; nothing else was worth +a thought in comparison. + +"Are you going to see that wretched old being?" said Preston, +at last. + +"Yes." + +"Daisy dear Daisy I do not know what to do with you. Do +you like, is it possible that you can like, dirt and +vulgarity?" + +"I don't think I do," Daisy said, gently; "but, Preston, I +like the poor people." + +"You do!" said Preston. "Then it is manifest that you cannot +like me." And he dashed spurs into his horse and sprung away, +with a grace and life that kept Daisy looking after him in +admiration, and a plain mood of displeasure which cast its +shadow all over her spirit. + +"Here is the trowel, Miss Daisy." + +Her messenger had come back, and Daisy, recalled to the +business in hand, took up her reins again and drove on; but +she felt deeply grieved. Now and then her gauntleted hand even +went up to her face to brush away a tear that had gathered. It +was not exactly a new thing, nor was Daisy entirely surprised +at the attempt to divert her from her purpose. She was wise +enough to guess that Preston's' object had been more than the +pleasure of her company; and she knew that all at home, unless +possibly her father might be excepted, neither liked nor +favoured her kindness to Molly, and would rejoice to interrupt +the tokens of it. All were against her; and Daisy's hand went +up again and again. "It is good I am weak and not very well," +she thought; "as soon as I grow strong mamma will not let me +do this any more. I must do all I can now." + +So she came to the cripple's gate; and by that time the tears +were all gone. + +Nobody was in the little courtyard; Daisy went in first to see +how the rose looked. It was all safe and doing well. While she +stood there before it, the cottage door opened and the poor +inmate came out. She crawled down the walk on hands and knees +till she got near Daisy, and then sat back to look at her. + +"What do you want?" she said, in a most uninviting and +ungracious tone of voice. + +"I came to see you," said Daisy, venturing to let her eyes +rest for the first time on those poor, restless, unloving eyes +opposite her "and I wanted to see the rose, and I have +brought you another flower if you will let me bring it in." + +Her words were sweet as honey. The woman looked at her, and +answered again with the unintelligible grunt, of unbelieving +wonder, which Daisy had heard once before. Daisy thought on +the whole the safest way was not to talk, but to fetch her +beautiful "Jewess" flowers to speak for themselves. So she ran +off and brought the pot, and set it on the ground before +Molly. It was a great attraction; Daisy could see that at +once. The cripple sat back gazing at it. Daisy prudently +waited till her eyes came round again from the flowers and +rested on her little visitor's face. + +"Where shall I put it?" said Daisy. "Where would you like to +have it go?" + +Molly's eyes presently followed hers, roaming over the little +flower plot in search of room for the geranium, which did not +appear; prince's feather and marigolds so choked up the ground +where balsams did not straggle over it. Molly looked as Daisy +did at the possibilities of the case, looked again at the +strange sweet little face which was so busy in her garden; and +then made a sudden movement. With two or three motions of +hands and knees she drew herself a few steps back to one of +the exclusive bunches of balsams, and began with her two hands +to root it up. Actually she was grubbing, might and main, at +the ungainly stalks of the balsams, pulling them up as fast as +she could and flinging them aside, careless where. Daisy came +to help with her trowel, and together they worked, amicably +enough but without a word, till the task was done. A great +space was left clear, and Molly threw herself back in her +wonted position for taking observations. Daisy wasted no time. +In hopeful delight she went on to make a hole in the ground in +which to sink the pot of geraniums. It was more of a job than +she thought, and she dug away stoutly with her trowel for a +good while before she had an excavation sufficient to hold the +pot. Daisy got it in at last; smoothed the surface nicely all +round it; disposed of the loose soil till the bed was trim and +neat, as far as that was concerned; and then stood up and +spoke. Warm, how warm she was! her face was all one pink +flush, but she did not feel it, she was so eager. + +"There," she said, "that will stand there nicely; and when the +cold weather comes, you can take the pot up and take it into +the house, just as it is; and if you do not let it freeze, it +will have flowers for you in the winter." + +"Cold?" said Molly. + +"Yes by and by, when the cold weather comes, this must be +taken up. The cold would kill it, if it was cold enough to +freeze. It would have to go in the house. The rose can stay +out all winter if you like; but this must be kept warm. This +is a geranium. And it will give you flowers in the winter." + +"J'anium?" said Molly. + +"Yes. This is called the 'Jewess' there are so many kinds +that they have to be named. This is the 'Jewess' geranium." + +"Water?" said Molly. + +"Water? No, this does not need water, because the roots are in +a pot, you know, and have not been disturbed. It will want +water if rain don't come, by and by." + +"What's you?" was Molly's next question, given with more +directness. + +"Me? I am Daisy Randolph. And I love flowers; and you love +flowers. May I come and see you sometimes? Will you let me?" + +Molly's grunt this time was not unintelligible. It was queer, +but there was certainly a tone of assent in it. She sat +looking now at the "Jewess" blossoms and now at Daisy. + +"And I love Jesus," the child went on. "Do you love Him?" + +The grunt was of pure question, in answer to this speech. +Molly did not understand. Daisy stooped down to face her on +more equal terms. + +"There is a great King up in heaven, who loves you, Molly. He +loves you so well that He died for you. And if you love Him, +He will take you there when you die and give you a white robe +and a crown of gold, and make you blessed." + +It is impossible to describe the simple earnestness of this +speech. Daisy said it, not as a philosopher nor as even a +preacher would have done; she said it as a child. As she had +received, she gave. The utter certainty and sweetness of her +faith and love went right from one pair of eyes to the other. +Nevertheless, Molly's answer was only a most ignorant and +blank, "What?" but it told of interest. + +"Yes," said Daisy. "Jesus loved us so well that He came and +died for us He shed His blood that we might be forgiven our +sins. And now He is a Great King up in heaven; and He knows +all we do and all we think; and if we love Him He will make us +good and take us to be with Him, and give us white robes and +crowns of gold up there. He can do anything, for He raised up +dead people to life, when He was in the world." + +That was a master-stroke of Daisy's. Molly's answer was again +a grunt of curiosity; and Daisy, crouching opposite to her, +took up her speech, and told her at length and in detail the +whole story of Lazarus. And if Daisy was engaged with her +subject, so certainly was Molly. She did not stir hand or +foot; she sat listening movelessly to the story, which came +with such loving truthfulness from the lips of her childish +teacher. A teacher exactly fitted, however, to the scholar; +Molly's poor closed-up mind could best receive any truth in +the way a child's mind would offer it; but in this truth, the +undoubting utterance of Daisy's love and belief won entrance +for her words where another utterance might not. Faith is +always catching. + +So Daisy told the wonderful story, and displayed the power and +love and tenderness of the Lord with the affection of one who +knew Him _her_ Lord, and almost with the zeal of an eye-witness +of his work. It was almost to Daisy so; it seemed to her that +she had beheld and heard the things she was telling over; for +faith is the substance of things not seen; and the grief of +the sisters, and their joy, and the love and tenderness of the +Lord Jesus, were all to her not less real than they were to +the actors in that far distant drama. Molly heard her +throughout, with open mouth and marvelling eyes. + +Neither of them had changed her position, and indeed Daisy had +scarce finished talking, when she heard herself hailed from +the road. She started. Preston was there on horseback, calling +to her. Daisy got up and took up her trowel. + +"Good-bye," she said, with a little sigh for the lost vision +which Preston's voice had interrupted "I'll come again, I +hope." And she ran out at the gate. + +"It is time for you to go home, Daisy. I thought you did not +know how late it is." + +Daisy mounted into her pony-chaise silently. + +"Have I interrupted something very agreeable?" + +"You would not have thought it so," said Daisy, +diplomatically. + +"What were you doing, down there in the dirt?" + +"Preston, if you please, I cannot talk to you nicely while you +are so high and I am so low." + +Preston was certainly at some height above Daisy, being +mounted up in his saddle on a pretty high horse, while the +pony-chaise was hung very near the ground. He had been beside +her; but at her last words he laughed and set off at a good +pace in advance, leaving the chaise to come along in Loupe's +manner. Daisy drove contentedly home through the afternoon +sunlight, which laid bands of brightness across her road all +the way home. They seemed bands of joy to Daisy. + +Preston had galloped ahead, and was at the door ready to meet +her. "What kept you so long at that dismal place?" he asked, +as he handed her out of the chaise. + +"You were back very soon from the Fish place, I think," said +Daisy. + +"Yes Alexander was not at home; there was no use in my +staying. But what were you doing all that while, Daisy?" + +"It was not so very long," said Daisy. "I did not think it was +a long time. You must have deceived yourself." + +"But do you not mean to tell me what you were about? What +_could_ you do, at such a place?" + +Daisy stood on the piazza, in all the light of the afternoon +sunbeams, looking and feeling puzzled. How much was it worth +while to try to tell Preston of her thoughts and wishes? + +"What was the attraction, Daisy? only tell me that. Dirt and +ignorance and rudeness and disorder and you contented to be +in the midst of it! Down in the dirt! What was the +attraction?" + +"She is very unhappy, Preston." + +"I don't believe it. Nonsense! All that is not misery to such +people, unless you make it so by showing them something +different. Marble tables are not the thing for them, Daisy." + +"Marble tables!" echoed Daisy. + +"Nor fuchsias and geraniums either. That old thing's old +flowers do just as well." + +Daisy was silent. She could have answered this. Preston went +on. + +"She won't be any better with her garden full of roses and +myrtles, than she is with her sunflowers now. What do you +expect to do, little Daisy?" + +"I know what I would like if I were in her place," said Daisy. + +"_You_, but she is not you. She has not your tastes. Do you +mean to carry her a silver cup and fork, Daisy? You would +certainly like that, if you were in her place. Dear little +Daisy, don't you be a mad philosopher." + +But Daisy had not been thinking of silver cups and forks, and +she was not misled by this argument. + +"Daisy, do you see you have been under a mistake?" + +"No, Preston," she said, looking up at him. + +"Daisy, do you think it is _right_ for you to go into houses and +among people where my uncle and aunt do not wish you to go? +You know they do not wish it, though they have given consent, +perhaps because you were so set upon it." + +Daisy glanced behind her at the windows of the library; for +they were at the back entrance of the house; and then seizing +Preston's hand, and saying, "Come with me," she drew him down +the steps and over the grass till she reached one of the +garden seats under the trees, out of hearing of any one. There +they sat down; Preston curious, Daisy serious and even +doubtful. + +"Preston" she began with all her seriousness upon her, "I +wish I had the book here, but I will tell you. When the Lord +Jesus comes again in glory, and all the angels with Him, He +will have all the people before Him, and He will separate them +into two sets. One will be on the right and one on the left. +One set will be the people that belong to Him, and the other +set will be the people that do not belong to Him. Then He will +welcome the first set, and bless them, because they have done +things to the poor and miserable such as they would have liked +to have done to themselves. And He will say 'Inasmuch as ye +have clone it to one of the least of these, ye have done it +unto Me.' " Daisy's eyes were full of water by this time. + +"So you are working to gain heaven, Daisy?" said Preston, who +did not know how to answer her. + +"Oh, no!" said the child. "I don't mean that." + +"Yes, you do." + +"No, that would be doing it for oneself, not for the Lord +Jesus" said Daisy, gravely looking at Preston. + +"Then I don't see what you mean by your story." + +"I mean only, that Jesus likes to have us do to other people +what we would want in their place." + +"Suppose you were in my aunt and uncle's place do you not +think you would like to have a little daughter regard their +wishes?" + +Daisy looked distressed. + +"I think it is time to go in and get ready for dinner, +Preston," she said. + +If she was distressed, Preston was displeased. They went in +without any more words. But Daisy was not perplexed at all. +She had not told Preston her innermost thought and hope that +Molly Skelton might learn the truth and be one of that blessed +throng on the right hand in the Great Day; but the thought and +hope were glowing at her heart; and she thought she must carry +her Master's message, if not positively forbidden, to all whom +she could carry it to. Preston's meditations were different. + +"I have tried my best," he said that evening, when Daisy was +gone to bed, "and I have failed utterly. I tried my best +and all I got was a rebuke and a sermon." + +"A sermon!" said Mrs. Randolph. + +"An excellent one, aunt Felicia. It was orderly, serious, and +pointed." + +"And she went to that place?" + +"Yes, ma'am. The sermon was afterwards." + +"What do you mean, Preston! Speak intelligibly." + +"Daisy did, ma'am. I am speaking sober truth, aunt Felicia." + +"What is her motive in going to that horrid place? can you +understand?" + +"Its disagreeableness, ma'am so far as I can make out." + +"It is very singular," said Mrs. Gary. + +"It is very deplorable," said Mrs. Randolph. "So at least it +seems to me. There will be nothing in common soon between +Daisy and her family." + +"Only that this kind of thing is apt to wear out, my dear. You +have that comfort." + +"No comfort at all. You do not know Daisy. She is a persistent +child. She has taken a dose of fanaticism enough to last her +for years." + +"I am sure nevertheless that Dr. Sandford is right in his +advice," said Mr. Randolph; "both as a physician and as a +philosopher. By far the best way is not to oppose Daisy, and +take as little notice as possible of her new notions. They +will fade out." + +"I do not believe it," said the lady "I do not believe it in +the least. If she had not your support, I would have an end of +this folly in a month." + +"Indirect ways" said Mrs. Gary "indirect ways, my dear; +those are your best chance. Draw off Daisy's attention with +other things. That is what I would do." + +And then the ladies put their heads together and concerted a +scheme; Preston joining eagerly in the discussion, and +becoming the manager-in-chief intrusted with its execution. +Mr. Randolph heard, but he gave no help and made no +suggestion. He let the ladies alone. + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE PICTURES. + + +Daisy came down to breakfast the next morning, looking so very +bright and innocent and fresh, that perhaps Mr. Randolph +thought his wife and sister were taking unnecessary trouble +upon themselves. At least Mrs. Randolph so interpreted his +manner, as she saw him put his arm round Daisy and bend down +his head to hers. The gay visitors were still at Melbourne, +but they had not come down yet to breakfast that morning. + +"Did you go to see your old woman yesterday?" Mr. Randolph +said. + +"Yes, papa." + +"Did you enjoy your visit?" + +"Very much, papa." + +Mrs. Randolph's head made a motion of impatience, which +however those two did not see. + +"How was that, Daisy? I do not comprehend in this instance the +sources of pleasure." + +"Papa" said Daisy, hesitating "I think I gave pleasure." + +She could not explain to him much more, but Mr. Randolph at +least understood that. He gave Daisy another kiss, which was +not disapproving, the child felt. So her breakfast was +extremely happy. + +She had a new plan in her head now about Molly. She wanted to +get established on the footing of a friend in that poor little +house; and she thought she had better perhaps not confine her +line of advance to the garden. After breakfast she sought the +housekeeper's room, and let Joanna know that she was in want +of a nice little cake of some sort to carry to a poor creature +who could make nor buy none. Daisy was a great favourite with +Miss Underwood, especially ever since the night when she had +been summoned in her night dress to tell the child about the +words of the minister that day. Joanna never said "no" to +Daisy if it was possible to say "yes;" nor considered anything +a trouble that Daisy required. On this occasion she promised +that exactly what Daisy wanted should be in readiness by the +afternoon; and having thus secured her arrangements Daisy went +with a perfectly light heart to see what the morning was to +bring forth. + +"Daisy!" shouted Preston, as she was going down the piazza +steps, "Daisy! where are you bound?" + +"Out " said Daisy, who was vaguely seeking the September +sunshine. + +"Well, 'out' is as good as anywhere. Wait till I get my hat. +Come, Daisy! we have business on hand." + +"What business?" said Daisy, as she was led along through the +trees. + +"Great business," said Preston, "only I shall want help, +Daisy I want a great deal of help. I cannot manage it alone. +Wait till we get to a real good place for a talk. Here, this +will do. Now sit down." + +"How pretty it is to-day!" said Daisy. + +For indeed the river opposite them looked a bright sheet of +glass; and the hills were blue in the morning light, and the +sunshine everywhere was delightsome. The beautiful trees of +Melbourne waved overhead; American elms hung their branches +towards the ground; lindens stood in masses of luxuriance; +oaks and chestnuts spotted the rolling ground with their round +heads; and English elms stood up great towers of green. The +September sun on all this and on the well kept greensward; no +wonder Daisy said it was pretty. But Preston was too full of +his business. + +"Now, Daisy, we have got a great deal to do!" + +"Have we?" said Daisy. + +"It is this. Aunt Felicia has determined that she will give a +party in two or three weeks." + +"A party! But I never have anything to do with parties +mamma's parties Preston." + +"No. But with this one I think you have." + +"How can I?" said Daisy. She was very pleasantly unconcerned +as yet, and only enjoying the morning and Preston and the +trees and the sunshine. + +"Why, little Daisy, I have got to furnish part of the +entertainment; and I can't do it without you." + +Daisy looked now. + +"Aunt Felicia wants me to get up some tableaux." + +"Some what?" said Daisy. + +"Tableaux. Tableaux vivants. Pictures, Daisy; made with +living people." + +"What do you mean, Preston?" + +"Why, we will choose some pictures, some of the prettiest +pictures we can find; and then we will dress up people to +represent all the figures, and place them just as the figures +are grouped in the engraving; and then they look like a most +beautiful large painted picture." + +"But pictures do not move?" + +"No more do the people. They hold still and do not stir, any +more than if they were not real." + +"I should think they would look like people though, and not +like a picture," said Daisy. "No matter how still you were to +keep, I should never fancy you were painted." + +"No," said Preston, laughing; "but you do not understand. The +room where the spectators are is darkened, and the lights for +the picture are all set on one side, just as the light comes +in the picture, and then it all looks just right. And the +picture is seen behind a frame, too, of the folding doors or +something." + +Daisy sat looking at Preston, a little curious but not at all +excited. + +"So I shall want your help, Daisy." + +"About what?" + +"First, to choose what pictures we will have. We must look +over all the books of engravings in the house, and see what +would do. Shall we go at it?" + +Daisy consented. They repaired to the library and took +position by a large portfolio of engravings. + +" 'Fortitude'! Capital!" cried Preston, as he turned over the +first sheet in the portfolio. "Capital; Daisy! That's for you. +You would make an excellent 'Fortitude.' " + +"I! " said Daisy. + +"Capital couldn't be better. This is Sir Joshua Reynolds' +'Fortitude' and you will do for it wonderfully well. You +have half the look of it now. Only you must be a little more +stern." + +"Why must Fortitude look stern?" said Daisy. + +"Oh, because she has hard work to do, I suppose." + +"What is Fortitude, Preston?" + +"Oh, Daisy, Daisy! are you going through life like that? Why +you'll turn all your play into work." + +"Why? But what _is_ it?" + +"Fortitude? Why, it is, let me see, it is the power of +endurance." + +"The power of bearing pain, Daisy," said Mr. Randolph, who was +walking through the room. + +"I do not think Fortitude ought to look stern." + +"The old gentleman thought so. I suppose he knew. You must, +anyhow, like the picture." + +"But, Preston, how could I look like that? My dresses are not +made so." + +"I hope not!" said Preston, laughing. "But, Daisy, we'll get +some of aunt Felicia's riggings and feathers, and set you out +in style." + +"But you can't put feathers on my head like those," said +Daisy. "They wouldn't stay on. And I don't see why Fortitude +should be dressed in feathers." + +"Why, it is the crest of her helmet, Daisy! Fortitude must +have something strong about her, somewhere, and I suppose her +head is as good a place as any. We'll make a helmet for you. +And I will make Dolce lie down at your feet for the lion." + +"You couldn't, Preston." + +"I could make him do anything." Dolce was Preston's dog; a +great shaggy St. Bernard. + +"Well! " said Daisy, with a half-sigh. + +"I think you'll make a beautiful Fortitude. Now let us see +what next. That is for one." + +"How many pictures do you want?" said Daisy. + +"Oh, a good many. Plenty, or it wouldn't be worth taking all +the trouble, and shutting the people up in a dark room. +'Alfred in the neat-herd's cottage' getting a scolding for +his burnt cakes. How splendid that would be if we could get +Dr. Sandford to be Alfred!" + +"Who would be that scolding old woman?" + +"No matter, because we can't get Dr. Sandford. We are not to +have grown folks at all. It is a pity Ransom is not here. We +shall have to get Alexander Fish or Hamilton! Hamilton will +do. He's a good-looking fellow." + +"You would do a great deal better," said Daisy. "And Alexander +would not do at all. He has not a bit the look of a king about +him." + +"I must be that old man with the bundle of sticks on his +head," said Preston, who was, however, immensely flattered. + +"But his beard?" said Daisy. + +"Oh, I'll put that on. A false beard is easy. You won't know +me, Daisy. That will be an excellent picture. See that girl +blowing the burnt cakes and making her face into a full moon!" + +"Will you have her in the picture?" + +"Certainly! Most assuredly." + +"But, who will you get to do that, Preston?" + +"Nora Dinwiddie, I reckon." + +"Will _she_ come?" + +"We shall want all we can get. All Mrs. Stanfield's young +ones, and Mrs. Fish's and Linwood's and everybody. Now, Daisy, +here you are! This is the very thing." + +"For what?" said Daisy. + +"Don't you see? For you. This is Queen Esther before Ahasuerus + you know the story?" + +"Oh, yes! when he stretched out the golden sceptre to her. +She is fainting, isn't she?" + +"Exactly. You can do that glorious, because you have always a +pair of pale cheeks on hand." + +"I?" said Daisy, again. "Do you want me to be two things?" + +"A dozen things, perhaps. You must be Queen Esther at any +rate. Nobody but you." + +"And who will be Ahasuerus?" + +"I don't know. Hamilton Rush, I reckon; he's a nice fellow." + +"Oh, Preston, why don't you be Ahasuerus?" + +"I am manager, you know, Daisy; it won't do for the manager to +take the best pieces for himself. Ahasuerus is one of the +best. See how handsome the dress is and the attitude, and +everything." + +"I don't see where you will find the dresses," said Daisy. +"All those are robes of silk and velvet and fur; and then the +jewels, Preston!" + +"Nonsense, Daisy. Aunt Felicia will let us take all her stores +of satins and velvets and feathers, and jewellery too. It +won't hurt them to be looked at." + +"I think," said Daisy, slowly, "I think I will not be Queen +Esther." + +"Why not? don't you like her looks?" + +"Oh, yes. _That's_ no matter; but I would rather somebody else +would be it." + +"Why, little Daisy? You are the one; nobody can be Esther but +you." + +"I think I will not," said Daisy, thoughtfully. + +"What's the matter, Daisy? You _must_. I want you for Esther and +nobody else. What is the objection?" + +"I would rather not," said Daisy. "I don't know Hamilton Rush +much." + +This was said with extreme demureness, and Preston bit his +lips almost till the blood came to prevent the smile which +would have startled Daisy. + +"You won't know him at all when he is dressed and with his +crown on. It's all a play. You can imagine he is the real old +Persian king, who looked so fiercely on the beautiful Jewess +when she ventured unsummoned into his presence." + +"I could not stand like that," said Daisy. + +"Yes, you could. That's easy. You are fainting in the arms of +your attendants." + +"Who will the attendants be?" + +"I don't know. Who do you think?" + +"I think I would rather not be in this picture, " said Daisy. + +"Yes, you will. I want you. It is too good to be given to +somebody else. It is one of the prettiest pictures we shall +have, I reckon." + +"Then you must be the king." + +"Well we will see," said Preston. "What comes next? 'Canute +and his courtiers.' That won't do, because we could not have +the sea in." + +"Nor the horse," said Daisy. + +"Not very well. What a stupid collection of portraits! +Nothing but portraits." + +"There are fortune-tellers." + +"That won't do not interest enough. There! here's one. +'Little Red Riding-hood.' That will be beautiful for you, +Daisy." + +"But, Preston, I mustn't be everything." + +"Plenty more things coming. You don't like Red Riding-hood? +Then we will give it to Nora or Ella." + +"Oh, I like it," said Daisy. "I like it much better than +Esther unless you will play Ahasuerus." + +"Well, I will put you down for both of 'em." + +"But who's to be anything else?" + +"Lots. Here. Splendid! 'Marie Antoinette going from the +revolutionary tribunal' that will be capital." + +"Who will take that?" said Daisy. + +"Let me see. I think I think, Daisy, it must be Theresa +Stanfield. She is a clever girl, and it must be a clever girl +to do this." + +"But she will not look as old as she ought." + +"Yes, she will, when she is dressed. I know who will be our +dresser, too; Mrs. Sandford." + +"Will she?" said Daisy. + +"Yes. She knows how, I know. You and I must go and give +invitations, Daisy." + +"Mamma will send the invitations." + +"Yes, of course, to the party; but we have got to beat up +recruits and get contributions for the tableaux. You and I +must do that. I engaged to take all the trouble of the thing +from aunt Felicia." + +"Contributions, Preston?" + +"Of people, Daisy. People for the tableaux, We must have all +we can muster." + +"I can't see how you will make Theresa Stanfield look like +that." + +"I cannot," said Preston, laughing, "but Mrs. Sandford will +do part, and Theresa herself will do the other part. She will +bring her face round, you will see. The thing is, who will be +that ugly old woman who is looking at the queen with such eyes +of coarse fury I think I shall have to be that old woman." + +"You, Preston!" And Daisy went off into a fit of amusement. +"Can you make your eyes look with coarse fury?" + +"You shall see. That's a good part. I should not like to trust +it to anybody else. Alexander and Hamilton Rush will have to +be the Queen's guards how we want Ransom! Charley Linwood is +too small. There's George, though." + +"What does that woman look at the queen so for?" + +"Wants to see her head come down which it did soon after." + +"Her head come down?" + +"It had come down pretty well then, when the proud, beautiful +queen was exposed to the looks and insults of the rabble. But +they wanted to see it come down on the scaffold." + +"What had she been doing, to make them hate her?" + +"She had been a queen; and they had made up their minds that +nobody ought to be queen, or anything else but rabble; so her +head must come off. A great many other heads came off; for the +same reason." + +"Preston, I don't think the poor would hate that kind of thing +so, if the rich people behaved right." + +"How do you think rich people ought to behave." said Preston, +gravely, turning over the engravings. + +Daisy's old puzzle came back on her; she was silent. + +"Common people always hate the uncommon, Daisy. Now what next? + Ah! here is what will do. This is beautiful." + +"What is it?" + +"Portia and Bassanio. He has just got that letter, you know." + +"What letter?" + +"Why, Antonio's letter. Oh, don't you know the story? Bassanio +was Antonio's friend, and Oh, dear, it is a long story, +Daisy. You must read it." + +"But what is the picture about?" + +"This: Bassanio has just this minute been married to Portia, + the loveliest lady in all the world; that he knew of; and +now comes a letter, just that minute, telling him that his +dear friend Antonio is in great danger of being cut to pieces +through the wickedness of a fellow that he had borrowed money +from. And the money had been borrowed for Bassanio, to set him +up for his courtship so no wonder he feels rather bad." + +"Does she know?" + +"No; she is just asking what is the matter. That will be a +capital picture." + +"But you couldn't stand and look like that," said Daisy. + +"I shall not," said Preston, "but Hamilton Rush will. I shall +give it to him. And let me see for Portia that Fish girl +cannot do it, she is not clever enough. It will have to be +Theresa Stanfield." + +"I should like to see anybody look like _that_," said Daisy. + +"Well, you will. We shall have to go to another book of +engravings. Hollo! here you are again, Daisy. This will do +for you exactly. Exactly!" + +"What is it?" + +"Why, Daisy, these are two old Puritans; young ones, I mean, +of course; and they are very fond of each other, you know, but +somehow they don't know it. Or one of them don't, and he has +been goose enough to come to ask Priscilla if she will be his +friend's wife. Of course she is astonished at him." + +"She does not look astonished." + +"No, that is because she is a Puritan. She takes it all +quietly, only she says she has an objection to be this other +man's wife. And then John finds what a fool he is. That's +capital. You shall be Priscilla; you will do it and look it +beautifully." + +"I do not think I want to be Priscilla," said Daisy, slowly. + +"Yes, you do. You will. It will make such a beautiful picture. +I reckon Alexander Fish will make a good John Alden he has +nice curly hair." + +"So have you," said Daisy; "and longer than Alexander's, and +more like the picture." + +"I am manager, Daisy. That wouldn't do." + +"I shall not be in that picture if Alexander is the other +one," said Daisy. + +"Well we will see. But Daisy, it is only playing pictures, +you know. It will not be Daisy and Alexander Fish not at all + it will be Priscilla and John Alden." + +"_I_ should think it was Alexander Fish," said Daisy. + +Preston laughed. + +"But Preston, what is that word you said just now? what is a +Puritan?" + +"I don't know. I think you are one. I do not know another." + +"You said these were Puritans?" + +"Yes, so they were. They were very good people, Daisy, that +liked wearing plain dresses. We shall have to have a stuff +dress made for you I reckon you have not one of anything +like a Puritan cut." + +"Then, how am I a Puritan, Preston?" + +"Sure enough. I mean that you would be one, if you got a +chance. How many pictures have we chosen out? Six? That is not +half enough." + +The search went on, through other books and portfolios. There +was good store of them in Mr. Randolph's library, and Daisy +and Preston were very busy the whole morning till luncheon- +time. After Daisy's dinner, however, her mind took up its +former subject of interest. She went to Joanna, and was +furnished with a nice little sponge-cake and a basket of +sickle pears for Molly Skelton. Daisy forgot all about +tableaux. This was something better. She ordered the pony- +chaise and got ready for driving. + +"Hollo, Daisy!" said Preston, as she came out upon the piazza; + "what now?" + +"I am going out." + +"With me." + +"No, I have business, Preston." + +"So have I; a business that cannot wait, either. We must go +and drum up our people for the tableaux, Daisy. We haven't +much time to prepare, and lots of things to do." + +"What?" + +"First, arrange about the parts everybody is to take; and then +the dresses, and then practising." + +"Practising what, Preston?" + +"Why, the pictures! We cannot do them at a dash, all right; we +must drill, until every one knows exactly how to stand and how +to look, and can do it well." + +"And must the people come here to practise?" + +"Of course. Where the pictures and the dresses are, you know. +Aunt Felicia is to give us her sewing woman for as much time +as we want her; and Mrs. Sandford must be here to see about +all that; and we must know immediately whom we can have, and +get them to come. We must go this afternoon, Daisy." + +"Must I ?" + +"Certainly. You know or you would know if you were not a +Puritan, little Daisy, that I cannot do the business alone. +You are Miss Randolph." + +"Did the Puritans not know much?" inquired Daisy. + +"Nothing about the ways of the world." + +Daisy looked at the pony-chaise, at the blue hills, at her +basket of pears; and yielding to what seemed necessity, gave +up Molly for that day. She went with Preston, he on horseback, +she in her pony-chaise, and a very long afternoon's work they +made of it. And they did not get through the work, either. But +by dint of hearing the thing talked over, and seeing the great +interest excited among the young folks, Daisy's mind grew +pretty full of the pictures before the day was ended. It was +so incomprehensible, how Theresa Stanfield could ever bring +her merry, arch face, into the grave proud endurance of the +deposed French queen; it was so puzzling to imagine Hamilton +Rush, a fine, good-humoured fellow, something older than +Preston, transformed into the grand and awful figure of +Ahasuerus; and Nora was so eager to know what part she could +take; and Mrs. Sandford entered into the scheme with such +utter good-nature and evident competence to manage it. Ella +Stanfield's eyes grew very wide open; and Mrs. Fish was full +of curiosity, and the Linwoods were tumultuous. + +"We shall have to tame those fellows down," Preston remarked +as he and Daisy rode away from this last place, "or they +will upset everything. Why cannot people teach people to take +things quietly!" + +"How much that little one wanted to be Red Riding-hood," said +Daisy. + +"Yes. Little Malapert!" + +"You will let her, won't you?" + +"I reckon I won't. You are to be Red Riding-hood unless, I +don't know; perhaps that would be a good one to give Nora +Dinwiddie. I shall see." + +That day was gone. The next day there was a great overhauling, +by Preston and his mother and Daisy, of the stores of finery +which Mrs. Randolph put at their disposal. Mrs. Randolph +herself would have nothing to do with the arrangements; she +held aloof from the bustle attending them; but facilities and +materials she gave with unsparing hand. Daisy was very much +amused. Mrs. Gary and Preston had a good deal of consultation +over the finery, having at the same time the engravings spread +out before them. Such stores of satin and lace robes, and +velvet mantles, and fur wrappings and garnishings, and silken +scarfs, and varieties of adornment, old and new, were gathered +into one room and displayed, that it almost tired Daisy to +look at them. Nevertheless, she was amused. And she was amused +still more, when later in the day, after luncheon, Mrs. +Sandford arrived, and was taken up into the tiring room, as +Preston called it. Here she examined the pictures, and made a +careful survey of the articles with which she must work to +produce the desired effects. Some of the work was easy. There +was an old cardinal, of beautiful red cloth, which doubtless +would make up Red Riding-hood with very little trouble. There +were beautiful plumes for Fortitude's head; and Daisy began to +wonder how she would look with their stately grace waving over +her. Mrs. Sandford tried it. She arranged the plume on Daisy's +head; and with a turn or two of a dark cashmere scarf imitated +beautifully the classic folds of the drapery in the picture. +Then she put Daisy in the attitude of the figure; and by that +time Daisy felt so strange that her face was stern and grave +enough to need no admonishing. Preston clapped his hands. + +"If you will only look like that, Daisy, in the tableau!" + +"Look how?" said Daisy. + +"Mrs. Sandford, did you ever see anything so perfect?" + +"It is excellent," said that lady. + +"If they will all do as well, we shall be encored. But there +is no dress here for Bassanio, Mrs. Sandford." + +"You would hardly expect your mother's or your aunt's wardrobe +to furnish that." + +"Hardly. But I am sure uncle Randolph's wardrobe would not do +any better. It will have to be made." + +"I think I have something at home that will do something +that was used once for a kindred purpose. I think I can dress +Bassanio as far as the slashings are concerned. The cap and +plume we can manage here and I dare say your uncle has some +of those old-fashioned long silk hose." + +"Did papa ever wear such things?" said Daisy. + +"Portia will be easy," said Preston, looking round the room. + +"Who is to be Portia?" + +"Theresa Stanfield, I believe." + +"That will do very well, I should think. She is fair suppose +we dress her in this purple brocade." + +"Was Portia married in purple?" said Preston. + +Mrs. Sandford laughed a good deal. "Well" she said "white +if you like; but Theresa will look most like Portia if she +wears this brocade. I do not believe white is _de rigueur_ in +her case. You know, she went from the casket scene to the +altar. If she was like me, she did not venture to anticipate +good fortune by putting on a bridal dress till she knew she +would want it." + +"Perhaps that is correct," said Preston. + +"How come you to know so much about the dresses?" said the +lady. "That is commonly supposed to be woman's function." + +"I am general manager, Mrs. Sandford, and obliged to act out +of character." + +"You seem to understand yourself very well. Priscilla! we +have no dress for her." + +"It will have to be made." + +"Yes. Who is there to make it?" + +The seamstress was now summoned, and the orders were given for +Priscilla's dress, to be made to fit Daisy. It was very +amusing, the strait-cut brown gown, the plain broad vandyke of +white muslin, and etceteras that Mrs. Sandford insisted on. + +"She will look the part extremely well. But are you going to +give her nothing but Fortitude and Prudence, Preston? is Daisy +to do nothing gayer." + +"Yes ma'am she is to be the queen of the Persian king here +what is his name? Ahasuerus! She is Esther." + +Daisy opened her lips to say no, but Preston got her into his +arms, and softly put his hand upon her mouth before +she could speak the word. The action was so coaxing and +affectionate, that Daisy stood still, silent, with his arms +round her. + +"Queen Esther!" said Mrs. Sandford. "That will tax the utmost +of our resources. Mrs. Randolph will lend us some jewels, I +hope, or we cannot represent that old Eastern court." + +"Mrs. Randolph will lend us anything and everything," said +Preston. + +"Then we can make a beautiful tableau. I think Esther must be +in white." + +"Yes ma'am it will add to the fainting effect." + +"And we must make her brilliant with jewels; and dress her +attendants in colours, so as to set her off; but Esther must +be a spot of brilliancy. Ahasuerus rich and heavy. This will +be your finest tableau, if it is done well." + +"Alfred will not be bad," said Preston. + +"In another line. Your part will be easy, Daisy you must +have a pair of strong-armed handmaidens. What do you want Nora +for, Preston?" + +"Could she be one of them, Mrs. Sandford?" + +"Yes, if she can be impressed with the seriousness of the +occasion; but the maids of the queen ought to be wholly in +distress for their mistress, you know. She could be one of the +princes in the tower, very nicely." + +"Yes, capitally," said Preston. "And Mrs. Sandford +wouldn't she make a good John Alden?" + +"Daisy for Priscilla! Excellent!" said Mrs. Sandford. "If the +two could keep their gravity, which I very much doubt." + +"Daisy can keep anything," said Preston. "I will tutor Nora." + +"Well, I will help you as much as I can," said the lady. "But, +my boy, this business takes time! I had no notion I had been +here so long. I must run." + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE BASKET OF SPONGE-CAKE. + + +As she made her escape one way, so did Daisy by another. When +Preston came back from attending Mrs. Sandford to her carriage +he could find nothing of his little co-worker. Daisy was gone. + +In all haste, and with a little self-reproach for having +forgotten it, she had ordered her pony-chaise; and then +examined into the condition of her stores. The sponge-cake was +somewhat dry; the sickle pears wanted looking over. Part of +them were past ripe. Indeed so many of them, that Daisy found +her basket was no longer properly full, when these were culled +out. She went to Joanna. Miss Underwood soon made that all +right with some nice late peaches; and Daisy thought with +herself that sponge-cake was very good a little dry, and would +probably not find severe criticism at Molly's house. She got +away without encountering her cousin, much to her +satisfaction. + +Molly was not in her garden. That had happened before. Daisy +went in, looked at the flowers, and waited. The rose-tree was +flourishing; the geranium was looking splendid; with nothing +around either of them that in the least suited their +neighbourhood. So Daisy thought. If all the other plants the +ragged balsams and "creeping Charley" and the rest could +have been rooted up, then the geranium and the rose would have +shown well together. However, Molly did not doubtless feel +this want of suitability; to her the tall sunflower was, no +question, a treasure and a beautiful plant. Would Molly come +out? + +It seemed as if she would not. No stir, and the closed house +door looking forbidding and unhopeful. Daisy waited, and +waited, and walked up and down the bit of a path, from the +gate quite to the house door; in hopes that the sound of her +feet upon the walk might be heard within. Daisy's feet did not +make much noise; but however that were, there was no stir of a +sound anywhere else. Daisy was patient; not the less the +afternoon was passing away, and pretty far gone already, and +it was the first of October now. The light did not last as +long as it did a few months ago. Daisy was late. She must go +soon, if she did not see Molly; and to go without seeing her +was no part of Daisy's plan. Perhaps Molly was sick. At any +rate, the child's footsteps paused at the door of the poor +little house, and her fingers knocked. She had never been +inside of it yet, and what she saw of the outside was not in +the least inviting. The little windows, lined with paper +curtains to keep out sunlight and curious eyes, looked dismal; +the weatherboards were unpainted; the little porch broken. +Daisy did not like such things. But she knocked without a bit +of fear or hesitation, notwithstanding all this. She was +charged with work to do; so she felt; it was no matter what +she might meet in the discharge of it. She had her message to +carry, and she was full of compassionate love to the creature +whose lot in life was so unlike her own. Daisy went straight +on in her business. + +Her knock got no answer, and still got none though it was +repeated and made more noticeable. Not a sign of an answer. +Daisy softly tried the door then to see if it would open. +There was no difficulty in that; she pushed it gently, and +gently stepped in. + +It looked just like what she expected, though Daisy had not +got accustomed yet to the conditions of such rooms. Just now, +she hardly saw anything but Molly. Her eyes wandering over the +strange place, were presently caught by the cripple, sitting +crouching in a corner of the room. It was all miserably +desolate. The paper shields kept out the light of the +sunbeams; and though the place was tolerably clean, it had a +close, musty, disagreeable, shut-up smell. But all Daisy +thought of at first was the cripple. She went a little towards +her. + +"How do you do, Molly?" her little soft voice said. Molly +looked glum, and spoke never a word. + +"I have been waiting to see you," Daisy said, advancing a step +nearer "and you did not come out. I was afraid you were +sick." + +One of Molly's grunts came here. Daisy could not tell what it +meant. + +"_Are_ you sick, Molly?" + +"It's me and not you" said the cripple, morosely. + +"Oh, I am sorry!" said Daisy, tenderly. "I want to bring in +something for you " + +She ran away for her basket. Coming back, she left the door +open to let in the sweet air and sun. + +"What is the matter with you, Molly?" + +The cripple made no answer, not even a grunt; her eyes were +fastened on the basket. Daisy lifted the cover and brought out +her cake, wrapped in paper. As she unwrapped it and came up to +Molly, she saw what she had never seen before that minute, a +smile on the cripple's grum face. It was not grum now; it was +lighted up with a smile, as her eyes dilated over the cake. + +"I'll have some tea!" she said. + +Daisy put the cake on the table and delivered a peach into +Molly's hand. But she lifted her hand to the table and laid +the peach there. + +"I'll have some tea." + +"Are you sick, Molly?" said Daisy again; for in spite of this +declaration, and in spite of her evident pleasure, Molly did +not move. + +"I'm aching all through." + +"What is the matter?" + +"Aching's the matter rheumatiz. I'll have some tea." + +"It's nice and warm out in the sun," Daisy suggested. + +"Can't get there," said Molly. "Can't stir. I'm all aches all +over." + +"How can you get tea, then, Molly? Your fire is quite out." + +"Ache and get it " said the cripple, grumly. + +Daisy could not stand that. She at first thought of calling +her groom to make a fire; but reflected that would be a +hazardous proceeding. Molly perhaps, and most probably, would +not allow it. If she would allow her, it would be a great step +gained. Daisy's heart was so full of compassion she could not +but try. There was a little bit of an iron stove in the room, +and a tea-kettle, small to match, stood upon it; both cold of +course. + +"Where is there some wood, Molly?" said Daisy, over the stove; + "some wood and kindling? I'll try if I can make the fire for +you, if you will let me, please." + +"In there " said the cripple, pointing. + +Daisy looked, and saw nothing but an inner door. Not liking to +multiply questions, for fear of Molly's patience, she ventured +to open the door. There was a sort of shed-room, where Daisy +found stores of everything she wanted. Evidently the +neighbours provided so far for the poor creature, who could +not provide for herself. Kindling was there in plenty, and +small wood stacked. Daisy got her arms full and came back to +the stove. By using her eyes carefully she found the matches +without asking anything, and made the fire, slowly but nicely; +Molly meanwhile having reached up for her despised peach was +making her teeth meet in it with no evidence of +disapprobation. The fire snapped and kindled and began +immediately to warm up the little stove. Daisy took the kettle +and went into the same lumber shed to look for water. But +though an empty tin pail stood there, the water in it was no +more than a spoonful. Nothing else held any. Daisy looked out. +A worn path in the grass showed the way to the place where +Molly filled her water-pail a little basin of a spring at +some distance from the house. Daisy followed the path to the +spring, filled her pail and then her kettle, wondering much +how Molly ever could crawl to the place in rainy weather; and +then she came in triumphant and set the tea-kettle on the +stove. + +"I am very sorry you are sick, Molly," said Daisy, anew. + +Molly only grunted; but she had finished her peach, and sat +there licking her finger. + +"Would you like to see Dr. Sandford? I could tell him." + +"No!" said the poor thing, decidedly. + +"I'll pray to the Lord Jesus to make you well." + +"Humph?" said Molly, questioning. + +"You know, He can do everything. He can make you well; and I +hope He will." + +"He won't make me well " said Molly. + +"He will make you happy, if you will pray to Him." + +"Happy!" said Molly; as if it were a yet more impossible +thing. + +"Oh, yes. Jesus makes everybody happy that loves Him. He makes +them good too, Molly; He forgives all their sins that they +have done; and in heaven He will give them white robes to +wear, and they will not do wrong things nor have any pain any +more." + +One of Molly's grunts came now; she did not understand this, +or could not believe. Daisy looked on, pitiful and very much +perplexed. + +"Molly, you have a great Friend in heaven," said the child; +"don't you know it? Jesus loves you." + +"Hn?" said Molly again. + +"Don't you know what He did, for you and me and everybody!" + +Molly's head gave sign of ignorance. So Daisy sat down and +told her. She told her the story at length; she painted the +love of the few disciples, the enmity of the world, the things +that infinite tenderness had done and borne for those who +hated goodness and would not obey God. Molly listened, and +Daisy talked; how, she did not know, nor Molly neither; but +the good news was told in that poor little house; the +unspeakable gift was made known. Seeing Molly's fixed eyes and +rapt attention, Daisy went on at length and told all. The +cripple's gaze never stirred all the while, nor stirred when +the story came to an end. She still stared at Daisy. Well she +might! + +"Now, Molly," said the child, "I have got a message for you." + +"Hn?" said Molly, more softly. + +"It is from the Lord Jesus. It is in His book. It is a +message. The message is, that if you will believe in Him and +be His child, He will forgive you and love you; and then you +will go to be with Him in heaven." + +"Me?" said Molly. + +"Yes," said Daisy, nodding her little head with her eyes full +of tears. "Yes, you will. Jesus will take you there, and you +will wear a white robe and a crown of gold, and be with Him." + +Daisy paused, and Molly looked at her. How much of the truth +got fair entrance into her mind, Daisy could not tell. But +after a few minutes of pause, seeing that Daisy's lips did not +open, Molly opened hers, and bade her "Go on." + +"I am afraid I haven't time to-day," said Daisy. "I'll bring +my book next time and read you the words. Can you read, +Molly?" + +"Read? no!" + +Whether Molly knew what reading was, may be questioned. + +"Molly," said Daisy, lowering her tone in her eagerness, +"would you like to learn to read yourself? Then, when I am +not here, you could see it all in the book. Wouldn't you like +it?" + +"Where's books?" said the cripple. + +"I will bring the book. And now I must go." + +For Daisy knew that a good while had passed; she did not know +how long it was. Before going, however, she went to see about +the fire in the stove. It was burnt down to a few coals; and +the kettle was boiling. Daisy could not leave it so. She +fetched more wood and put in, with a little more kindling; and +then, leaving it all right, she was going to bid Molly good- +bye, when she saw that the poor cripple's head had sunk down +on her arms. She looked in that position so forlorn, so lonely +and miserable, that Daisy's heart misgave her. She drew near. + +"Molly " said her sweet little voice, "would you like your +tea now? the water is boiling." + +Molly signified that she would. + +"Would you like to have me make it?" said Daisy, doubtfully, +quite afraid of venturing too far or too fast. But she need +not have been afraid. Molly only pointed with her finger to a +wall cupboard, and said as before, "In there." + +The way was clear for Daisy, time or no time. She went to the +cupboard. It was not hard to find the few things which Molly +had in constant use. The tea-pot was there, and a paper of +tea. Daisy made the tea, with a good deal of pleasure and +wonder; set it to draw, and brought out Molly's cup and saucer +and plate and knife and spoon. A little sugar she found too; +not much. She put these things on the low table which was made +to fit Molly's condition. She could have it before her as she +sat on the floor. + +"I don't see any milk for your tea, Molly." + +"Milk? no. It's all gone," said Molly. + +"I am sorry. You'll have to take your tea without milk then. +Here it is. I hope it is good." + +Daisy poured out a cup, set the sugar beside it, and cut +slices of sponge-cake. She was greatly pleased at being +allowed to do it. Molly took it as a very natural thing, and +Daisy sat down to enjoy the occasion a few minutes longer, and +also to give such attentions as she could. + +"Won't you have some?" said Molly. + +"No, I thank you. Mamma does not let me drink tea, except when +I am sick." + +Molly had discharged her conscience, and gave herself now to +her own enjoyment. One cup of tea was a mere circumstance; +Daisy filled and refilled it; Molly swallowed the tea as if +cupfuls had been mouthfuls. It was a subject of question to +Daisy whether the poor creature had had any other meal that +day; so eager she was, and so difficult to satisfy with the +sponge-cake. Slice after slice; and Daisy cut more, and put a +tiny fresh pinch of tea into the teapot, and waited upon her +with inexpressible tenderness and zeal. Molly exhausted the +tea-pot and left but a small remnant of the cake. Daisy was +struck with a sudden fear that she might have been neglected +and really want things to eat. How could she find out? + +"Where shall I put this, Molly?" she said, taking the plate +with the morsel of cake. "Where does it go?" + +"In there " said Molly. + +"Here? or here?" touching the two doors of the cupboard. + +" 'Tother one." + +So Daisy opened the other door of the cupboard, just what she +wanted to do. And there she saw indeed some remnants of food, +but nothing more than remnants; a piece of dry bread and a +cold muffin, with a small bit of boiled pork. Daisy took but a +glance, and came away. The plate and cup and saucer she set in +their place; bid good-bye to Molly, and ran out. + +Time indeed! The sun was sending long slant bright beams +against the cottage windows and over the pony-chaise, and the +groom had got the pony's head turned for home, evidently under +the impression that Daisy was staying a long time. A little +fearful of consequences if she got home after sundown, Daisy +gathered up her reins and signified to Loupe that he was +expected to move with some spirit. + +But Daisy was very happy. She was thoroughly at home now with +Molly; she was fairly admitted within the house and welcome +there; and already she had given comfort. She had almost done +as Nora said; as near as possible she had taken tea with +Molly. Besides, Daisy had found out what more to do for her. +She thought of that poor cupboard with mixed feelings; not +pity only; for next day she would bring supplies that were +really needed. Some nice bread and butter Daisy had seen no +sign of butter, and some meat. Molly needed a friend to look +after her wants, and Daisy now had the freedom of the house +and could do it; and joyfully she resolved that she would do +it, so long as her own stay at Melbourne should be prolonged. +What if her getting home late should bring on a command that +would put a stop to all this! + +But nobody was on the piazza or in the library when she got +home. Daisy went safely to her own room. There was June all +ready to dress her; and making good speed, that business was +finished and Daisy ready to go down to the dinner-table at the +usual time. + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +SATIN AND FEATHERS. + + +She was a little afraid of questions at the dinner-table; but +it happened that the older people were interested about some +matter of their own and she was not noticed at all. Except in +a quiet way by Mr. Randolph, who picked out nuts for her; and +Daisy took them and thought joyfully of carrying a Testament +to Molly's cottage and teaching her to read it. If she could +do but that Daisy thought she would be happy. + +The evening was spent by her and Preston over engravings +again. Some new ones were added to the stock already chosen +for tableaux; and Preston debated with her very eagerly the +various questions of characters and dresses. Daisy did not +care how he arranged them, provided she only was not called +upon to be Priscilla to Alexander Fish, or Esther to Hamilton +Rush. "I will not, Preston " she insisted quietly; and +Preston was in difficulty; for as he truly said, it would not +do to give himself all the best pieces. + +The next day, after luncheon, a general conclave assembled, of +all the young people, to determine the respective parts and +hold a little rehearsal by way of beginning. Mrs. Sandford was +there too, but no other grown person was admitted. Preston had +certainly a troublesome and delicate office in his capacity of +manager. + +"What are you going to give me, Preston?" said Mrs. +Stanfield's lively daughter, Theresa. + +"You must be Portia." + +"Portia? let me see Oh, that's lovely! How will you dress +me, Mrs. Sandford? I must be very splendid I have just been +married, and I am worth any amount of splendour. Who's to be +Bassanio? " + +"George Linwood, I think. He must have dark hair, you know." + +"What are wigs good for?" said Theresa. "But he has nothing to +do but to hold the letter and throw himself backward he's +surprised, you know, and people don't stand straight when they +are surprised. Only that, and to look at Portia. I guess he +can do it. Once fix him and he'll stay that's one thing. How +will you dress Portia, Mrs. Sandford? Ah, let me dress her!" + +"Not at all; you must be amenable to authority, Miss +Stanfield, like everybody else." + +"But what will you put on her, Mrs. Sandford? The dress is +Portia." + +"No, by no means; you must look with a very delicate +expression, Miss Theresa. Your face will be the picture." + +"My face will depend on my dress, I know. What will it be, +Mrs. Sandford?" + +"I will give you a very heavy and rich purple brocade." + +"Jewels?" + +"Of course. Mrs. Randolph lets us have whatever we want." + +"That will do!" said Theresa, clapping her hands softly. "I am +made up. What are you going to do with Frederica?" + +"She has a great part. She must be Marie Antoinette going +from the revolutionary tribunal." + +"De la Roche's picture!" said Theresa. + +"She's not dressed at all," remarked Frederica, coldly +looking at the engraving. + +"Marie Antoinette needed no dress, you know," Theresa +answered. + +"But she isn't handsome there." + +"You will be standing for her," said Mrs. Sandford. "The +attitude is very striking, in its proud, indignant +impassiveness. You will do that well. I must dress your hair +carefully, but you have just the right hair and plenty of it." + +"Don't she flatter her!" whispered Theresa to Preston; then +aloud, "How will you make up the rest of the tableau, +Preston?" + +"I am going to be that old cross-eyed woman Alexander will +be one of the guards George Linwood another, I think. +Hamilton Rush must shake his fist at the queen over my head; +and Theresa, you must be this nice little French girl, looking +at her unfortunate sovereign with weeping eyes. Can you get a +tear on your cheek?" + +"Might take an uncommon strong spoonful of mustard " said +Theresa "I suppose that would do it. But you are not going +to let the spectators come so near as to see drops of tears, I +hope?" + +"No matter your eyes and whole expression would be affected +by the mustard; it would tell, even at a distance." + +When they got through laughing, some one asked, "What is Daisy +to be?" + +"Oh, she is to be Priscilla here I thought nobody but Daisy +would care about being a Puritan; but it is her chosen +character." + +"It'll be a pretty tableau," said Theresa. + +"And what am I to be, Preston?" said Nora. + +"You are to be several things. You and Ella must be the two +young princes in the tower." + +"What tower ?" said Nora. + +There was another general laugh, and then Daisy, who was well +at home in English history, pulled her little friend aside to +whisper to her the story and show her the picture. + +"What are those men going to do?" said Nora. + +"They are going to kill the little princes. They have got a +feather-bed or something there, and they are going to smother +them while they are asleep." + +"But I don't want the feather-bed on top of me!" said Nora. + +"No, no, it is not to come down on you; but that is the +picture; they will hold it just so; it will not come down." + +"But suppose they should let it fall?" + +"They will not let it fall. The picture is to have it held +just so, as if they were going to smother the poor little +princes the next minute." + +"I think it is a horrid picture!" said Nora. + +"But it will only last a little while. All you will have to do +will be to make believe you are asleep." + +"I don't want to make believe I am asleep. I would rather have +my eyes open. What else am I going to be, Daisy?" + +"Preston will tell. I believe you are to be one of Queen +Esther's women, to hold her up when she fainted, you know." + +"Let me see. Where is it?" + +Daisy obtained the picture. Nora examined it critically. + +"I would like to be the king, he is so handsome. Who will be +the queen?" + +"I don't know yet," said Daisy. + +"Are you going to have any part where you will be dressed up?" + +"We shall have to be dressed for them all. We cannot wear our +own dresses, you know; it would not be a picture." + +"But, I mean, are you going to be dressed up with nice +things? not like this." + +"This will be dressed up," said Daisy; "she will be very +nicely dressed to be one of the queen's ladies, you know." + +"Daisy! Daisy! " was now called from the larger group of +counsel-takers, Daisy and Nora having separated themselves for +their private discourse. "Daisy! look here come here! see +what you are to be. You are to be an angel." + +"You are to be an angel, Daisy," Theresa repeated, "with +wonderful wings made of gauze on a light frame of whalebone." + +Daisy came near, looking very attentive; if she felt any more +she did not show it in her face. + +"Daisy, you will do it delightfully," said Mrs. Sandford. +"Come and look. It is this beautiful picture of the Game of +Life." + +"What is it, ma'am?" said Daisy. + +"These two figures, you see, are playing a game of chess. The +stake they are playing for, is this young man's soul; he is +one of the players, and this other player is the evil one. The +arch-fiend thinks he has got a good move; the young man is +very serious but perplexed; and there stands his guardian +angel watching how the game will go." + +Daisy looked at the picture in silence of astonishment. It +seemed to her impossible that anybody could play at such a +subject as that. + +"Whom will you have for the fiend, Preston?" the lady went on. + +"I will do it myself, ma'am, I think." + +Daisy's "Oh, no, Preston!" brought down such a shower of +laughter on all sides, that she retreated into herself a +little further than ever. They pursued the subject for a +while, discussing the parts and the making of the angels +wings; deciding that Daisy would do excellently well for the +angel and would look the part remarkably. + +"She has a good deal that sort of expression in ordinary +times," said Mrs. Sandford "without the sadness; and that +she can assume, I day say." + +"I would rather not do it " Daisy was heard to say, very +gently but very soberly. There was another laugh. + +"Do what, Daisy? assume a look of sadness?" said Preston. + +"I would rather not be the angel." + +"Nobody else could do it so well," said Mrs. Sandford. "You +are the very one to do it. It will he admirable." + +"_I_ should like to be the angel " murmured Nora, low enough to +have no one's attention but Daisy's. The rest were agreeing +that the picture would be excellent and had just the right +performers assigned to it. Daisy was puzzled. It seemed to her +that Nora had a general desire for everything. + +"Ella will be one of the princes in the tower," Preston went +on. "Nora will be Red Riding-Hood." + +"I won't be Red Riding-Hood " said Nora. + +"Why not? Hoity, toity!" + +"It isn't pretty. And it has no pretty dress." + +"Why, it is beautiful," said Mrs. Sandford; "and the dress is +to be made with an exquisite red cashmere cardinal of Mrs. +Randolph's. You will make the best Red Riding-Hood here. +Though Daisy would be more like the lamb the wolf was after," + continued the lady, appealing to the manager; "and you might +change. Who is to be queen Esther? Nora would do that well +with her black eyes and hair she is more of a Jewess than +any other of them." + +"Esther is fainting," said Preston. "Daisy's paleness will +suit that best. Nora could not look faint." + +"Yes, I could," said that damsel, promptly. + +"You shall blow the cakes that Alfred has let burn," said +Preston. "Capital! Look here, Nora. You shall be that girl +taking up the burnt cakes and blowing to cool them; and you +may look as fierce as you like. You will get great applause if +you do that part well. Eloise is going to be the scolding old +woman. She and I divide the old women between us." + +"Too bad, Preston!" said Mrs. Sandford, laughing. "What else +are you going to be?" + +"I am going to be one of those fellows coming to murder the +little princes." + +"Who is Bassanio?" + +"Hamilton says he will undertake that. George declines." + +"Suppose we do some work, instead of so much talking," said +the former person; who had hitherto been a very quiet +spectator and listener. "Let us have a little practice. We +shall want a good deal before we get through." + +All agreed; agreed also that something in the shape of +artistic draperies was needed for the practice. "It helps," +as Hamilton Rush remarked. So Daisy went to desire the +attendance of June with all the scarfs, mantles and shawls +which could be gathered together. As Daisy went, she thought +that she did not wish Nora to be queen Esther; she was glad +Preston was firm about that. + +The practising of Bassanio and Portia was so very amusing that +she fairly forgot herself in laughter. So did everybody else; +except Mrs. Sandford, who was intent upon draperies, and +Preston whose hands held a burden of responsibility. Hamilton +was a quiet fellow enough in ordinary; but now nobody was more +ready for all the life of the play. He threw himself back into +an attitude of irresolution and perplexity, with the letter in +his hand which had brought the fatal news; that is, it was the +make-believe letter, though it was in reality only the New +York _Evening Post_. And Daisy thought his attitude was very +absurd; but they all declared it was admirable and exactly +copied from the engraving. He threw himself into all this in a +moment, and was Bassanio at once; but Theresa was much too +well disposed to laugh to imitate his example. And then they +all laughed at Theresa, who instead of looking grave and +inquiring, as Portia should, at her lord's unusual action and +appearance, flung herself into position and out of position +with a mirthfulness of behaviour wholly inconsistent with the +character she was to personify. How they all laughed! + +"What is it, Daisy?" whispered Nora. + +"Why, he has got a letter," said Daisy. + +"Is that newspaper the letter?" + +"Make believe it is," said Daisy. + +"But what are they doing?" + +"Why, this man, Bassanio, has just got a letter that says his +dearest friend is going to be killed, because he owes money +that he cannot pay; and as the money was borrowed for his own +sake, of course he feels very badly about it." + +"But people are not killed because they cannot pay money," +said Nora. "I have seen people come to papa for money, and +they didn't do anything to him because he hadn't it." + +"No, but those were different times," said Daisy, "and +Bassanio lived in a different country. His friend owed money +to a dreadful man, who was going to cut out two pounds of his +flesh to pay for it. So of course that would kill him." + +"Oh, look at Theresa now!" said Nora. + +The young lady had brought her muscles into order; and being +clever enough in her merry way, she had taken the look of the +character and was giving it admirably. It was hardly Theresa; +her moveable face was composed to such an expression of simple +inquiry and interest and affectionate concern. The spectators +applauded eagerly; but Nora whispered, "What does she _look_ +like that, for?" + +"Why, it's the picture," said Daisy. + +"But what does she _look_ so for?" + +"She is Bassanio's wife they have just got married; and she +looks so because he looks so, I suppose. She does not know +what is in the letter." + +"Is he going to tell her?" + +"Not in the picture " said Daisy, feeling a little amused at +Nora's simplicity. "He did tell her in the story." + +"But why don't we have all the story?" insisted Nora. + +"Oh, these are only pictures, you know; that is all; people +dressed up to look like pictures." + +"They don't look like pictures a bit, _I_ think," said Nora; +"they look just like people." + +Daisy thought so too, but had some faith in Preston's and Mrs. +Sandford's powers of transforming and mystifying the present +very natural appearance of the performers. ]However, she was +beginning to be of the opinion that it was good fun even now. + +"Now, Daisy, come, we must practise putting _you_ in +position," said Mrs. Sandford. "We will take something easy +first what shall it be? Come! we will try Priscilla's +courtship. Where is your John Alden, Preston?" + +Preston quietly moved forward Alexander Fish and seated him. +Daisy began to grow warm with trepidation. + +"You must let your hair grow, Sandie and comb out your long +curls into your neck; so, do you see? And you will have to +have a dress as much as Priscilla. This tableau will be all in +the dress, Mrs. Sandford." + +"We will have it. That is easy." + +"Now, Alexander, look here, at the picture. Take that attitude +as nearly as you can, and I will stroke you into order. That +is pretty well, lean over a little more with that elbow on +your knee, you must be very much in earnest." + +"What am I doing?" said Alexander, breaking from his +prescribed attitude to turn round and face the company. + +"You are making love to Priscilla; but the joke is, you have +been persuaded to do it for somebody else, when all the time +you would like to do it for yourself." + +"I wouldn't be such a gumph as that!" muttered Alexander, as +he fell back into position. "Who am I, to begin with?" + +"A highly respectable old Puritan. The lady was surprised at +him and he came to his senses, but that is not in the picture. +Now Daisy take that chair a little nearer you are to +have your hand on your spinning wheel, you know; I have got a +dear little old spinning wheel at home for you, that was used +by my grandmother. You must look at Alexander a little +severely, for he is doing what you did not expect of him, and +you think he ought to know better. That attitude is very good. +But you must look at him, Daisy! Don't let your eyes go down." + +There was a decided disposition to laugh among the company +looking on, which might have been fatal to the Puritan picture +had not Preston and Mrs. Sandford energetically crushed it. +Happily Daisy was too much occupied with the difficulty of her +own immediate situation to discover how the bystanders were +affected; she did not know what was the effect of her pink +little cheeks and very demure downcast eyes. In fact Daisy had +gone to take her place in the picture with something scarcely +less than horror; only induced to do it, by her greater horror +of making a fuss and so showing the feeling which she knew +would be laughed at if shown. She showed it now, poor child; +how could she help it? she showed it by her unusually tinged +cheeks and by her persistent down-looking eyes. It was very +difficult indeed to help it; for if she ventured to look at +Alexander she caught impertinent little winks, most unlike +John Alden or any Puritan, which he could execute with +impunity because his face was mostly turned from the audience; +but which Daisy took in full. + +"Lift your eyes, Daisy! your eyes! Priscilla was too much +astonished not to look at her lover. You may be even a little +indignant, if you choose. I am certain she was." + +Poor Daisy it was a piece of the fortitude that belonged to +her thus urged, did raise her eyes and bent upon her winking +coadjutor a look so severe in its childish distaste and +disapproval that there was a unanimous shout of applause. +"Capital, Daisy! capital!" cried Preston. "If you only look +it like that, we shall do admirably. It will be a tableau +indeed. There, get up you shall not practise any more just +now." + +"It will be very fine," said Mrs. Sandford. + +"Daisy, I did not think you were such an actress," said +Theresa. "It would have overset _me_, if I had been John Alden +" remarked Hamilton Rush. + +Daisy withdrew into the background as fast as possible, and as +far as possible from Alexander. + +"Do you like to do it, Daisy?" whispered Nora. + +"No." + +"Are you going to have a handsome dress for that?" + +"No." + +"What sort, then?" + +"Like the picture." + +"Well what is that?" + +"Brown, with a white vandyke." + +"Vandyke? what is a vandyke?" + +"Hush," said Daisy; "let us look." + +Frederica Fish was to personify Lady Jane Grey, at the moment +when the nobles of her family and party knelt before her to +offer her the crown. As Frederica was a, fair, handsome girl, +without much animation, this part suited her; she had only to +be dressed and sit still. Mrs. Sandford threw some rich +draperies round her figure, and twisted a silk scarf about the +back of her head; and the children exclaimed at the effect +produced. That was to be a rich picture, for of course the +kneeling nobles were to be in costly and picturesque attire; +and a crown was to be borne on a cushion before them. A book +did duty for it just now, on a couch pillow. + +"That is what I should like " said Nora. "I want to be +dressed and look so." + +"You will be dressed to be one of the queen's women in Esther +and Ahasuerus, you know." + +"But the queen will be dressed more won't she?" + +"Yes, I suppose she will." + +"I should like to be the queen; that is what I should like to +be." + +Daisy made no answer. She thought she would rather Nora should +not be the queen. + +"Doesn't she look beautiful?" Nora went on, referring again to +Frederica. + +Which Frederica did. The tableau was quite pretty, even +partially dressed and in this off-hand way as it was. + +Next Mrs. Sandford insisted on dressing Daisy as Fortitude. +She had seen, perhaps, a little of the child's discomposure, +and wished to make her forget it. In this tableau Daisy would +be quite alone; so she was not displeased to let the lady do +what she chose with her. She stood patiently, while Mrs. +Sandford wound a long shawl skilfully around her, bringing it +into beautiful folds like those in Sir Joshua Reynolds' +painting; then she put a boy's cap, turned the wrong way, on +her head, to do duty for a helmet, and fixed a nodding plume +of feathers in it. Daisy then was placed in the attitude of +the picture, and the whole little assembly shouted with +delight. + +"It will do, Mrs. Sandford," said Preston. + +"Isn't it pretty?" said the lady. + +"And Daisy does it admirably," said Theresa. "You are a fairy +at dressing, Mrs. Sandford; your fingers are better than a +fairy's wand. I wish you were my godmother; I shouldn't +despair to ride yet in a coach and six. There are plenty of +pumpkins in a field near our house, and plenty of rats in the +house itself. Oh, Mrs. Sandford! let us have Cinderella!" + +"What, for a tableau?" + +"Yes, ma'am." + +"You must ask the manager. I do not know anything about that." + +Preston and Theresa and Hamilton and Alexander now went into +an eager discussion of this question, and before it was +settled the party discovered that it was time to break up. + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +CHARITY AND VANITY. + + +"Well, Daisy," said Mr. Randolph that evening, "how do you +like your new play that you are all so busy about?" + +"I like it pretty well, papa." + +"Only pretty well! Is that the most you can say of it? I +understood that it was supposed to be an amusement of a much +more positive character." + +"Papa, it is amusing but it has its disagreeablenesses." + +"Has it? What can they be? Or has everything pleasant its dark +side?" + +"I don't know, papa." + +"What makes the shadows in this instance?" + +It seemed not just easy for Daisy to tell, for her father saw +that she looked puzzled how to answer. + +"Papa, I think it is because people do not behave perfectly +well." + +It was quite impossible for Mr. Randolph to help bursting into +a laugh at this; but he put his arms round Daisy and kissed +her very affectionately at the same time. + +"How does their ill behaviour affect your pleasure, Daisy?" + +"Papa you know I have to play with them." + +"Yes, I understand that. What do they do?" + +"It isn't _they_, papa. It is only Alexander Fish or at least +it is he most." + +"What does _he_ do?" + +"Papa we are in a tableau together." + +"Yes. You and he?" + +"Yes, papa. And it is very disagreeable." + +"Pray how, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, commanding his features +with some difficulty. "What is the tableau?" + +"Papa, you know the story of Priscilla?" + +"I do not think I do. What Priscilla?" + +"Priscilla and John Alden. It is in a book of engravings." + +"Oh! the courtship of Miles Standish?" + +"Miles Standish was his friend, papa." + +"Yes, I know now. And are you Priscilla?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"And who is Miles Standish?" + +"Oh, nobody; he is not in the picture; it is John Alden." + +"I think I remember. Who is John Alden, then?" + +"Papa, they have put Alexander Fish in, because he has long +curling hair; but I think Preston's hair would do a great deal +better." + +"Preston is under some obligation to the others, I suppose, +because he is manager. But how does Alexander Fish abuse his +privileges?" + +"Papa," said Daisy, unwillingly, "his face is turned away +from the other people, so that nobody can see it but me; and +he winks." + +Daisy brought out the last word with an accession of gravity +impossible fully to describe. Mr. Randolph's mouth twitched; +he bent his head down upon Daisy's, that she might not see it. + +"That is very rude of him, Daisy," he said. + +"Papa," said Daisy, who did not relish the subject, and chose +a departure, "what is a _Puritan?_" + +"A Puritan!" + +"Yes, papa. What is it? Priscilla was a Puritan." + +"That was a name given to a class of people in England a long +time ago." + +"What did it mean?" + +"They were a stiff set of people, Daisy; good enough people in +their way, no doubt, but very absurd in it also." + +"What did they do, papa?" + +"Concluded to do without whatever is graceful and beautiful +and pleasant, in dress or arts or manners. The more +disagreeable they made life, they thought it was the better." + +"Why were they called that name? Were they purer than other +people?" + +"I believe they thought themselves so." + +"I think they look nice in the picture," said Daisy, +meditatively. "Are there any Puritans now, papa?" + +"There are people that are called Puritans. It is a term apt +to be applied to people that are stiff in their religion." + +"Papa," said Daisy when an interval of five minutes had +passed, "I do not see how people can be stiff in their +religion." + +"Don't you. Why not?" + +"Papa, I do not see how it can be _stiff_, to love God and do +what He says." + +"No " said Mr. Randolph; "but people can be stiff in ways of +their own devising." + +"Ways that are not in the Bible, papa?" + +"Well yes." + +"But papa, it cannot be _stiff_ to do what God says we must do?" + +"No, of course not," said Mr. Randolph, getting up. + +He left her, and Daisy sat meditating; then with a glad heart +ran off and ordered her pony-chaise. If tableaux were to be +the order of the day every afternoon, she must go to see Molly +in the morning. This time she had a good deal to carry and to +get ready. Molly was in want of bread. A nice little loaf, +fresh baked, was supplied by Joanna, along with some cold +rolls. + +"She will like those, I dare say," said Daisy. "I dare say she +never saw rolls in her life before. Now she wants some meat, +Joanna. There was nothing but a little end of cold pork on the +dish in her cupboard." + +"Why, I wonder who cooks for the poor wretch?" said Joanna. + +"I think she cooks for herself, because she has a stove, and I +saw iron things and pots to cook with. But she can't do much, +Joanna, and I don't believe she knows how." + +"Sick, is she too?" said Joanna. + +"Sick with rheumatism, so that she did not like to stir." + +"I guess I must go take a look at her; but maybe she mightn't +let me. Well, Miss Daisy, the way will be for you to tell me +what she wants, if you can find out. She must have neighbours, +though, that take care of her." + +"We are her neighbours," said Daisy. + +Joanna looked, a look of great complacency and some wonder, at +the child; and packed forthwith into Daisy's basket the half +of a cold chicken and a broken peach-pie. A bottle of milk +Daisy particularly desired, and a little butter; and she set +off at last, happier than a queen Esther or any other to +go to Molly with her supplies. + +She found not much improvement in the state of affairs. Molly +was gathered up on her hearth near the stove, in which she had +made a fire; but it did not appear, for all that Daisy could +see, that anything else had been done, or any breakfast eaten +that morning. The cripple seemed to be in a down-hearted and +hopeless state of mind; and no great wonder. + +"Molly, would you like another cup of tea?" said her little +friend. + +"Yes, it's in there. You fix it," said the poor woman, +pointing as before to the cupboard, and evidently comforted by +Daisy's presence and proposal. Daisy could hear it in the tone +of her voice. So, greatly pleased herself, Daisy went to work +in Molly's house just as if she was at home. She fetched water +in the kettle again and made up the fire. While that was +getting ready, she set the table for breakfast. The only table +that Molly could use was a piece of board nailed on a chair. +On this Daisy put her plate and cup and saucer, and with +secret glee arranged the cold chicken and loaf of bread. For +the cupboard, as she saw, was as empty as she had found it two +days before. What Molly had lived on in the mean time was +simply a mystery to Daisy. To be sure, the end of cold pork +was gone, the remains of the cake had disappeared, and nothing +was left of the peaches but the stones. The tea-kettle did not +boil for a time; and Daisy looked uneasily at Molly's cup and +saucer and plate meanwhile. They had not been washed, Daisy +could not guess for how long; certainly no water had touched +them since the tea of two nights ago, for the cake crumbs and +peach stones told the tale. Daisy looked at them with a great +feeling of discomfort. She could not bear to see them so; they +ought to be washed; but Daisy disliked the idea of touching +them for that purpose more than I can make you understand. In +all matters of nicety and cleanliness Daisy was notional; +nothing suited her but the most fastidious particularity. It +had been a trial to her to bring those unwashed things from +the cupboard. Now she sat and looked at them; uneasily +debating what she should do. It was not comfortable, that +Molly should take her breakfast off them as they were; and +Molly was miserable herself, and would do nothing to mend +matters. And then "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to +you," As soon as that came fairly into Daisy's head, she +knew what she ought to be about. Not without an inward sigh, +she gathered up the pieces again. + +"What you going to do?" said Molly. + +"I'll bring them back," said Daisy. "I will be ready directly. +The water is not boiling yet." + +For she saw that Molly was jealously eager for the hoped-for +cup of tea. She carried the things out into the shed, and +there looked in vain for any dish or vessel to wash them in. +How could it be that Molly managed? Daisy was fain to fetch a +little bowl of water and wash the crockery with her fingers, +and then fetch another bowl of water to rinse it. There was no +napkin to be seen. She left the things to drain as they could, +and went to the spring to wash her own fingers; rejoicing in +the purifying properties of the sweet element. All this took +some time, but Daisy carried in her clean dishes with a +satisfied heart. + +"It's bi'lin', " said Molly, as soon as she entered. + +So the little kettle was. Daisy made tea, and prepared Molly's +table with a little piece of butter and the bottle of milk. +And no little girl making an entertainment for herself with +tiny china cups and tea-set, ever had such satisfaction in it. +Twenty dinners at home could not have given Daisy so much +pleasure, as she had now to see the poor cripple look at her +unwonted luxuries, and then to see her taste them. Yet Molly +said almost nothing; but the grunt of new expression with +which she set down the bottle of milk the first time, went all +through and through Daisy's heart with delight. Molly drank +tea and spread her bread with butter, and Daisy noticed her +turning over her slice of bread to examine the texture of it; +and a quieter, soothed, less miserable look, spread itself +over her wrinkled features. They were not wrinkled with age; +yet it was a lined and seamed face generally, from the working +of unhappy and morose feelings. + +"Ain't it good! " was Molly's single word of comment as she +finished her meal. Then she sat back and watched Daisy putting +all the things nicely away. She looked hard at her. + +"What you fetch them things here for?" she broke out suddenly. +"H n?" + +The grunt with which her question concluded was so earnest in +its demand of an answer, that Daisy stopped. + +"Why, I like to do it, Molly," she said. Then seeing the +intent eyes with which the poor creature was examining her, +Daisy added, "I like to do it; because Jesus loves you." + +"H n?" said Molly, very much at a loss what this might +mean, and very eager to know. Daisy stood still, with the +bread in her hands. + +"Don't you know, Molly?" she said. "He does. It is. Jesus, +that I told you about. He loves you, and He came and died for +you, that He might make you good and save you from your sins; +and He loves you now, up in heaven." + +"What's that?" said Molly. + +"Heaven? that is where God lives, and the angels, and good +people." + +"There ain't none," said Molly. + +"What?" + +"There ain't no good people." + +"Oh, yes, there are. When they are washed in Jesus' blood, +then they are good. He will take away all their sins." + +Molly was silent for a moment, and Daisy resumed her work of +putting things away; but as she took the peach pie in her +hands, Molly burst out again. + +"What you bring them things here for?" + +Daisy stopped again. + +"I think it is because Jesus is my King," she said, "and I +love Him. And I love what He loves, and so I love you, Molly." + +Daisy looked very childish and very wise, as she said this; +but over Molly's face there came a great softening change. The +wrinkles seemed to disappear; she gazed at Daisy steadily, as +if trying to find out what it all meant: and when the eyes +presently were cast down, Daisy almost thought there was a +little moisture about them. She had no further interruption in +her work. The dishes were all put away, and then she brought +her book. Daisy had her Bible with her this time, that she +might give Molly more than her own words. And Molly she found +as ready to listen as could be desired. And she was persistent +in desiring to hear only of that incredible Friend of whom +Daisy had told her. That name she wanted; wherever that name +came in, Molly sat silent and attentive; if the narrative lost +it, she immediately quickened Daisy's memory to the knowledge +of the fact that nothing else would do. At last Daisy proposed +that Molly herself should learn to read. Molly stared very +hopelessly at first; but after getting more accustomed to the +idea, and hearing from Daisy that it was by no means an +impossible thing, and further that, if she could learn to +read, the Bible would be forthcoming for her own use, she took +up the notion with an eagerness far exceeding all that Daisy +had hoped for. She said very little about it; nevertheless it +was plain that a root of hope had struck down into the +creature's heart. Daisy taught her two letters, A and B, and +then was obliged to go home. + +It was quite time, for little Daisy was tired. She was not +accustomed to making fires and boiling kettles, neither to +setting tables and washing dishes. Yet it was not merely, nor +so much, the bodily exertion she had made, as the mind work. +The excitement both of pleasure and responsibility and eager +desire. Altogether, Daisy was tired; and sat back in her +chaise, letting the reins hangs languidly in her hands and +Loupe go how he would. But Loupe judged it was best to get +home and have some refreshment, so he bestirred himself. Daisy +had time to lie down a little while before her dinner; +nevertheless she was languid and pale, and disposed to take +all the rest of the day very quietly. + +The rest of the day was of course devoted to the tableaux. The +little company had got warmed to the subject pretty well at +the first meeting; they all came together this fine afternoon +with spirits in tone for business. And Daisy, though she was +tired, presently found her own interest drawn in. She was not +called upon immediately to take any active part; she perched +herself in the corner of a couch, and looked on and listened. +Thither came Nora Dinwiddie, too much excited to sit down, and +stood by Daisy's elbow. They had been practising "Alfred in +the neatherd's cottage;" Nora had been called upon to be the +girl blowing the burnt cakes; she had done it, and everybody +had laughed, but the little lady was not pleased. + +"I know I look horrid!" she said to Daisy, "puffing out my +cheeks till they are like a pair of soapbubbles!" + +"But soapbubbles are not that colour," said Daisy. "Your +cheeks didn't look like soapbubbles." + +"Yes, they did. They looked horrid, I know." + +"But the picture is so," urged Daisy, quietly. "You want to be +like the picture." + +"No, I don't. Not that picture. I would like to be something +handsome. I don't like that picture." + +Daisy was silent, and Nora pouted. + +"What are you going to be, Daisy?" said Ella Stanfield. + +"I am going to be Priscilla. No, I don't know whether I am or +not; but I am going to be Fortitude, I believe." + +"That's pretty," said Ella. "What else? Oh, you are going to +be the angel, aren't you? I wonder if that will be pretty. It +will be queer. Nora, shall you like to be one of the little +princes in the Tower? with that feather-bed coming over us? +But we shall not see it, I suppose, because our eyes have got +to be shut; but I shall be afraid every minute they will let +it fall on us." + +"My eyes won't be shut," said Nora. + +"Oh, they must. You know, the little princes were asleep, when +the men came to kill them. Your eyes must be shut and you must +be asleep. Oh, what are they doing to Theresa?" + +"Dressing her " said Daisy. + +"What is she going to be?" + +"Portia " said Daisy. + +"Isn't that beautiful! " said Nora, with a deep breath. "Oh, +what a splendid dress! How rich-looking it is. What a lovely +purple. Oh, how beautiful Theresa is in it. Oh! Isn't that +splen did?" + +A very prolonged, though low, breath of admiring wonder +testified to the impressive power, upon the children at least, +of Theresa's new habiliments. The purple brocade was upon her; +its full draperies swept the ground in gorgeous colouring; a +necklace of cameos was bound with great effect upon her hair; +and on the arms, which were half bare, Mrs. Sandford was +clasping gold and glittering jewels. Theresa threw herself +slightly back in her prescribed attitude, laid her arms +lightly across each other, and turned her head with a very +saucy air towards the companion figure, supposed to be +Bassanio. All the others laughed and clapped her. + +"Not that, Theresa, not that; you have got the wrong picture. +You are going with the Prince of Arragon now, to the caskets; +and you ought to be anxiously asking Bassanio about his +letter." + +Theresa changed attitude and expression on the instant; bent +slightly forward, lost her sauciness, and laid her hand upon +Bassanio's arm with a grave, tender look of inquiry. They all +shouted again. + +"Bravo, Theresa! capital!" said Preston. + +"Hamilton, can you act up to that?" said Mrs. Sandford. + +"Wait till I get my robes on, ma'am. I can make believe a +great deal easier when I am under the persuasion that it is +not me Hamilton Rush." + +"I'd like to see Frederica do as well as that," said Alexander +Fish, in a fit of brotherly concern. + +"Let us try her " said good-natured Mrs. Sandford. Mrs. +Sandford certainly was good-natured, for she had all the +dressing to do. She did it well, and very patiently. + +"There," said Nora, when Ella had left the couch to go to her +sister, "that is what I like. Didn't she look beautiful, +Daisy?" + +"Her dress looked beautiful " said Daisy. + +"Well, of course; and that made _her_ look beautiful. Daisy, I +wish I could have a nice part. I would like to be the queen in +that fainting picture." + +"You are going to be in that picture." + +"But, I mean, I would like to be the queen. She will have the +best dress, won't she?" + +"I suppose she will be the most dressed," said Daisy. + +"I don't want to be one of the women I want to be the queen. +Hamilton Rush said I would be the best one for it, because she +was a Jewess; and I am the only one that has got black eyes +and hair." + +"But her eyes will not be seen," said Daisy. "She is fainting. +When people faint, they keep their eyes shut." + +"Yes, but I am the only one that has got black hair. That will +show. Her hair ought to be black." + +"Why, will not other hair do just as well?" said Daisy. + +"Why, because she was a Jewess." + +"Do Jewesses always have black hair?" + +"Of course they _ought_ to have black hair," said Nora; "or +Hamilton Rush would not have said that. And my hair is black." + +Daisy was silent. She said nothing to this proposition. The +children were both silenced for a little while the practising +for "Marie Antoinette" was going on. The principal part in +this was taken by Frederica, who was the beauty of the +company. A few touches of Mrs. Sandford's skilful hands +transformed her appearance wonderfully. She put on an old- +fashioned straight gown, which hung in limp folds around her; +and Mrs. Sandford arranged a white handkerchief over her +breast, tying it in the very same careless loose knot +represented in the picture; but her management of Frederica's +hair was the best thing. Its soft fair luxuriance was, no one +could tell how, made to assume the half-dressed, half- +undressed air of the head in Delaroche's picture; and +Frederica looked the part well. + +"She should throw her head a little more back," whispered +Hamilton Rush to the manager; "her head or her shoulders. +She is not quite indignant enough." + +"That handkerchief in her hand is not right " said Preston, +in a responding whisper. "You see to it while I get into +disguise. + +"That handkerchief, Mrs. Sandford " Hamilton said, softly. + +"Yes. Frederica, your hand with the pocket-handkerchief, +it is not quite the thing." + +"Why not?" + +"You hold it like a New York lady." + +"How _should_ I hold it?" + +"Like a French queen, whose Austrian fingers may hold anything +any way." This was Hamilton's dictum. + +"But how _do_ I hold it?" + +"You have picked it up in the middle, and show all the flower +work in the corners." + +"You hold it too daintily, Frederica," said Theresa. "You must +grasp it grasp it loosely but as the distinguished critic +who has last spoken has observed." + +Frederica dropped her handkerchief, and picked it up again +exactly as she had it before. + +"Try again " said Mrs. Sandford. "Grasp it, as Theresa says. +Never mind how you are taking it up." + +"Must I throw it down again?" + +"If you please." + +"Take it up any way but in the middle," said Hamilton. + +Down went the handkerchief on a chair, and then Frederica's +fingers took it up, delicately, and with a little shake +displayed as before what Hamilton called the flowers in the +corners. It was the same thing. They all smiled. + +"She can't hold a handkerchief any but the one way I don't +believe," said her brother Alexander. + +"Isn't it right?" said Frederica. + +"Perfect, I presume, for Madison Square or Fifth Avenue but +not exactly for a revolutionary tribunal," said Hamilton. + +"What is the difference?" + +"Ah, that is exactly what it is so hard to get at. Hollo! +Preston is it Preston? Can't be better, Preston. Admirable! +admirable!" + +"Well, Preston, I do not know you!" said Mrs. Sandford. + +Was it Preston? Daisy could hardly believe her ears. Her eyes +certainly told her another story. Was it Preston? in the guise +and with the face of an extremely ugly old woman vicious and +malignant, who? taking post near the deposed queen, peered +into her face with spiteful curiosity and exultation. Not a +trace of likeness to Preston could Daisy see. She half rose up +to look at him in her astonishment. But the voice soon +declared that it was no other than her cousin. + +"Come," said he, while they were all shouting, "fall in. +You, Hamilton, and Theresa, come and take your positions." + +Hamilton, with a glance at the picture, went behind Preston; +and putting on a savage expression, thrust his clenched fist +out threateningly towards the dignified figure of Frederica; +while Theresa, stealing up into the group, put her hands upon +a chair-back to steady herself and bent towards the queen a +look of mournful sympathy and reverence, that in the veritable +scene and time represented would undoubtedly have cost the +young lady her life. The performers were good; the picture was +admirable. There was hardly anybody left to look when George +Linwood and Alexander had taken post as the queen's guards; +and to say truth they did not in their present state of +undisguised individuality add much to the effect; but Mrs. +Sandford declared the tableau was very fine, and could be made +perfect. + +The question of Cinderella came up then; and there was a good +deal of talk. Finally it was decided that little Ella should +be Cinderella, and Eloise the fairy godmother, and Jane +Linwood and Nora the wicked sisters. A little practising was +tried, to get them in order. Then Esther was called for. Daisy +submitted. + +Hamilton Rush was made magnificent and kingly by a superb +velvet mantle and turbaned crown the latter not perfect, but +improvised for the occasion. For a sceptre he held out a long +wooden ruler this time; but Preston promised a better one +should be provided. The wooden ruler was certainly not quite +in keeping with the king's state, or the queen's. Daisy was +robed in a white satin dress of her mother's; much too long, +of course, but that added to the rich effect; it lay in folds +upon the floor. Her head was covered with a rose-coloured +silken scarf wound artistically round it, and the ends +floating away; and upon this drapery diamonds were bound, that +sparkled very regally over Daisy's forehead. But this was only +the beginning. A zone of brilliants at her waist made the +white satin dazzling, and gathered its folds together; +bracelets of every colour and of great beauty loaded Daisy's +little arms; till she was, what Mrs. Sandford had said Esther +must be, a spot of brilliancy. Her two maids, Nora and Jane +Linwood, at this time were not robed in any other than their +ordinary attire; perhaps that was one reason why their +maintenance of their characters was not quite so perfect as +that of the principal two. Hamilton stretched forward his +wooden sceptre to the queen with benignant haste and dignity. +Daisy, only too glad to shrink away, closed her eyes and lay +back in the arms of her attendants in a manner that was really +very satisfactory. But the attendants themselves were not in +order. + +"Jane, you must not laugh " said her brother. + +"I ain't laughing!" + +"Yes, but you were." + +"The queen is fainting, you know," said Mrs. Sandford. "You +are one of her maids, and you are very much distressed about +it." + +"I am not distressed a bit. I don't care." + +"Nora, do not forget that you are another attendant. Your +business is with your mistress. You must be looking into her +face, to see if she is really faint, or if you can perceive +signs of mending. You must look very anxious." + +But Nora looked very cross; and as Jane persisted in giggling, +the success of that picture was not quite excellent this time. + +"Nora is the most like a Jewess " Theresa remarked. + +"Oh, Nora will make a very good maid of honour by and by," +Mrs. Sandford replied. + +But Nora had her own thoughts. + +"Daisy, how shall I be dressed?" she inquired, when Daisy was +disrobed of her magnificence and at leisure to talk. + +"I don't know. Oh, in some nice way," said Daisy, getting into +her corner of the couch again. + +"Yes, but shall I shall Jane and I have bracelets, and a +girdle, and something on our heads too?" + +"No, I suppose not. The queen, of course, is most dressed, +Nora; you know she must be." + +"I should like to have _one_ dress," said Nora. "I am not +anything at all. All the fun is in the dress. You are to have +four dresses." + +"Well, so are you to have four." + +"No, I am not. What four?" + +"This one, you know; and Red Riding-hood and the Princes in +the Tower and Cinderella." + +"I am to be only one of the ugly sisters in Cinderella I +don't believe aunt Frances will give her much of a dress; and +I hate Red Riding-hood; and the Princes in the Tower are not +to be dressed at all. They are covered up with the bed- +clothes." + +"Nora," said Daisy, softly, "would you like to be dressed as +John Alden?" + +"As _what?_" said Nora, in no very accommodating tone of voice. + +"John Alden that Puritan picture, you know, with the +spinning-wheel. I am to be Priscilla." + +"A boy! Do you think I would be dressed like a boy?" cried +Nora, in dudgeon. And Daisy thought _she_ would not, if the +question were asked her; and had nothing more to answer. + +So the practising went on, with good success on the whole. The +little company met every other day; and dresses were making, +and postures were studied, and costumes were considered and +re-considered. Portia and Bassanio got to be perfect. So did +Alfred in the neatherd's cottage very nearly. Nora, however +she grumbled, blew her cakes energetically; Preston and Eloise +made a capital old man and woman, she with a mutch cap and he +with a bundle of sticks on his head; while Alexander Fish, +with his long hair and rather handsome face, sat very well at +the table hearing his rebuke for letting the cakes burn. +Alexander was to have a six-foot bow in hand, which he and +Hamilton were getting ready; and meanwhile practised with an +umbrella. But the tableau was very good. Most of the others +went very well. Still Daisy was greatly tried by John Alden's +behaviour, and continued to look so severe in the picture as +to draw out shouts of approving laughter from the company, who +did not know that; Alexander Fish was to be thanked for it. +And Nora was difficult to train in Queen Esther. She wore +obstinately a look of displeased concern for herself, and no +concern at all for her fainting mistress. Which, on the whole, +rather impaired the unity of the action, and the harmony of +the general effect. + +"How is your task proceeding?" Mrs. Randolph asked one +evening, when Mrs. Sandford was staying to tea. + +"Excellently well. We shall make a good thing, I confidently +expect." + +"Hamilton is a good actor," said Preston. + +"And Master Gary also," said Mrs. Sandford. "Your old French +wife is perfect, Preston." + +"Much obliged, ma'am." + +"Not to me. My dressing has nothing to do with that. But +Preston, what shall we do with Frederica's handkerchief? She +can _not_ hold it right." + +"Like a queen " said Preston. "I do not know unless we +could scare her out of her propriety. A good fright would do +it, I think. But then the expression would not suit. How is +the Game, Mrs. Sandford?" + +"Perfect! admirable! You and Hamilton do it excellently and +Daisy is a veritable angel." + +"How does _she_ like it all?" Mrs. Randolph inquired. + +"Aunt Felicia, she is as much engaged as anybody." + +"And plays as well," added Mrs. Sandford. + +"She has found out to-day, aunt Felicia," Preston went on, +speaking rather low, "that she ought to have a string of red +stones round her head instead of white ones." + +Mrs. Randolph smiled. + +"She was quite right," said Mrs. Sandford. "It was a matter of +colour, and she was quite right. She was dressed for Queen +Esther, and I made her look at herself to take the effect; and +she suggested, very modestly, that stones of some colour would +do better than diamonds round her head. So I substituted some +very magnificent rubies of yours, Mrs. Randolph; quite to +Daisy's justification." + +"Doesn't she make a magnificent little 'Fortitude,' though!" +said Eloise. + +"The angel will be the best," said Mrs. Sandford. "She looks +so naturally troubled. But we have got a good band of workers. +Theresa Stanfield is very clever." + +"It will do Daisy a world of good," said Mrs. Gary. + + +CHAPTER XXXXV. + +QUEEN ESTHER. + + +All this while Daisy's days were divided. Silks and jewels and +pictures and practising, in one part; in the other part, the +old cripple Molly Skelton, and her basket of bread and fruit, +and her reading in the Bible. For Daisy attended as regularly +to the one as to the other set of interests, and more +frequently; for the practising party met only three times a +week, but Daisy went to Molly every day. + +Molly was not sick now. Daisy's good offices in the material +line were confined to supplying her with nice bread and butter +and fruit and milk, with many varieties beside. But in that +day or two of rheumatic pains, when Molly had been waited upon +by the dainty little handmaiden who came in spotless frocks +and trim little black shoes to make her fire and prepare her +tea, Daisy's tenderness and care had completely won Molly's +heart. She was a real angel in that poor house; no vision of +one. Molly welcomed her so, looked at her so, and would +perhaps have obeyed her as readily. But Daisy offered no words +that required obedience, except those she read out of the +Book; and Molly listened to them as if it had been the voice +of an angel. She was learning to read herself; really +learning: making advances every day that showed diligent +interest; and the interest was fed by those words she daily +listened to out of the same book. Daisy had got a large-print +Testament for her at Crum Elbow; and a new life had begun for +the cripple. The rose-bush and the geranium flourished +brilliantly, for the frosts had not come yet; and they were a +good setting forth of how things were going in the house. + +One lovely October afternoon, when air and sky were a breath +and vision of delight, after a morning spent in dressing and +practising, Daisy went to Molly. She went directly after +luncheon. She had given Molly her lesson; and then Daisy sat +with a sober little face, her finger between the leaves of the +Bible, before beginning her accustomed reading. Molly eyed her +wistfully. + +"About the crowns and the white dresses," she suggested. + +"Shall I read about those?" said Daisy. And Molly nodded. And +with her little face exceedingly grave and humble, Daisy read +the seventh chapter of the Revelation, and then the twenty- +first chapter, and the twenty second; and then she sat with +her finger between the leaves as before, looking out of the +window. + +"Will they all be sealed?" said Molly, breaking the silence. + +"Yes." + +"What is that?" + +"I don't know exactly. It will be a mark of all the people +that love Jesus." + +"A mark in their foreheads?" + +"Yes, it says so." + +"What mark?" + +"I don't know, Molly; it says, 'His name shall be in their +foreheads.' " And Daisy's eyes became full of tears. + +"How will that be?" + +"I don't know, Molly; it don't tell. I suppose that everybody +that looks at them will know in a minute that they belong to +Jesus." + +Daisy's hand went up and brushed across her eyes; and then did +it again. + +"Do they belong to Him?" asked Molly. + +"Oh, yes! Here it is don't you remember? 'they have washed +their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.' " + +"So they are white, then?" said Molly. + +"Yes. And His mark is on them." + +"I wish," said the cripple, slowly and thoughtfully, "I wish +'twas on me. I do!" + +I do not think Daisy could speak at this. She shut her book +and got up and looked at Molly, who had put her head down on +her folded arms; and then she opened Molly's Testament and +pressed her arm to make her look. Still Daisy did not speak; +she had laid her finger under some of the words she had been +reading; but when Molly raised her head she remembered the +sense of them could not be taken by the poor woman's eyes. So +Daisy read them, looking with great tenderness in the +cripple's face. + +" 'I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the +water of life freely.' That is what it says, Molly." + +"Who says?" + +"Why, Jesus says it. He came and died to buy the life for us +and now He will give it to us, He says, if we want it." + +"What life?" said Molly, vaguely. + +"Why, _that_, Molly; that which you were wishing for. He will +forgive us, and make us good, and set His mark upon us; and +then we shall wear those robes that are made white in His +blood, and be with Him in heaven. And that is life." + +"You and me?" said Molly. + +"Oh, yes! Molly anybody. It says 'whosoever is athirst.' " + +"Where's the words?" said Molly. + +Daisy showed her; and Molly made a deep mark in the paper +under them with her nail; so deep as to signify that she meant +to have them for present study or future reference or both. +Then, as Molly seemed to have said her say, Daisy said no more +and went away. + +It was still not late in the afternoon; and Daisy drove on, +past the Melbourne gates, and turned the corner into the road +which led to Crum Elbow. The air was as clear as October could +have it; and soft, neither warm nor cold; and the roads were +perfect; and here and there a few yellow and red maple leaves, +and in many places a brown stubble field, told that autumn was +come. It was as pleasant a day for a drive as could possibly +be; and yet Daisy's face was more intent upon her pony's ears +than upon any other visible thing. She drove on towards Crum +Elbow, but before she reached it she turned another corner, +and drew up before Juanita's house. + +It was not the first visit she had made here since going home; +though Daisy had in truth not come often nor stayed long. All +the more glad were Juanita and she to see each other now. +Daisy took off her flat and sat down on the old chintz couch, +with a face of content. Yet it was grave content; not joyous +at all. So Juanita's keen eyes saw, through all the talking +which went on. Daisy and she had a great deal to say to each +other; and among other things the story of Molly came in, and +was enlarged upon; though Daisy left most of her own doings to +be guessed at. She did not tell them more than she could well +help. However, talk went on a good while, and still when it +paused Daisy's face looked thoughtful and careful. So Juanita +saw. + +"Is my love quite well?" + +"Oh, yes, Juanita. I am quite well. I think I am getting +strong, a little." + +Juanita's thanksgiving was earnest. Daisy looked very sober. + +"Juanita, I have been wanting to talk to you." + +Now they had been talking a good deal; but this, the black +woman saw, was not what Daisy meant. + +"What is it, my love?" + +"I don't know, Juanita. I think I am puzzled." + +The fine face of Mrs. Benoit looked gravely attentive, and a +little anxiously watchful of Daisy's. + +"The best way will be to tell you. Juanita, they are I mean, +we are playing pictures at home." + +"What is that, Miss Daisy?" + +"Why, they take pictures pictures in books, you know and +dress up people like the people in the pictures, and make them +stand so, or sit so, and look so, as the people in the +pictures do; and so they make a picture of living people." + +"Yes, Miss Daisy." + +"They are playing pictures at home. I mean, we are. Mamma is +going to give a great party next week; and the pictures are to +be all made and shown at the party. There are twelve pictures; +and they will be part of the entertainment. There is to be a +gauze stretched over the door of the library, and the pictures +are to be seen behind the gauze." + +"And does Miss Daisy like the play?" the black woman inquired, +not lightly. + +"Yes, Juanita I like some things about it. It is very +amusing. There are some things I do not like." + +"Did Miss Daisy wish to talk to me about those things she not +like?" + +"I don't know, Juanita no, I think not. Not about those +things. But I do not exactly know about myself." + +"What Miss Daisy not know about herself?" + +"I do not know exactly whether it is right." + +"Whether what be right, my love?" + +Daisy was silent at first, and looked puzzled. + +"Juanita I mean I don't know whether I am right." + +"Will my love tell what she mean?" + +"It is hard, Juanita. But I don't think I am quite right. I +want you to tell me what to do." + +Daisy's little face looked perplexed and wise. And sorry. + +"What troubles my love?" + +"I do not know how it was, Juanita I did not care at all +about it at first; and then I began to care about it a little + and now " + +"What does my love care about?" + +"About being dressed, Juanita; and wearing mamma's jewels, and +looking like a picture." + +"Will Miss Daisy tell Juanita better what she mean?" + +"Why, you know, Juanita," said the child, wistfully, "they +dress up the people to look like the pictures; and they have +put me in some very pretty pictures; and in one I am to be +beautifully dressed to look like Queen Esther with mamma's +jewels all over me. And there is another little girl who would +like to have that part, and I do not want to give it to +her." + +Juanita sat silent, looking grave and anxious. Her lips moved, +but she said nothing that could be heard. + +"And, Juanita," the child went on "I think, somehow, I like +to look better than other people, and to have handsomer +dresses than other people, in the pictures, you know." + +Still Juanita was silent. + +"Is it right, Juanita?" + +"Miss Daisy pardon me. Who Miss Daisy think be so pleased to +see her in the beautiful dress in the picture?" + +"Juanita it was not that I meant. I was not thinking so much +of that. Mamma would like it, I suppose, and papa; but I +like it myself." + +Juanita was silent again. + +"Is it right, Juanita?" + +"Why do Miss Daisy think it not right?" + +Daisy looked undecided and perplexed. + +"Juanita I wasn't quite sure." + +"Miss Daisy like to play in these pictures r" + +"Yes, Juanita and I like Juanita, I like it!" + +"And another little girl, Miss Daisy say, like it too?" + +"Yes, I think they all do. But there is a little girl that +wants to take my part." + +"And who Miss Daisy want to please?" + +Daisy hesitated, and her eyes reddened; she sat a minute +still; then looked up very wistfully. + +"Juanita, I think I want to please myself." + +"Jesus please not Himself," said the black woman. + +Daisy made no answer to that. She bent over and hid her little +head in Mrs. Benoit's lap. And tears undoubtedly came, though +they were quiet tears. The black woman's hand went tenderly +over the little round head. + +"And He say to His lambs 'Follow me.' " + +"Juanita" Daisy spoke without raising her head "I want to +please him most." + +"How Miss Daisy think she do that?" + +Daisy's tears now, for some reason, came evidently, and +abundantly. She wept more freely in Juanita's lap than she +would have done before father or mother. The black woman let +her alone, and there was silent counsel-taking between Daisy +and her tears for some time. + +"Speak to me, Juanita" she said at last. + +"What my love want me to say?" + +"It has been all wrong, hasn't it, Juanita? Oh, have I, +Juanita?" + +"What, my love?" + +"I know I have," said Daisy. "I knew it was not right before." + +There was yet again a silence; a tearful silence on one part. +Then Daisy raised her head, looking very meek. + +"Juanita, what ought I to do?" + +"What my love said," the black woman replied very tenderly. +"Please the Lord." + +"Yes; but I mean, how shall I do that?" + +"Jesus please not Himself; and He say, 'Follow me.' " + +"Juanita, I believe I began to want to please myself very soon +after all this picture work and dressing began." + +"Then it not please the Lord," said Juanita, decidedly. + +"I know," said Daisy; "and it has been growing worse and +worse. But Juanita, I shall have to finish the play now I +cannot help it. How shall I keep good? Can I?" + +"My love knows the Good Shepherd carry His lamb in His bosom, +if she let Him. He is called Jesus, for He save His people +from their sins." + +Daisy's face was very lowly; and very touching was the way she +bent her little head and passed her hand across her eyes. It +was the gesture of penitent gentleness. + +"Tell me some more, Juanita." + +"Let the Lord speak," said the black woman, turning ever her +well-used Bible. "See, Miss Daisy 'Charity suffereth long, +and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, +is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not +her own ' " + +"I was puffed up," said Daisy, "because I was to wear those +beautiful things. I will let Nora wear them. I was seeking my +own, all the time, Juanita. I didn't know it." + +See, Miss Daisy 'That women adorn themselves in modest +apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered +hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.' " + +"Is there any _harm_ in those pretty things, Juanita? They are +so pretty!" + +"I don't know, Miss Daisy; the Lord say He not pleased with +them; and the Lord knows." + +"I suppose," said Daisy but what Daisy supposed was never +told. It was lost in thought. + +"My love see here what please the Lord 'the ornament of a +meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great +price.' " + +Daisy lifted her little face and kissed the fine olive cheek +of her friend. + +"I know now, Juanita," she said with her accustomed +placidness. "I didn't know what was the matter with me. I +shall have to play in the pictures I cannot help it now +but I will let Nora be Queen Esther." + +It was quite late by this time, and Daisy after a little more +talk went home; a talk which filled the child's heart with +comfort. Daisy went home quite herself again, and looked as +happy and busy as a bee when she got there. + +"Daisy! what late doings!" exclaimed her father. "Out all the +afternoon and practising all the morning Where have you +been?" + +"I have been visiting, papa." + +"Pray whom?" + +"Molly, papa and Juanita," Daisy said, not very willingly, +for Mrs. Randolph was within hearing. + +"A happy selection!" said she. "Go and get ready for dinner, +Daisy." + +"Have you been all the afternoon at those two places, Daisy." +asked her father, within whose arms she stood. + +"Yes, papa." + +He let her go; and a significant look passed between him and +his wife. + +"A little too much of a good thing," said Mr. Randolph. + +"It will be too much, soon," the lady answered. + +Nevertheless Daisy for the present was safe, thanks to her +friend Dr. Sandford; and she passed on upstairs with a spirit +as light as a bird. And after she was dressed, till it was +time for her to go in to the dinner-table, all that while a +little figure was kneeling at the open window, and a little +round head was bowed upon the sill. And after that, there was +no cloud upon Daisy's face at all. + +In the drawing-room, when they were taking tea, Daisy carried +her cup of milk and cake to a chair close by Preston. + +"Well, Daisy, what now?" + +"I want to talk to you about the pictures, Preston." + +"We did finely to-day, Daisy! If only I could get the cramp +out of Frederica's fingers." + +"Cramp!" said Daisy. + +"Yes. She picks up that handkerchief of hers as if her hand +was a bird's claw. I can't get a blue jay or a canary out of +my head when I see her. Did you ever see a bird scratch its +eye with its claw, Daisy?" + +"Yes." + +"Well, that is what she puts me in mind of. That handkerchief +kills Marie Antoinette, dead. And she won't take advice or +she can't. It is a pity you hadn't it to do; you would hold it +right queenly. You do Esther capitally. I don't believe a +Northern girl can manage that sort of thing." + +Daisy sipped her milk and eat crumbs of cake for a minute +without making any answer. + +"Preston, I am going to let Nora be Queen Esther." + +"What!" said Preston. + +"I am going to let Nora be Queen Esther." + +"Nora! Not if I know it," said Preston. + +"Yes, but I am. I would like it better. And Nora would like to +be Queen Esther, I know." + +"I dare say she would! Like it! Of course. No, Daisy; Queen +Esther is yours and nobody's else. What has put that into your +head?" + +"Preston, I think Nora would like it; and you know, they said +she was most like a Jewess of all of us; I think it would be +proper to give it to her." + +"I shall not do it. We will be improper for once." + +"But I am going to do it, Preston." + +"Daisy, you have not liberty. I am the manager. What has come +over you? You played Esther beautifully only this morning. +What is the matter?" + +"I have been thinking about it," said Daisy; "and I have +concluded I would rather give it to Nora." + +Preston was abundantly vexed, for he knew by the signs that +Daisy had made up her mind; and he was beginning to know that +his little cousin was exceedingly hard to move when once she +was fully set on a thing. He debated within himself an appeal +to authority; but on the whole dismissed that thought. It was +best not to disgust Daisy with the whole affair; and he hoped +coaxing might yet do the work. But Daisy was too quick for +him. + +"Nora," she said at the next meeting, "if you like, I will +change with you in the fainting picture. You shall be the +queen, and I will be one of the women." + +"Shall I be the queen?" said Nora. + +"Yes, if you like." + +"But why don't you want to do it?" + +"I would rather you would, if you like it." + +"Well, I'll do it," said Nora; "but Daisy, shall I have all +the dress you were going to wear?" + +"Yes, I suppose so." + +"Because, if I don't, I won't. I must have just exactly what +you were going to wear." + +"Why you will of course, I suppose," said Daisy, a good deal +astonished. + +"Every bit," said Nora. "Shall I have that same white satin +gown?" + +"Yes, I suppose so. Of course you will. It is only you and I +that change; not the dress." + +"And shall I have the ornaments too?" + +"Just the same, I suppose; unless Mrs. Sandford thinks that +something else will look better." + +"I won't have anything else. I want that same splendid +necklace for my girdle shall I?" + +"I suppose so, Nora." + +"You say 'I suppose so' to everything. I want to know. Shall I +have that same pink silk thing over my hair?" + +"That scarf? yes." + +"And the red necklace on it? and the bracelets? and the gold +and diamonds round my neck? I won't be Esther if I don't have +the dress." + +"I suppose you will have the dress," said Daisy; "of course +you will. But if you say you do not want to be Esther, they +will make me do it." + +A hint that closed Nora's mouth. She did not say she did not +want to be Esther. Mrs. Sandford was astonished at the change +of performers; but Daisy's resignation was so simply made and +naturally, and Nora's acceptance was so manifestly glad, that +nobody could very well offer any hindrance. The change was +made; but Preston would not suffer Daisy to be one of the +attendants. He left her out of the picture altogether, and put +Jane Linwood in Nora's vacated place. Daisy was content; and +now the practising and the arrangements went on prospering. + +There was a good deal of preparation to be made, besides what +the mantua-maker could do. Mr. Stilton was called into the +library for a great consultation; and then he went to work. +The library was the place chosen for the tableaux; the +spectators to be gathered into the drawing-room, and the +pictures displayed just within the wide door of communication +between the two rooms. On the library side of this door Mr. +Stilton laid down a platform, slightly raised and covered with +green baize cloth, and behind the platform a frame-work was +raised and hung with green baize to serve as a proper +background for the pictures. A flower-stand was brought in +from the greenhouse and placed at one side, out of sight from +the drawing-room; for the purpose, as Preston informed Daisy, +of holding the lights. All these details were under his +management, and he managed, Daisy thought, very ably indeed. +Meantime the dresses were got ready. Fortitude's helmet was +constructed of pasteboard and gilt paper; and Nora said it +looked just as if it were solid gold. The crown of Ahasuerus, +and Alfred's six-foot bow were also made; and a beautiful old +brown spinning-wheel was brought from Mrs. Sandford's house +for Priscilla. Priscilla's brown dress was put together, and +her white vandyke starched. And the various mantles and robes +of velvet and silk which were to be used, were in some way +accommodated to the needs of the young wearers. All was done +well, and Preston was satisfied; except with Daisy. + +Not that Daisy did not enter into the amusement of what was +going forward; for perhaps nobody took so much real share in +it. Even Mr. Stilton's operations interested her. But she was +not engrossed at all. She was not different from her usual +self. All the glory of the tableaux had not dazzled her, so +far as Preston could see. And daily, every morning, she +stepped into that little pony-chaise with a basket and drove +off Preston was at the pains to find out to spend a couple +of hours with Molly Skelton. Preston sighed with impatience. +And then, in the very act of dressing and practising for the +pictures, Daisy was provokingly cool and disengaged. She did +her part very well, but seemed just as much interested in +other people's parts, and as much pleased with other people's +adornment. Queen Esther in particular was Daisy's care, since +she had given up the character; and without putting herself +forward, she had once or twice made a suggestion to Mrs. +Sandford, of something that she either thought would please +Nora or that she felt called for by her own tastes; and in +each case Mrs. Sandford declared the suggestion had been an +improvement. + +But with a pleasure much greater and keener, Daisy had seen +the pot containing the 'Jewess' geranium taken up out of the +ground, and set, with all the glory of its purple-red +blossoms, in Molly's poor little room. There it stood, on a +deal table, a spot of beauty and refinement, all alone to +witness for the existence of such things on the earth. And +heeded by Molly as well as by Daisy. Daisy knew that. And all +the pleasure of all the tableaux put together could give +nothing to Daisy equal to her joy when Molly first began to +read. That day, when letters began really to be put together +into words to Molly's comprehension, Daisy came home a proud +child. Or rather, for pride is a bad word, she came home with +a heart swelling with hope and exultation; hope and exultation +that looked forward confidently to the glory to be revealed. + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +TABLEAUX VIVANTS. + + +The great day came, and the evening of the day; and June +dressed Daisy for the party. This was a simple dressing, +however, of a white cambrick frock; no finery, seeing that +Daisy was to put on and off various things in the course of +the evening. But Daisy felt a little afraid of herself. The +perfected arrangements and preparations of the last few days +had, she feared, got into her head a little; and when June had +done and was sent away, Daisy kneeled down by her bedside and +prayed a good while that God would help her not to please +herself, and keep her from caring about dress and appearance +and people's flatteries. And then she got up and looked very +wistfully at some words of the Lord Jesus which Juanita had +showed her first and which she found marked by Mr. Dinwiddie's +pencil. "The Father hath not left me alone; _for I do always +those things that please Him_." + +Daisy was beginning to learn that to please God is not always +to seek one's own gratification or that of the world. She +looked steadily at the words of that Friend in heaven whom she +loved and wished to obey; and then it seemed to Daisy that she +cared nothing at all about anything but pleasing Him. + +"Miss Daisy " said June, "Miss Nora is come." + +Away went Daisy, with a bound, to the dressing-room; and +carried Nora off, as soon as she was unwrapped from her +mufflings, to see the preparations in the library. + +"What is all that for?" said Nora. + +"Oh, that is to show the pictures nicely. They will look a +great deal better than if all the room and the books could be +seen behind them." + +"Why?" + +"I suppose they will look more like pictures. By and by all +those lights on the stand will be lighted. And we shall dress +in the library, you know, nobody will be in it, and in the +room on the other side of the hall. All the things are brought +down there." + +"Daisy," said Nora? looking at the imposing green baize +screen, "aren't you afraid?" + +"Are you?" said Daisy. + +"Yes I am afraid I shall not do something right, or laugh, +or something." + +"Oh, but you must not laugh. That would spoil the picture. And +Mrs. Sandford and Preston will make everything else right. +Come and see the crown for Ahasuerus!" + +So they ran across the hall to the room of fancy dresses. Here +Ella presently joined them with her sister, and indeed so many +others of the performers that Preston ordered them all out. He +was afraid of mischief, he said. They trooped back to the +library. + +"When are they going to begin?" said Nora. + +"I don't know. Oh, by and by. I suppose we shall have tea and +coffee first. People at a party must get through that." + +To await this proceeding, and indeed to share in it, the +little company adjourned to the drawing-room. It was filling +fast. All the neighbourhood had been asked, and all the +neighbourhood were very glad to come, and here they were, +pouring in. Now the neighbourhood meant all the nice people +within ten miles south and within ten miles north; and all +that could be found short of some seven or eight miles east. +There was one family that had even come from the other side of +the river. And all these people made Melbourne House pretty +full. Happily it was a very fine night. + +Daisy was standing by the table, for the little folks had tea +at a table, looking with a face of innocent pleasure at the +scene and the gathering groups of people, when a hand laid +gentle hold of her, and she found herself drawn within the +doctor's arm and brought up to his side. Her face brightened. + +"What is going on, Daisy?" + +"Preston has been getting up some tableaux, Dr. Sandford, to +be done by the young people." + +"Are you one of the young people?" + +"They have got me in," said Daisy. + +"Misled by your appearance? What are you going to play, +Daisy?" + +Daisy ran off to a table and brought him a little bill of the +performances. The doctor ran his eye over it. + +"I shall know what it means, I suppose, when I see the +pictures. What is this 'Game of Life?" + +"It is Retsch's engraving," Daisy answered, as sedately as if +she had been forty years old. + +"Retsch! yes, I know him but what does the thing mean?" + +"It is supposed to be the devil playing with a young man for +his soul," Daisy said, very gravely. + +"Who plays the devil?" + +"Preston does." + +"And who is to be the angel?" + +"I am to be the angel," said Daisy. + +"Very judicious. How do you like this new play, Daisy?" + +"It is very amusing. I like to see the pictures." + +"Not to be in them?" + +"I think not, Dr. Sandford." + +"Daisy, what else are you doing, besides playing tableaux, all +these days?" + +"I drive about a good deal," said Daisy. Then looking up at +her friend with an entirely new expression, a light shining in +her eye and a subdued sweetness coming into her smile, she +added "Molly is learning to read, Dr. Sandford." + +"Molly!" said the doctor. + +"Yes. You advised me to ask leave to go to see her, and I did, +and I got it." + +Daisy's words were a little undertone; the look that went with +them the doctor never forgot as long as he lived. His +questions about the festivities she had answered with a +placid, pleased face; pleased that he should ask her; but a +soft irradiation of joy had beamed upon the fact that the poor +cripple was making a great step upwards in the scale of human +life. The doctor had not forgotten his share in the permission +Daisy had received, which he thought he saw she suspected. +Unconsciously his arm closed upon the little figure it held +and brought her nearer to him; but his questions were somehow +stopped. And Daisy offered no more; she stood quite still, +till a movement at the table seemed to call for her. She put +her hand upon the doctor's arm, as a sign that it must hold +her no longer, and sprang away. + +And soon now all the young people went back again to the +library. Mrs. Sandford came with them to serve in her arduous +capacity of dresser. June attended to give her help. + +"Now what are we going to do?" whispered Nora, in breathless +excitement. "What is to be the first picture? Oh, Daisy, I +wish you would get them to have my picture last of all." + +"Why, Nora?" + +"Oh, because. I think it ought to come last. Aren't you +afraid? Whew! I am." + +"No, I don't think I am." + +"But won't you want to laugh?" + +"Why?" said Daisy. "No, I do not think I shall want to laugh." + +"I shall be too frightened to laugh," said Jane Linwood. + +"I don't see, Daisy, how you will manage those queer wings of +yours," Nora resumed. + +"I have not got to manage them at all. I have only to keep +still." + +"I can't think how they will look," said Nora. "They don't +seem to me much like wings. I think they will look very +funny." + +"Hush, children run away; you are not wanted here. Go into +the drawing-room and I will ring this hand-bell when I want +you." + +"What comes first, aunt Sandford?" + +"Run away! you will see." + +So the younger ones repaired to the drawing-room, for what +seemed a weary time of waiting. Nora expressed her entire +disapprobation of being shut out from all the fun of the +dressing; she wanted to see that. She then declared that it +would be impossible to show all the twelve pictures that +evening, if it took so long to get ready for one. However, the +time was past at length; the signal was given; the lights in +the drawing-room were put down, till the room was very shadowy +indeed; and then, amid the breathless hush of expectation, the +curtain that hung over the doorway of the library was drawn +back. + +The children thought it was fairy-land. + +Frederica Fish sat there facing the company, quaintly dressed +in antique costume; and before her knelt, on one knee, two +grand-looking personages, very richly attired, presenting a +gilt crown upon a satin cushion. Lady Jane Grey and the +lords who came to offer her the kingdom. The draperies were +exceedingly well executed and did Mrs. Sandford great credit. +They were the picture. + +"Isn't she _beau_-tiful!" Nora exclaimed under her breath. + +"Isn't it like a picture!" said Daisy. + +"How funnily those boys kneel and twist themselves round!" +said Jane. "Who are they?" + +"Daisy, wouldn't you like to be dressed every day like that?" +said Nora. + +"I don't think it would be convenient," said Daisy. "I think a +white frock is nicer." + +"Oh, but it makes people look so handsome! Frederica looks +like she is a real beauty! I should like to be dressed so. +Daisy, don't you suppose queens and ladies, like those in the +pictures, _are_ always dressed so?" + +"I suppose they put on nightgowns when they go to bed," said +Ella Stanfield, soberly. "They can't _always_ be dressed so." + +"Oh, but, I mean when they are up. And I dare say they wear +beautiful nightgowns Daisy, don't you think they do? I dare +say they have splendid lace and ribbands; and you call make a +white dress very handsome, if you put plenty of lace and +ribbands." + +"Oh, it's gone!" exclaimed Jane and Ella. The curtain had +fallen. The company clapped their hands and cheered. + +"What's that for?" said Nora. + +"That means that they like it, I suppose," said Daisy. + +"You will have to go now, Nora, I know. Little Red Riding-Hood +comes next. Come we'll all go." + +"Horrid Little Red Riding-Hood!" said Nora. "I hate that +picture!" + +"Why do you hate it?" + +"Because! It is nothing but a red hood." + +Mrs. Sandford's bell sounded. + +"Oh, Daisy!" said Nora, as they went, "won't you get them to +leave Esther to the last? They will do whatever you ask them. +Do!" + +"Why, Nora?" + +"Oh, because! " + +What Nora's "because" meant, Daisy did not know; that it had +reference to some supposed advantage of place, was pretty +certain. Daisy stood thinking about it while she saw Nora +dressed, and then ran into the drawing-room to take the effect +of the tableau. The curtain was withdrawn; Daisy was +astonished; she had no idea that Nora could be so changed by a +little arrangement of lights and dress. The picture was +exceeding pretty. Nora's black hair and bright cheeks peeped +out from under the shadowing red cardinal, which draped her +arms also Mrs. Sandford had mysteriously managed it. She had +got over her hatred of the part, for she looked pleased and +pleasant; and the little basket in her hand and the short +petticoat and neat little feet completed a tidy Red Riding- +Hood. The applause was loud. "Lovely!" the ladies said. "What +a sweet little thing! how beautiful she looks!" Nora did not +smile, for that would have hurt her picture; but she stood +with swelling complacency and unchanging red cheeks as long as +the company were pleased to look at her. + +"Who is that, Daisy?" asked her father, near whom Daisy had +stationed herself. + +"It is Nora Dinwiddie, papa." + +"She is a pretty little girl. When does your turn come?" + +"I do not know, papa." + +"Not know! Why, I thought all this was your affair." + +"Oh, no, papa; it is Preston's affair." + +Off ran Daisy, however, when the curtain fell, or rather when +it was drawn, to see the getting ready of the next tableau. +There was something of a tableau on hand already. June stood +holding up a small feather-bed, and two little figures in +white nightgowns were flying round, looking and laughing at +two exceedingly fierce, bearded, moustached, black-browed +individuals, on whose heads Mrs. Sandford was setting some +odd-looking hats. + +"Who are those, Nora?" said Daisy to Little Red Riding-Hood. + +"Daisy, did you like it? Did I stand well?" + +"Yes, I liked it very much; it was nice. Nora, who are those +two?" + +"Why, one of 'em is Preston I don't know who the other is. +Daisy, did you ask about Esther?" + +Could it be possible that Preston had so transformed himself? +Daisy could hardly see that it was he. His fellow she did not +recognise at all. It was big George Linwood. + +"Now are the little princes ready?" said Preston. "Because we +will finish up this business." + +"Oh, you won't let the feather-bed come down on us?" cried +Jane Linwood. + +"If you don't be quiet and keep still, I will," said Preston. +"Let only your eye wink or your mouth move to smile and you +are an unlucky prince! I am a man without mercy." + +"And I am another," said George. "I say, old fellow, I suppose +I'm all right for that French pikeman now, hey? After this +smothering business is attended to." + +"You think the trade is the thing, and the costume a matter of +indifference?" said Preston. "In the matter of morals I dare +say you are right; in tableaux before spectators it's not +exactly so. Here, June hand on your big pillow there." + +Mrs. Sandford was laughing at him, and in fact there was a +good deal of hilarity and some romping before the actors in +the tableau could be settled in their places. + +"Don't keep us long," said Preston. "I never knew before what +an uninteresting thing a featherbed is when you are obliged +to hold it in your arms. Everything in its place, I find. I +used to have a good opinion of them." + +Daisy ran back to the drawing-room, and was utterly struck +with wonder at the picture over which all this fun had been +held. It was beautiful, she thought. The two children lay so +naturally asleep, one little bare foot peeping out from under +the coverings; and the grim faces that scowled at them over +the feather-bed with those strange hats overshadowing, made +such a contrast; and they were all so breathlessly still, and +the lights and shadows were so good; Daisy was disposed to +give her verdict that there never was a play like this play. +The "Princes in the Tower " was greatly applauded. + +"Have you asked about my picture?" said Nora, who stood beside +Daisy. + +"No, I have not had a chance." + +"Do, Daisy! I want that to be the last." + +Daisy thought she was unreasonable. Why should Nora have the +best place, if it was the best? She was not pleased with her. + +The next picture was Marie Antoinette; and that drew down the +house. Frederica Fish had nothing to do but to stand as she +was put, and Mrs. Sandford had seen to it that she stood +right; another person might have done more in the picture, but +that was all that could be got from Frederica. Her face was +coldly impassive; she could come no nearer to the expression +of the indignant queen. But Preston's old woman, and Theresa's +pretty young French girl; one looking as he had said, with +eyes of coarse fury, the other all melting with tenderness and +reverent sympathy; they were so excellent that the company +were delighted. Frederica's handkerchief, it is true, hung +daintily in her fingers, showing all the four embroidered +corners; Mrs. Sandford had not seen it till it was just too +late; and Preston declared afterwards the "fury" in his face +was real and not feigned as he glared at her. But the company +overlooked the handkerchief in favour of the other parts of +the picture; and its success was perfect. + +"Alfred in the neat-herd's cottage" followed next, and would +have been as good; only that Nora, whose business it was to +blow her cheeks into a full moon condition over the burnt +cakes, would not keep her gravity; but the full cheeks gave +way every now and then in a broad grin which quite destroyed +the effect. Preston could not see this, but Daisy took her +friend to task after it was over. Nora declared she could not +help it. + +"You don't know how it felt, Daisy, to keep my cheeks puffed +out in that way. I couldn't do it; and whenever I let them go, +then I couldn't help laughing. Oh, Daisy! is my picture to be +the last?" + +"I will see, as soon as I can, Nora," Daisy said, gravely. It +was her own turn now, and while Mrs. Sandford was dressing her +she had no very good chance to speak of Esther. How +wonderfully Mrs. Sandford arranged the folds of one or two +long scarfs, to imitate Sir Joshua Reynolds' draperies. +Preston declared it was beautiful, and so did Hamilton Rush; +and when the little helmet with its plumes was set on Daisy's +head, Mrs. Sandford smiled and Preston clapped his hands. They +had still a little trouble to get Dolce into position. Dolce +was to enact the lion, emblem of courage and strength, lying +at Fortitude's feet. He was a sensible dog, but knowing +nothing about playing pictures, naturally, did not immediately +understand why it should be required of him to lie down there, +on that platform of green baize, with his nose on his paws. +However, more sensible than some animals of higher order are +apt to be, he submitted patiently to the duty of obedience +where he did not understand; and laid down accordingly his +shaggy length at Daisy's feet. + +The curtain was drawn aside, and the company shouted with +delight. No picture had been so good yet as this one. The +little grave figure, the helmet with its nodding plumes in +mock stateliness; the attitude, one finger just resting on the +pedestal of the broken column (an ottoman did duty for it), as +if to show that Fortitude stood alone, and the shaggy St. +Bernard at her feet, all made in truth an extremely pretty +spectacle. You could see the faintest tinge of a smile of +pleasure on the lips of both Mr. and Mrs. Randolph; they were +silent, but all the rest of the people cheered and openly +declared their delight. Daisy stood like a rock. _Her_ mouth +never gave way; not even when Dolce, conceiving that all this +cheering called upon him to do something, rose up and, looking +right into Daisy's face, wagged his tail in the blandest +manner of congratulation. Daisy did not wince; and an +energetic "Down, Dolce, down!" brought the St. Bernard to his +position again, in the very meekness of strength; and then the +people clapped for Daisy and the dog together. At last the +curtain fell. + +"Well, that will do," said Mrs. Sandford. + +"Dolce you rascal!" said Preston, as the great creature was +now wagging his tail in honour of his master, "how came you to +forget your business in that style, sir?" + +"I do not think it really hindered the effect at all, +Preston," said Mrs. Sandford. "Daisy kept her countenance so +well." + +"Yes, if Fortitude had smiled! " said Theresa. "Mrs. +Sandford, is it out of character for Fortitude to smile?" + +"It would be out of character for Portia, just at this crisis + so take care of her." + +"What made them make such a great noise, Daisy?" said Nora, +while Daisy was getting undressed. + +"I suppose they liked the picture," said Daisy. + +"But they made a great deal more noise than they did for +anybody else," said Nora. + +"I suppose they liked the picture better than they liked any +of the others," said Ella Stanfield. "I know they did, for I +was in the other room. Come, let's go see this picture!" + +"Not you, Daisy," said Mrs. Sandford, as the children were +running off "I want you. Priscilla comes next." + +So Daisy had to stay and be dressed for Priscilla. She missed +Portia and Bassanio. It was not much missed, for her little +heart began to be beating with excitement; and she wished very +much that Priscilla might be as much liked as Fortitude. The +dressing was an easy matter, for the costume had been prepared +for her and a gown and vandyke made on purpose. Would +Alexander dare to wink this time, she wondered? And then she +remembered, to her great joy, that he could not; because his +face would be in full view of the people behind the scenes in +the library. The little brown spinning-wheel was brought on +the platform; a heap of flax, at which Priscilla is supposed +to have been working, was piled together in front of it; and +she and Alexander took their places. The curtain was drawn +aside, and a cry of pleasure from the company testified to the +picturesque prettiness of the representation. It was according +to the fact, that Priscilla should be looking in John Alden's +face; it was just at the moment when she is supposed to be +rebuking him for bringing to her his friend's suit and +petition. Thinking herself safe, and wishing to have the +picture as good as possible, Daisy had ventured to direct her +eyes upon the face of Alexander Fish, who personified the +Puritan suitor. To her horror, Alexander, wholly untouched by +the poetry of the occasion, and unawed by its hazards, dared +to execute a succession of most barefaced and disagreeable +winks right at Priscilla's eyes. Poor Daisy could not stand +this. Forgetting her character and the picture and everything, +her eyes went down; her eyelids drooped over them; and the +expression of grave displeasure would have done for a yet more +dissatisfied mood of mind than Priscilla is supposed to have +known at the time. The company could not stand this, either; +and there burst out a hearty chorus of laughter and cheers +together, which greatly mortified Daisy. The curtain was +drawn, and she had to face the laughing comments of the people +in the library. They were unmerciful, she thought. Daisy grew +very pink in the face. + +Cinderella was the next picture, in which she had also to +play. Dresses were changed in haste; but meanwhile Daisy began +to think about herself. Was she all right? Mortified at the +breaking of her picture; angry at Alexander; eager to get back +praise enough to make amends for this loss; whom was little +Daisy trying to please? Where was the ornament of a meek and +quiet spirit now? was it on? + +They had after all given her place in the Cinderella tableau; +she was one of the two wicked sisters; and she looked +dissatisfied enough for the character. She wanted to get away +to be alone for two minutes; but she had this part to fill +first. It is very hard to play when one's heart is heavy. +Daisy could not go on so. She could not bear it. Without +waiting till June could undress her, she slipped away, the +moment the curtain was drawn, and ran across the hall to the +dressing-room. People were coming and going everywhere; and +Daisy went out upon the piazza. There, in a dark spot, she +kneeled down and prayed; that this terrible spirit of pleasing +herself might be put away from her. She had but a minute; she +knew she must be back again immediately; but she knew too it +takes but a minute for ever so little a prayer to go all the +way to heaven; and the answer does not take any longer to +come, if it pleases God. Daisy was very much in earnest, and +quite well knew all that. She went back to the library feeling +humbled and ashamed, but quiet. The library was all in +commotion. + +Nora was begging that Esther might be put off till the last. +Mrs. Sandford and Preston objected. They chose that it should +come next. + +"Here is Priscilla," said Hamilton Rush, "I beg pardon! it +is Cinderella's wicked sister I don't know what _her_ name +was. Let us have your vote, my angel; I will address you in +your prospective character; will you put on your wings at +once? Or shall we get done with the terrestrial first? What do +you say? I hope you are going to make Miss Stanfield the +queen, Mrs. Sandford; she has done one part so well that I +should like to see her in another." + +"Why, you are going to be Ahasuerus yourself!" said the lady. + +"Am I?" said Hamilton; who it must be noticed had not met for +the practisings as often as the other people, being held not +to need them. "Then I must respectfully be allowed to choose +my own queen. I vote for Miss Theresa." + +"It is a capital idea," said Preston. + +"I think so too," said Mrs. Sandford. "Theresa, my dear, I +wonder we did not think before of something so much to our +advantage; but these children seemed to have got the picture +into their own hands. You will do it far better. Come! let me +robe you." + +"I would rather be Vashti," murmured Theresa. "I don't like +submissive characters. Mrs. Sandford, Vashti is far more in my +line. Go off, boys, and get ready! What a pity we didn't think +of having Vashti, Mrs. Sandford." + +However, Theresa made no objection to be dressed for Esther. + +"Who will be your supporters? Ella is too short. Jane and +Nora? Where is Nora?" + +Nora was in the furthest corner of the room, seated in gloom. + +"Nora! " + +"I am not going to play any more " said Nora. + +"You must come and be one of the queen's women I want you +for that." + +"I am not going to play " repeated Nora; but nobody heard +except Daisy. "I am Esther myself! nobody else has any right +to be it. I have practised it, and I know how to do it; and I +am Esther myself. Nobody else has any right to be Esther!" + +Daisy stood by in dismay. She did not know what comfort to +bring to this distress. + +"I won't play at all!" said Nora. "If I can't be Esther I +won't be anything. You have all the good things, Daisy! you +have all the prettiest pictures; and I might have had just +this one. Just Esther. I just wanted to be Esther! It's mean." + +"Why, you've been plenty of things I think," said Jane +Linwood, coming near this corner of gloom. + +"I haven't! I have been that hateful prince in the tower and +Cinderella's ugly sister only hateful things." + +"But you were Little Red Riding-Hood." + +"Red Riding-Hood!" exclaimed Nora, in unspeakable disdain. +"Red Riding-Hood was nothing at all but a red cloak! and Daisy +wore feathers, and had the dog " + +And the vision of Queen Esther's jewels and satin gown and +mantle here overcame Nora's dignity if not her wrath; she +began to cry. + +"But won't you come and be one of the queen's maids? _They_ will +be very nicely dressed too," Daisy ventured, gently. + +"No! I won't be anybody's maid, I tell you," sobbed the +disconsolate child. + +"Bring her along, Daisy," Mrs. Sandford called from the other +side of the room. "I am almost ready for her." + +Daisy made another vain effort to bring Nora to reason, and +then went sorrowfully to Mrs. Sandford. She thought tableaux +were on the whole a somewhat troublesome amusement. + +"Will I do, Mrs. Sandford?" she said. "Nora does not want to +play." + +"In dudgeon, hey?" said the lady. "I expected as much. Well, +Daisy I will take you. I might perch you up on a foot- +cushion to give you a little more altitude. However I don't +know but it will do. Theresa will be letting down her own +height." + +"I think I am letting myself down altogether, Mrs. Sandford, +in allowing Ahasuerus to pick me out in that lordly style. But +never mind I shan't touch his sceptre any way. Boys, boys! +are you ready?" + +"Splendid, Theresa!" said Preston, as he came in. "Splendid! +You are the very thing." + +"I am diamonds and satin, you mean. I thank you. I know that +is what I am at present." + +"You look the character," said Hamilton. + +Theresa made him a mock little courtesy. It was admirably +done. It was the slightest gesture of supercilious disdain +excellent pantomime. The boys laughed and shouted, for +Theresa's satin and diamonds gave effect to her acting, and +she was a good actor. + +This picture had been delayed so long, that at last, hearing +the shout of applause behind the scenes, the audience began to +call for their share. In haste, but not the less effectively, +Theresa and the rest threw themselves into attitude, and the +curtain was pulled aside. + +Daisy wished she could have been in the drawing-room to see +the picture; she knew it must be beautiful; but she was +supporting one jewelled arm of Queen Esther, and obliged by +her duty to look only at the Queen's face. Daisy thought even +that was a good deal to look at, it was so magnificently +surrounded with decoration: but at the same time she was +troubled about Nora and sorry for her own foolishness, so that +her own face was abundantly in character for the grave concern +that sat upon it. This picture met with great favour. The +people in the library were in much glee after it was over; all +but Daisy and Nora. + +"It is all spoiled!" said the latter. "The evening has been +hateful. I wish I hadn't come." + +"Oh, Nora! don't say that," Daisy urged. "The pictures are +almost over now; and then we shall have supper." + +"I don't want supper! I only wanted to be Queen Esther; and +you said I might. It was the prettiest picture of the whole +lot." + +"But I couldn't help it, Nora." + +"I could have done it just as well as Theresa! She didn't look +handsome a bit." + +"Oh, Nora, I think she did for a picture." + +"She didn't a bit; the things she had on looked handsome." + +Daisy was called away. Her last dressing was to be done now, +and the one of which Daisy was most doubtful. She was to stand +for the angel in the "Game of Life." Other people had no doubt +about it. Mrs. Sandford was sure that the angel's wings would +make a good representation, which Daisy was slow to believe; +near by, they looked so very like gauze and pasteboard! They +were arranged, at any rate, to appear as if they grew out of +her shoulders; she was arrayed in flowing white draperies over +her own little cambrick frock; and then she was ready. +Hamilton came in. He was to be the young man in the picture. +Daisy liked his appearance well. But when Preston followed +him, she felt unspeakably shocked. Preston was well got up, in +one respect; he looked frightful. He wore a black mask, ugly +but not grotesque; and his whole figure was more like the +devil in the picture than Daisy had imagined it could be. She +did not like the whole business at all. There was no getting +out of it now; the picture must be given; so the performers +were placed. + +Hamilton and Preston sat on two sides of a chess-board, and +behind them the little angel stood watching the game. Mrs. +Sandford was right. By a skilful placing and shielding of the +lamps, the lights were thrown broadly where they ought to be, +on faces and draperies, leaving the gauze wings of the angel +in such obscurity that they just showed as it was desired they +should. The effect was extremely good, and even artistic. The +little angel herself was not in full light; it was through a +shade of gloom that her grave face of concern looked down upon +the game on the chess-board. Truly Daisy looked concerned and +grave. She thought she did not like to play such things as +this, One of the figures below her was so very wicked and +devilish in its look; and Hamilton leaned over the pieces on +the board with so well-given an expression of doubt and +perplexity, his adversary's watch was so intent, and the +meaning of the whole was so sorrowfully deep; that Daisy gazed +unconsciously most like a guardian angel who might see with +sorrow the evil one getting the better over a soul of his +care. For it was real to Daisy. She knew that the devil does +in truth try to bewitch and wile people out of doing right +into doing wrong. She knew that he tries to get the mastery of +them; that he rejoices every time he sees them make a "false +move;" that he is a great cunning enemy, all the worse because +we cannot see him, striving to draw people to their ruin; and +she thought that it was far too serious and dreadful a thing +to be made a _play_ of. She wondered if guardian angels did +really watch over poor tempted souls and try to help them. And +all this brought upon Daisy's face a shade of awe, and sorrow, +and fear, which was strangely in keeping with her character as +an angel, and very singular in its effect on the picture. The +expressions of pleasure and admiration which had burst from +the company in the drawing-room at the first sight of it, +gradually stilled and ceased; and it was amid a profound and +curious silence and hush that the curtain was at length drawn +upon the picture. There were some people among the spectators +not altogether satisfied in their minds. + +"How remarkable!" was the first word that came from anybody's +lips in the darkened drawing-room. + +"Very remarkable!" somebody else said. "Did you ever see such +acting?" + +"It has all been good," said a gentleman, Mr. Sandford; "but +this was remarkable." + +"Thanks, I suppose you know to whose management," said the +soft voice of the lady of the house. + +"Management is a good thing," said the gentleman; "but there +was more than management here, Mrs. Randolph. It was uncommon, +upon my word! I suppose my wife came in for the wings, but +where did the _face_ come from?" + +"Daisy," said Mr. Randolph, as he found his little daughter by +his side again, "are you here?" + +"Yes, papa." + +Her father put his arm round her, as if to assure himself +there were no wings in the case. + +"How do you like playing pictures?" + +"I think I do not like them very much " Daisy said, sedately, +nestling up to her father's side. + +"Not? How is that? Your performance has been much approved." + +Daisy said nothing. Mr. Randolph thought he felt a slight +tremor in the little frame. + +"Do you understand the allegory of this last tableau, Daisy?" +Dr. Sandford asked. + +"I do not know what an allegory is, Dr. Sandford." + +"What is the meaning of the representation, then, as you think +of it?" + +"This last picture?" + +"Yes." + +"It is a trial of skill, Dr. Sandford." + +The room was still darkened, and the glance of intelligence +and amusement that passed between her friend and her father, +their own eyes could scarcely catch. Daisy did not see it. But +she had spoken diplomatically. She did not want to come any +nearer the subject of the picture in talking with Dr. +Sandford. His mind was different, and he went on. + +"What is the trial of skill about, Daisy?" + +The child hesitated, and then said, speaking low and most un- +child-like "It is about a human soul." + +"And what do you understand are the powers at work or at +play?" + +"It is not play," said Daisy. + +"Answer Dr. Sandford, Daisy," said her father. + +"Papa," said the child, "it isn't play. The devil tries to +make people do wrong and if they try to do right, then there +is a " + +"A what?" + +"I don't know a fight, papa." + +Mr. Randolph again felt a tremor, a nervous trembling, pass +over Daisy. + +"You do not suppose, my darling," he said, softly, "that such +a fight goes on with anything like this horrible figure that +your cousin Preston has made himself?" + +"I do not suppose he looks like that, papa." + +"I do not think there is such a personage at all, Daisy. I am +sure you need not trouble your little head with thinking about +it." + +Daisy made no answer. + +"There is a struggle always going on, no doubt, between good +and evil; but we cannot paint good and evil without imagining +shapes for them." + +"But papa, " said Daisy, and stopped. It was no place or time +for talking about the matter, though her father spoke low. She +did not want even Dr. Sandford to hear. + +"What is it, Daisy?" + +"Yes," said the doctor, "I should like to know what the +argument is." + +"Papa," said Daisy, awesomely, "there is a _place_ prepared +for the devil and his angels." + +Mr. Randolph was silent now. But he felt again that Daisy was +nervously excited, by the quiver that passed over her little +frame. + +"So you think, Daisy," said the doctor leaning towards her, +"that the white and the black spirits have a fight over the +people of this world?" + +Daisy hesitated, struggled, quivered with the feeling and the +excitement which were upon her, tried for self-command and +words to answer. Mr. Randolph saw it all and did not hurry +her, though she hesitated a good deal. + +"You think they have a quarrel for us?" repeated the doctor. + +"I don't know, Dr. Sandford " Daisy answered, in a strangely +tender and sober voice. It was strange to her two hearers. + +"But you believe in the white spirits, I suppose, as well as +in the other branch of the connexion?" + +"Papa," said Daisy, her feeling breaking a little through her +composure so much as to bring a sort of cry into her voice +"there is joy among the angels of heaven whenever anybody +grows good! " + +She had turned to her father as she spoke and threw her arms +round his neck, hiding her face, with a clinging action that +told somewhat of that which was at work in her mind. Mr. +Randolph perhaps guessed at it. He said nothing; he held her +close to his breast; and the curtain drew at that moment for +the last tableau. Daisy did not see it, and Mr. Randolph did +not think of it; though people said it was very good. It was +only the head and shoulders of Theresa Stanfield as an old +country schoolmistress, seen behind a picture frame, with her +uplifted finger and a bundle of rods. Theresa was so +transformed that nobody would have known her; and while the +company laughed and applauded, Daisy came back to her usual +self; and slid out of her father's arms when the show was +over, all ready for supper and Nora Dinwiddie. + +There was a grand supper, and everybody was full of pleasure +and complimentary speeches and discussion and praise of the +tableaux. That was among the elder portion of the company. The +four or five children were not disposed to such absolute +harmony. Grapes and ices and numberless other good things were +well enjoyed, no doubt; but amidst them all a spirit of +criticism was rife. + +"Daisy, your wings didn't look a bit like real wings " said +Jane Linwood. + +"No," echoed Nora, "I guess they didn't. They were like let +me see what they were like! They were like the wings of a +windmill." + +"No, they weren't!" said Ella. "I was in the drawing-room +and they didn't look like a windmill a bit. They looked queer, +but pretty." + +"Queer, but pretty!" repeated Nora. + +"Yes, they did," said Ella. "And you laughed when you were Red +Riding-hood, Nora Dinwiddie." + +"I didn't laugh a bit!" + +"It is no matter if you did laugh, Nora," said Daisy; "you +got grave again, and the picture was very nice." + +"I didn't laugh!" said Nora; "and if I did, everybody else +did. I don't think the pictures I saw were at all like +pictures they were just like a parcel of people dressed-up." + +Some gay paper mottoes made a diversion and stopped the little +mouths for a time; and then the people went away. + +"Well, Daisy," said Mrs. Gary, "how do you like this new +entertainment?" + +"The pictures? I think they were very pretty, aunt Gary." + +"How happened it that somebody else wore my diamonds?" said +her mother, "and not you. I thought you were to be dressed +for Queen Esther?" + +"Yes, mamma, so I was at first; and then it was thought best +" + +"Not by me," said Preston. "It was no doing of mine. Daisy was +to have been Esther, and she herself declared off backed out +of it, and left me to do as best I could." + +"What was that for, Daisy?" said Mrs. Gary. "You would have +made an excellent Esther." + +"What was that for, Daisy?" said Mrs. Randolph. "Did you not +like to be Esther?" + +"Yes, mamma I liked it at one time." + +"And why not at another time?" + +"I found out that somebody else would like it too, mamma; and +I thought " + +Mrs. Randolph broke out with a contemptuous expression of +displeasure. + +"You thought you would put yourself in a corner! You were not +manager, Daisy; and you must remember something is due to the +one that is. You have no right to please yourself." + +"Come here, Daisy," said her father, "and bid me good-night. I +dare say you were trying to please somebody else. Tell mamma +she must remember the old fable, and excuse you." + +"What fable, Mr. Randolph?" the lady inquired, as Daisy left +the room. + +"The one in which the old Grecian told the difficulty of +pleasing more people than one or two at once." + +"Daisy is ruined!" said Mrs. Randolph. + +"I do not see how it appears." + +"She has not entered into this thing at all as we hoped she +would not at all as a child should." + +"She looked a hundred years old, in the Game of Life," said +Mrs. Gary. "I never saw such a representation in my life. You +would have said she was a real guardian angel of somebody, who +was playing his game not to please her." + +"I am glad it is over!" said Mrs. Randolph. "I am tired of it +all." And she walked off. + +So did Mr. Randolph, but as he went he was thinking of Daisy's +voice and her words "There is joy among the angels of heaven +whenever anybody grows good." + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +AN ACCIDENT. + + +It was growing late in the fall now. Mrs. Randolph began to +talk of moving to the city for the winter. Mr. Randolph more +than half hinted that he would like as well to stay where he +was. But his wife said that for Daisy's sake they must quit +Melbourne, and try what new scenes, and lessons, and dancing +school would do for her. "Not improve the colour in her +cheeks, I am afraid," said Mr. Randolph; but, however, he did +not oppose, and Mrs. Randolph made her arrangements. + +It was yet but a day or two after the tableaux, when something +happened to disturb her plans. Mr. Randolph was out riding +with her, one fine October morning, when his horse became +unruly in consequence of a stone hitting him; a chance stone +thrown from a careless hand. The animal was restive, took the +stone very much in dudgeon, ran, and carrying his rider under +a tree, Mr. Randolph's forehead was struck by a low-lying +limb, and he was thrown off. The blow was severe; he was +stunned; and had not yet recovered his senses when they +brought him back to Melbourne. Mrs. Randolph was in a state +almost as much beyond self-management. Daisy was out of the +house. Mrs. Gary had left Melbourne; and till the doctor +arrived Mrs. Randolph was nearly distracted. + +He came; and though his fine face took no gloom upon it, and +his blue eye was as usual impenetrable, the eyes that +anxiously watched him were not satisfied. Dr. Sandford said +nothing; and Mrs. Randolph had self-control sufficient not to +question him, while he made his examinations and applied his +remedies. But the remedies, though severe, were a good while +in bringing back any token of consciousness. It came at last, +faintly. The doctor summoned Mrs. Randolph out of the room +then, and ordered that his patient should be kept in the most +absolute and profound quiet. No disturbance or excitement must +be permitted to come near him. + +"How long, doctor?" + +"I beg your pardon, Mrs. Randolph? " + +"How long will it be before he is better?" + +"I cannot say that. Any excitement or disturbance would much +delay it. Let him hear nothing and see nothing except you, +and some attendant that he is accustomed to." + +"Oh, doctor, can't you stay till he is better?" + +"I will return again very soon, Mrs. Randolph. There is +nothing to be done at present for which I am needed." + +"But you will come back as soon as you can?" + +"Certainly!" + +"And oh, Dr. Sandford, cannot you take Daisy away?" + +"Where is she?" + +"I don't know she is not come home. Do take her away!" + +The doctor went thoughtfully downstairs, and checking his +first movement to go out of the front door, turned to the +library. Nobody was there; but he heard voices, and passed out +upon the piazza. Daisy's pony chaise stood at the foot of the +steps; she herself had just alighted. Preston was there too, +and it was his voice the doctor had first heard, in anxious +entreaty. + +"Come, Daisy! it's capital down at the river; and I want to +show you something." + +"I think I am tired now, Preston. I'll go another time," said +Daisy. + +"Daisy, I want you now. Come! come! I want you to go now, +this minute." + +"But I do not feel like a walk, Preston. I can't go till I +have had my dinner." + +Preston looked imploringly at the doctor, towards whom Daisy +was now mounting the steps. It is safe to say that the doctor +would willingly have been spared his present task. + +"Where have you been now, Daisy?" he said. + +Daisy's face brightened into its usual smile at sight of him. +"I have been to Crum Elbow, Dr. Sandford." + +"Suppose you go a little further and have luncheon with Mrs. +Sandford and me? It will not take us long to get to it." + +"Does mamma say so, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Yes." + +"Then I will be ready in a moment." + +"Where are you going?" said her friend, stopping her. + +"Only up stairs for a minute. I will be ready in two minutes, +Dr. Sandford." + +"Stop," said the doctor, still detaining her. "I would rather +not have you go upstairs. Your father is not quite well, and I +want him kept quiet." + +What a shadow came over Daisy's sunshine. + +"Papa not well! What is the matter?" + +"He does not feel quite like himself, and I wish him left in +perfect repose." + +"What is the matter with him, Dr. Sandford?" + +Daisy's words were quiet, but the doctor saw the gathering woe +on her cheek; the roused suspicion. This would not do to go +on. + +"He has had a little accident, Daisy; nothing that you need +distress yourself about; but I wish him to be quite quiet for +a little." + +Daisy said nothing now, but the speech of her silent face was +so eloquent that the doctor found it expedient to go on. + +"He was riding this morning; his horse took him under the low +bough of a tree, and his head got a severe blow. That is all +the matter." + +"Was papa _thrown?_" said Daisy, under her breath. + +"I believe he was. Any horseman might be unseated by such a +thing." + +Daisy again was mute, and again the doctor found himself +obliged to answer the agony of her eyes. + +"I do not think he is in much, if any, pain, Daisy; but I want +him to be still for a while. I think that is good for him; and +it would not be good that you should disturb him. Your mother +is there, and that is enough." + +Daisy stood quite still for a few minutes. Then making an +effort to withdraw herself from the doctor's arm, she said, "I +will not go into the room I will not make any noise." + +"Stop! Daisy, you must not go upstairs. Not this morning." + +She stood still again, grew white and trembled. + +"As soon as I think it will do him good to see you, I will let +you into his room. Now, shall we send June up for anything you +want?" + +"I think, Dr. Sandford," said Daisy, struggling for +steadiness, "I will not go away from home." + +Her words were inexpressibly tender and sorrowful. The doctor +was unrelenting. + +"Your mother desired it." + +"Did mamma? " + +"Yes; she wished me to carry you home with me. Come, Daisy! It +is hard, but it is less hard after all than it would be for +you to wander about here; and much better." + +Daisy in her extremity sunk her head on the doctor's shoulder, +and so remained, motionless, for more minutes than he had to +spare. Yet he was still too, and waited. Then he spoke to her +again. + +"I will go," said Daisy. + +"You wanted something first?" + +"I did not want anything but to change my gloves. It is no +matter." + +Very glad to have gained his point, the doctor went off with +his charge; drove her very fast to his own home, and there +left her in Mrs. Sandford's care; while he drove off furiously +again to see another patient before he returned to Melbourne. + +It was a long day after that to Daisy; and so it was to Mrs. +Sandford. Nora Dinwiddie was no longer with her; there was +nobody to be a distraction or a pleasure to the grave little +child who went about with such a weird stillness, or sat +motionless with such unchildlike quiet. Mrs. Sandford did not +know what to do; but indeed nothing could be done with Daisy. +She could not be amused or happy; she did not wish Nora were +there; she could only keep patient and wait, and wait, with a +sore, straining heart, while the hours passed, and Dr. +Sandford did not come, and she had no tidings. Was she +patient? It seemed to Daisy that her heart would burst with +impatience; or rather with its eager longing to know how +things were at home, and to get some relief. The hours of the +day went by, and no relief came. Dr. Sandford did not return. +Daisy took it as no good omen. + +It was hard to sit at the dinner-table and have Mr. and Mrs. +Sandford showing her kindness, while her heart was breaking. +It was hard to be quiet and still, and answer politely and +make no trouble for her entertainers. It was hard; but Daisy +did it. It was hard to eat too; and that Daisy could not do. +It was impossible. + +"Mustn't be cast down," said Mr. Sandford. He was one of the +people who look as if they never could be. Black whiskers and +a round face sometimes have that kind of look. "Mustn't be +cast down! No need. Everybody gets a tumble from horseback +once or twice in his life. I've had it seven times. Not +pleasant; but it don't hurt you much, nine times in ten." + +"Hush, Mr. Sandford," said his wife. "Daisy cannot feel about +it just as you do." + +"Never been thrown yet herself, eh! Give her one of those +peaches, my dear she will like that better than meats to- +day. Eat one of my red-cheeked peaches, Daisy; and tell me +whether you have any so good at Melbourne. I don't believe +it." + +Daisy peeled her peach. It was all she could bear to do. She +peeled it carefully and slowly; there never was a peach so +long in paring; for it was hardly more than finished when they +rose from table. She had tried to taste it too; that was all; +the taste never reached her consciousness. Mrs. Sandford knew +better than her husband, and let her alone. + +Daisy could think of nothing now but to watch for the doctor; +and to do it with the most comfort and the best chance she +placed herself on the steps of the piazza, sitting down on the +uppermost step. It was a fair evening, warm and mild; and Mrs. +Sandford sitting in her drawing-room with the windows open was +but a few feet from Daisy, and could observe her. She did so +very often, with a sorrowful eye. Daisy's attitude bespoke her +intentness; the child's heart was wound up to such a pitch of +expectation that eye and ear were for nothing else. She sat +bending both upon the road by which she looked for the doctor +to come; her little figure did not stir; her head rested +slightly on her hand with a droop that spoke of weariness or +of weakness. So she sat looking down the road, and the sweet +October light was all over her and all around her. Mrs. +Sandford watched her, till the light lost its brightness and +grew fair and faint, and then began to grow dim. Daisy sat +still, and Mrs. Sandford looked at her, till a step within the +room drew her attention on that side. + +"Why, there you are!" said the lady "come the other way. +What news?" + +"I have no news." + +"Yes, but how is Mr. Randolph?" The lady had dropped her voice +very low. + +"He is sensible." + +"Sensible!" Mrs. Sandford said with a startled look; but then +drawing the doctor silently to her side, she pointed to the +watching, anxious little figure there on the steps. It did not +need that Dr. Sandford should speak her name. Daisy had +perfectly well heard and understood the words that had passed; +and now she rose up slowly and came towards the doctor, who +stepped out to meet her. + +"Well, Daisy have you been looking for me?" he said. But +something in the little upturned face admonished him that no +light words could be borne. He sat down and took her hand. + +"Your father looks better than he did this morning; but he +feels badly yet after his fall." + +Daisy looked at him and was silent a moment. + +"Will they send for me home?" + +"Not to-night, I think. Mrs. Randolph thought better that you +should stay here. Can't you do it contentedly?" + +Daisy made no audible answer; her lip quivered a very little; +it did not belie the singular patience which sat upon her +brow. Her hand lay yet in the doctor's; he held it a little +closer, and drew the child affectionately to his side, keeping +her there while he talked with Mrs. Sandford upon other +subjects; for he said no more about Melbourne. Still while he +talked he kept his arm round Daisy, and when tea was brought +he hardly let her go. But tea was not much more to Daisy than +dinner had been; and when Mrs. Sandford offered to show her to +her room if she desired it, Daisy accepted the offer at once. + +Mrs. Sandford herself wished to supply the place of June, and +would have done everything for her little guest if she could +have been permitted. Daisy negatived all such proposals. She +could do everything for herself, she said; she wanted no help. +A bag of things had been packed for her by June and brought in +the doctor's gig. Daisy was somehow sorry to see them; they +looked like preparations for staying. + +"We will send for June to-morrow, Daisy, if your mamma will +leave you still with me." + +"Oh, I shall go home to-morrow I hope," said Daisy. "I hope +" she repeated, humbly. + +"Yes, I hope so," said Mrs. Sandford. She kissed Daisy and +went away. It was all Daisy wanted, to be alone. The October +night was mild; she went to the window; one of the windows, +which looked out upon the grass and trees of the courtyard, +now lighted by a faint moon. Daisy sunk down on her knees +there; the sky and the stars were more homelike than anything +else; and she felt so strange, so miserable, as her little +heart had never known anything like before. She knew well +enough what it all meant, her mother's sending her away from +home, her father's not being able to bear any disturbance. +Speak as lightly, look as calmly as they would, she knew what +was the meaning underneath people's faces and voices. Her +father had been very much hurt; quite well Daisy was assured +of that. He was too ill to see her, or too ill for her mother +to like her to see him. Daisy knelt down; she remembered she +had a Father in heaven, but it seemed at first as if she was +too broken-hearted to pray. Yet down there, through the still +moonlight, she remembered His eye could see her, and she knew +He had not forgotten His little child. Daisy never heard her +door open; but it did once, and some time after it did again. + +"I do not know what to do " said Mrs. Sandford, downstairs. +There the lamps made a second bright day; and the two +gentlemen were busy over the table with newspapers and books. +Both of them looked up, at the sound of her perplexed voice. + +"That child, " said Mrs. Sandford. "She is not in bed yet." + +The lady stood by the table; she had just come from Daisy's +room. + +"What is she doing?" her husband asked. + +"I don't know. She is kneeling by the open window. She was +there an hour ago, and she is there yet. She has not moved +since." + +"She has fallen asleep " suggested Mr. Sandford. "I should +say, wake her up." + +"She is too wide awake now. She is lifting her little face to +the sky, in a way that breaks my heart. And there she has +been, this hour and more." + +"Have some supper directly, and call her down, " was the +second suggestion of the master of the house. "It will be +supper-time soon. Here it's some time after nine." + +"Grant, what is the matter with Mr. Randolph? Is it very +serious?" + +"Mrs. Randolph thinks so, I believe. Have you spoken to +Daisy?" + +"No, and I cannot. Unless I had good news to carry to her." + +"Where is she?" said the doctor, getting up. + +"In the room next to yours." + +So Mrs. Sandford sat down and the doctor went up stairs. The +next thing, he stood behind Daisy at her window. She was not +gazing into the sky now; the little round head lay on her arms +on the window-sill. + +"What is going on here?" said a soft voice behind her. + +"Oh! Dr. Sandford " said the child, jumping up. She turned +and faced her friend, with a face so wistful and searching, so +patient, yet so strained with its self-restraint and fear, +that the doctor felt it was something serious with which he +had to do. He did not attempt a light tone before that little +face; he felt that it would not pass. + +"I came up to see _you_," he said. "I have nothing new to tell, +Daisy. What are you about?" + +"Dr. Sandford," said the child, "won't you tell me a little?" + +The inquiry was piteous. For some reason or other, the doctor +did not answer it with a put-off, nor with flattering words, +as doctors are so apt to do. Perhaps it was not his habit, but +certainly in other respects he was not too good a man to do +it. He sat down and let the moonlight show Daisy his face. + +"Daisy," he said, "your father was stunned by his blow, and +needs to be kept in perfect quiet for a time, until he is +quite over it. People after such a fall often do; but I do not +know that any other consequences whatever will follow." + +"He was stunned " repeated Daisy. + +"Yes." + +The child did not say any more, yet her eyes of searching +eagerness plainly asked for fuller information. They were not +content nor at rest. + +"Can't you have patience, and hope for other tidings +tomorrow?" + +"May I? " said Daisy. + +"May you? Certainly. It was your mother's wish to send you +here not mine. It was not needful; though if you could be +content, I think it would be well." + +She looked a little relieved; very little. + +"Now what are you doing? Am I to have two patients on my hand +in your family?" + +"No, sir." + +"What are you doing then, up so late? Watching the stars?" + +"No, sir." + +"I am your physician you know you must tell me everything, +What were you about, Daisy?" + +"Dr. Sandford," said Daisy, in difficulty how to speak, "I +was seeking comfort." + +And with the word, somehow, Daisy's self-restraint failed; her +head went down on the doctor's shoulder; and when she lifted +it up there were two or three tears that needed to be brushed +away. No more; but the doctor felt the slight little frame +tremble. + +"Did you find comfort, Daisy?" he said, kindly. "I ask as your +physician; because if you are using wrong measures for that +end I shall forbid them. What were you doing to get comfort?" + +"I did not want to go to sleep, sir." + +"Daisy, I am going to carry you down to have some supper." + +"Oh, I do not want any, Dr. Sandford!" + +"Are you ready to go down?" + +"No sir in a minute, I only want to brush my hair." + +"Brush it, then." + +Which Daisy did; then coming to her friend with a face as +smoothly in order as the little round head, she repeated +humbly, "I do not want anything, Dr. Sandford." + +"Shall I carry you down?" + +"Oh, no, sir." + +"Come then. One way or the other. And Daisy, when we are down +stairs, and when you come up again, you must obey my orders." + +The supper-table was laid. Mrs. Sandford expressed delight at +seeing Daisy come in, but it would maybe have been of little +avail had her kindness been the only force at work. It was +not. The doctor prescribed peaches and bread, and gave Daisy +grapes, and a little bit of cold chicken; and was very kind, +and very imperative too; and Daisy did not dare nor like to +disobey him. She eat the supper, which tasted good when he +made her eat it; and then was dismissed up stairs to bed, with +orders to go straight to sleep. And Daisy did as she was told. + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +SOMETHING WRONG. + + +The doctor's horse was before the door, and Daisy was on the +piazza. The doctor came out, ready for his day's work. + +"Do you want me to do anything for you at Melbourne, Daisy?" + +"Cannot I go home to-day, Dr. Sandford?" + +"I do not know. Supposing that you be still kept in banishment + what then?" + +Daisy struggled with herself succeeded, and spoke calmly. "I +should like to have Loupe sent, Dr. Sandford, if you please." + +"Loupe? what is that? What is Loupe, Daisy?" + +"My pony, sir. My pony-chaise." + +"Oh! Not to drive to Melbourne?" + +Daisy met the doctor's blue eye full, and answered with +guileless submission. + +"No, sir." + +"I will send Loupe. By the way Daisy, have you business on +hand?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"So much that you can do none for me?" + +"Oh, no, sir. I have not a great deal of business. What may I +do, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Can you go to Crum Elbow?" + +"Yes, sir. I have got to go there." + +"All right, then. Daisy, there is a poor family down by the +railway that were burnt out a night or two ago; they have lost +everything. The neighbours will have to supply them with a few +things. Will you go to the village and buy clothing for two +little children, six and seven years old? One is a girl, the +other a boy." + +The doctor took out his pocket-book and began to look over +bank bills. + +"Dresses, do you mean, Dr. Sandford? and a boy's dress?" + +"I mean, everything they need to put on dresses and +petticoats, and jacket and trousers, and a shirt or two for +the boy. Here is money, Daisy; spend whatever you find +needful." + +"But, Dr. Sandford " + +"Well?" + +"I don't believe Mr. Lamb keeps those things ready made." + +"I am sure he does not. Buy the stuff, Daisy all the stuff +we will see about getting it made afterwards. You can consult +my sister, Mrs. Sandford, about quantities and all that; or I +dare say the storekeeper can tell you." + +So away went the doctor. Daisy felt in great need of +consulting somebody; but Mrs. Sandford was busy, and so +engaged that there was no chance for several hours. Not +indeed before the pony chaise came; and Daisy resolved then to +wait no longer, but to do some other business first. + +The news that she eagerly asked for from Melbourne was not +much when she got it. Sam knew little; he believed Mr. +Randolph was better, he said; but his tone of voice was not +very encouraging, and Daisy drove off to Juanita's cottage. +There was one person, she knew, who could feel with her; and +she went with a sort of eagerness up the grassy pathway from +the road to the cottage door, to get that sympathy. + +Juanita was within, busy at some ironing. The work fell from +her hands, and the iron was set down with an expression of +pleasure as she saw Daisy come in. The next minute her tone +changed and her look. + +"What ails my love?" + +"Juanita " said Daisy, standing still and pale by the ironing +table, "haven't you heard? Papa " + +"What, Miss Daisy?" + +"Papa he was knocked off his horse yesterday and they +won't let me see _him!_" + +So far Daisy's power of composure went, and no further. With +that last word her voice failed. She threw her arms around +Juanita, and hiding her face in her gown, burst into such +tears as Daisy rarely shed at all; very rarely under any one's +observation. Juanita, very much startled, sat down and drew +the child into her arms, so far as she could; for Daisy had +sunk on her knees, and with her face in Juanita's lap was +weeping all her heart out. Mrs. Benoit hardly knew how to ask +questions. + +"Why must not Miss Daisy see her papa?" + +"I don't know! I suppose he's not well enough." + +Juanita breathed more freely. + +"Let us pray for him, Miss Daisy." + +"Oh, yes, Juanita, do! " + +There was an intensity of meaning in these words and in +Daisy's hurried assuming of another place and posture to leave +Juanita free to kneel too, that almost took away the black +woman's power of speech. She read what was breaking the +child's heart; she knew what for was that suppressed cry of +longing. For a moment Juanita was silent. But she had long +known not only trouble but the Refuge from trouble; and to +that Refuge she now went, and carried Daisy. As one goes who +has often been there; who has many a time proved it a sure +Refuge; who knows it sure and safe and unfailing. So she +prayed; while Daisy's sobs at first were excessive, and then +by degrees calmed and quieted and ceased. They were quite +still before Juanita finished; and when they rose up from +their knees Daisy's face was composed again. Then she came and +stood with her hand on Juanita's shoulder, both of them +silent; till Daisy put her lips to the fine olive-dark cheek +of the old woman and kissed it. Juanita drew her into her +arms, and Daisy sat there, nestling and tired. + +"Can Miss Daisy trust the Lord?" + +"Trust Him, how, Juanita." + +"That He do no harm to His little child." + +"Oh, it isn't _me_, Juanita " Daisy said, with a very tender +and sad accent. + +"When Joseph my love knows the story when he was sold away +from his father and home, to be servant of strangers far off +maybe he thought it was hard times. But the Lord meant it for +good, and the father and the child came together again, in a +happy day." + +Daisy rose up, or rather raised her head, and looked steadily +in her friend's face as if to see what this might mean. + +"The Lord knoweth them that trust in Him," said the black +woman. + +Daisy's head went down again; and there was a long silence. It +was broken at last by Juanita's offering her some refreshment; +and then Daisy started up to the business on hand. She +explained to Juanita where she was staying, and what she had +that morning to do. Meanwhile Juanita made her take some bread +and milk. + +"So how much must I get, Juanita? can you tell me? how much +for two little frocks, and two little petticoats, and one suit +of boy's clothes?" + +"My love knows, it must be accordin' to the stuff. If the +stuff narrow, she want more; if wide, she want less." + +"Then you cannot tell me; and Mrs. Sandford could not +either. And I cannot tell. What shall I do?" + +"Mrs. Sandford maybe get the things for Miss Daisy." + +"No, she must not. Dr. Sandford wants me to do it. I must get +them, Juanita." + +"H'm! Suppose I put up my irons and walk round to the village + and Miss Daisy go in her shay." + +"To the store!" cried Daisy. "Oh, yes, Juanita; get ready, and +I will take you with me. Then you can tell me all about it." + +Juanita demurred and objected to this proposal, but Daisy was +greatly pleased and would have it so. Mrs. Benoit put up her +ironing work, and arrayed her head in a new clean bright +handkerchief, wonderfully put on; she was ready then; and Sam +grinned to see the tall fine figure of the old coloured woman +sitting in the pony-chaise by the side of his little mistress. +It was as good to Daisy as anything could have been, that day. +They drove into Crum Elbow, went to the store; and there she +and Juanita had a pretty large morning's business in choosing +the various goods Dr. Sandford had desired Daisy to get. Daisy +got excited over it. Calico for a little frock, and muslin for +the underclothes, and stuff for the boy's jacket and trousers +and shirt; Juanita knew the quantities necessary, and Daisy +had only the trouble of choice and judgment of various kinds. +But that was a great responsibility, seeing she was doing it +for Dr. Sandford. It took a good while. Then Daisy drove +Juanita home again, gave her another kiss, and with her +carriage load of dry goods, and a tired and hungry little +body, went home to Mrs. Sandford's. + +It was then pretty late in the day, and the doctor not come +in. Daisy dressed, and went down to the drawing-room to wait +for him. Not long this time. There was a certain air of calm +strength about Dr. Sandford's face and cool blue eye, that +Daisy loved; she felt she loved it now, as she saw him come +in; she trusted him. He spoke first to his brother and sister; +then came where Daisy was standing, sat down on the sofa and +placed her beside him. + +"I have no bad news for you, Daisy," he said, kindly, "and +not the good news neither that you are looking for. Your +father is no worse, though it will require several days to let +him recover from the immediate effects of his accident. The +quieter he is meanwhile the better." + +"And mamma she said? " + +"She said yes, you have guessed it; she would like to have +you remain here for a few days longer. She thinks you are +better under my care than under hers." + +"Under _my_ care, I think it is," said Mrs. Sandford. + +"Can you bear it, Daisy?" + +She looked up meekly, and answered, "Yes, Dr. Sandford." So +meekly that the doctor's eye took special note of her. + +"Have you been to Crum Elbow to-day?" + +"Yes, sir. I got all the things." + +"All of them?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"What reward shall I give you?" + +She had been speaking with a sad meekness, a sober self- +restraint, unlike her years. If Dr. Sandford meant to break it +up, which I think he did, he had partial success. Daisy looked +up and smiled at him. But yet it was a meek smile, and sad +even in its composed denial of any notion of reward. Not +satisfactory to the doctor. + +"I always repay anybody that does me any service," he went on. + +"Ought one always to do that?" said Daisy. + +"What is your judgment?" + +"I think _everybody_ could not." + +"Why not?" + +"Some people have nothing to pay with, for things that are +done for them." + +"I do not believe that." + +"_Some_ people, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Whom do you know in that condition for instance?" + +"Why, I for instance." + +"You! What cannot you pay for?" + +"A great many things," said Daisy, slowly. "Hardly anything. I +am only a child." + +"How is it about Molly Skelton? Does she pay you for the +various attentions she receives from you?" + +"Pay me, Dr. Sandford! I do not want pay." + +"You are very unlike me, then," said the doctor; "that is all +I have to say." + +"Why, Dr. Sandford, what pay could she give me?" + +"Don't you get any, then?" + +"Why, no, sir," said Daisy, eagerly answering the doctor's +blue eye. "Except yes, of course, I get a sort of pay; but +Molly does not yes she does give it to me; but I mean, she +does not mean to pay me." + +The doctor smiled, one of those rare pleasant smiles, that +showed his white teeth in a way that Daisy liked; it was only +a glimmer. + +"What sort of pay is that? which she gives, and does not +mean to give, and you take and do not ask for?" + +"Oh! _that_ sort of pay!" said Daisy. "Is it that sort you +mean, Dr. Sandford?" + +"That is one sort." + +"But I mean, is it the sort that you always give, you say?" + +"Always, when people deserve it. And then, do you not think it +is natural to wish to give them, if you can, some other sort +of pay?" + +"I think it is," said Daisy, sedately. + +"I am glad you do not disapprove of it." + +"But I do not think people _want_ that other kind of pay, Dr. +Sandford." + +"Perhaps not. I suppose it is a selfish gratification of +oneself to give it." + +Daisy looked so earnestly and so curiously at him, as if to +see what all this was about, that the doctor must have had +good command of his lips not to smile again. + +They went in to dinner just then and the conversation stopped. +But though not talked to, Daisy was looked after; and when she +had forgotten all about dinner, and was thinking mournfully of +what was going on at home, a slice of roast beef or a nice +peach would come on her plate with a word from the doctor +"You are to eat that, Daisy" and though he said no more, +somehow Daisy always chose to obey him. At last they went into +the drawing-room again, and were drinking coffee. Daisy was +somewhat comforted; she thought Dr. Sandford did not act as if +there were anything very dreadful the matter at home. + +"Daisy," said the doctor, "you have done work for me to-day +would you object to be paid?" + +Daisy looked up smiling; it dependied on what the pay might +be, she thought; but she said nothing. + +"Would it be violently against your principles?" + +"I do not want pay, Dr. Sandford." + +"Not if I were to offer to give you a sight of those little +baskets on the frond of the Marchantia?" + +Daisy's face all changed; but she said in the quietest manner, +"Can you do that, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Come with me." + +He held out his hand, which Daisy willingly took, and they +went upstairs together. Just short of her room the doctor +stopped, and turned into his own. This was a very plain +apartment; there was no beauty of furniture, though it struck +Daisy there was a great deal of something. There were boxes, +and cabinets, and shelves full of books and boxes, and book- +cases, and one or two tables. Yet it was not a pretty-looking +room, like the others in Mrs. Sandford's house. Daisy was a +little disappointed. The doctor, however, gave her a chair, +and then brought one of the unlikely deal boxes to the table +and opened it. Daisy forgot everything. There appeared a +polished, very odd brass machine, which the doctor took out +and spent some time in adjusting. Daisy patiently looked on. + +"Do you know what this is, Daisy?" + +"No, sir." + +"It is a microscope. And looking through this, you will see +what you could not see with your two eyes alone; there are +some strong magnifying glasses here and I found to-day some +plants of Marchantia growing in a sheltered place. Here is one +of the baskets for you " + +"Is it on that bit of green leaf?" + +"Yes, but you can see nothing there. Try this view." + +He stood back and helped Daisy to take a kneeling position in +her chair, so that her eye could reach the eye-piece of the +microscope. Daisy looked, took her eye away to give a +wondering glance of inquiry at her friend's face, and then +applied it to the microscope again; a pink hue of delight +actually spreading over her poor little pale cheeks. It was so +beautiful, so wonderful. Again Daisy took her eye away to +examine out of the glass the coarse little bit of green leaf +that lay upon the stand; and looked back at the show in the +microscope with a bewitched mind. It seemed as if she could +never weary of looking from one to the other. The doctor bade +her take her own time, and Daisy took a good deal. + +"What stuffs did you buy this morning?" the doctor asked. + +Daisy drew back from the microscope. + +"I got all you told me, sir?" + +"Exactly. I forget what that was." + +"I bought a little piece of red and green linsey-woolsey for a +frock for the little girl and some brown strong stuff for +the boy's suit; and then white muslin to make things for the +girl, and blue check for the boy's shirt." + +"Just right. Did your money hold out?" + +"Oh, I had three dollars and two shillings left, Dr. Sandford. +Two shillings and sixpence, I believe." + +"You did well." The doctor was arranging something else in the +microscope. He had taken out the bit of liverwort. + +"I had Juanita to help me," said Daisy. + +"How do you suppose I am going to get all those things made +up?" said the doctor. + +"Won't Mrs. Sandford attend to it?" + +"Mrs. Sandford has her own contribution to attend to. I do not +wish to give her mine too." + +"Cannot the children's mother make the things?" + +The doctor's lip curled in funny fashion. + +"They have no mother, I think. There is an old aunt, or +grandmother, or something, that does _not_ take care of' the +children. I shall not trust the business certainly to her." + +Daisy wondered a little that Mrs. Sandford, who was so good- +natured, could not do what was needful; but she said nothing. + +"I think I shall turn over the whole thing in charge to you, +Daisy." + +"But, Dr. Sandford, what can _I_ do?" + +"Drive down with me to-morrow and see how big the children +are, and then have the things made." + +"But I am afraid I do not know enough." + +"I dare say you can find out. _I_ do not know enough that is +very certain; and I have other things to attend to besides +overseeing mantua-makers." + +"Our seamstress could do it, if I could see her." + +"Very well, then some other seamstress can. Now, Daisy you +may look at this." + +"What a beautiful thing! But what is it, Dr. Sandford?" + +"What does it look like?" + +"It does not look like anything that I ever saw." + +"It is a scale from a butterfly's wing." + +"Why, it is as large as a small butterfly," said Daisy. + +The doctor showed her where the little scale lay, so little +that she could hardly see it out of the glass; and Daisy went +back to the contemplation of its magnified beauty with immense +admiration. Then her friend let her see the eye of a bee, and +the tongue of a fly, and divers other wonders, which kept +Daisy busy until an hour which was late for her. Busy and +delightfully amused. + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +BREAKING UP. + + +One day passed after another, and Daisy looked longingly for +her summons home, and still she did not receive it. Her fears +and agonies were somewhat quieted; because Dr. Sandford +assured her that her father was getting better; but he never +said that her father was well, or that he had not been very +ill. Daisy knew that the matter had been very serious that had +prevented her being at Melbourne all these days. Her +imaginings of evil were doubtful and dim; but it seemed to her +that her father himself would have commanded her presence in +all ordinary circumstances; and a doubt like an ice-wind +sometimes swept over her little spirit, whether he could be +too ill to know of her absence! No word that could be said +would entirely comfort Daisy while this state of things +lasted; and it was very well for her that she had a wise and +energetic friend watching over her welfare, in the meanwhile. +If business could keep her from pining and hinder her from too +much imagining, Dr. Sandford took care that she had it. He +contrived that she should indeed oversee the making of the +dresses for the poor children, and it was a very great charge +for Daisy. A great responsibility; it lay on her mind for +days, and gave occasion for a number of drives to Crum Elbow +and to Juanita's cottage. Then at evening, after hearing her +report progress, the doctor would take Daisy up to his room +and show her many a wonder and beauty that little Daisy had +never dreamed of before; and the friendship between the two +grew closer than ever. + +"Grant, you are a good fellow!" said Mrs. Sandford one night. +"I do not know what I should do with that child, if it were +not for you." + +"You would do nothing. She would not be here if it were not +for me." + +"I do not suppose, however, that your care for her is dictated +by a conscientious regard for that fact. It is good of you." + +"She is my patient, Mrs. Sandford." + +"Yes, yes; _im_patient would be the word with some young men." + +"I am glad you do not class me with such young men." + +"Well, no child ever gave less cause for impatience, I will +say that. Nor had more. Poor child! How she looks at you every +day when you come home! But I suppose you doctors get hard +hearts." + +Dr. Sandford's lips curled a little into one of the smiles +that Daisy liked, but he said nothing. + +Daisy did look hard at her friend those days, but it was only +when he came home. So she was not expecting anything the next +morning when he said to her, "Daisy will you take a ride +with me?" + +Daisy looked up. The doctor was sitting by the breakfast- +table, poring over a newspaper. Breakfast was done, and Daisy +herself busy with a book. So she only answered, "If you +please, Dr. Sandford." + +"Where shall we go?" + +Daisy looked surprised. "I supposed you had business, sir." + +"So I have. I am going to visit a patient. Perhaps you would +like to make the visit with me." + +"To one of your patients, Dr. Sandford?" + +"Yes, one. Not more than one. But I think that one would like +to see you." + +A light came into Daisy's face, and colour started upon her +cheeks, almost painfully. + +"Dr. Sandford do you mean" + +"I think so, Daisy," said her friend, quietly. "It will do no +harm, if you are a good child." + +He was so quiet, that it stilled Daisy's feeling, which else +might have been impetuous. There was danger of that, as the +child's eye and cheek bore witness. But she only said, "I'll +get ready, Dr. Sandford " and went off in orderly style till +she reached the hall, and was out of sight. Then Daisy's feet +made haste up the stairs. In three minutes she was back again, +with her hat and gloves in her hand. + +The doctor threw down his newspaper and drew her up to him. + +"Daisy, can you be quiet?" + +"I think so, Dr. Sandford." + +"I think so too; therefore I tell you beforehand that I wish +it. Your father has not fully recovered his strength yet; and +it would not be good for him to be excited. You will be very +glad to see him, and he will be very glad to see you; that is +quite enough; and it would be too much, if you were to show +him how glad you are." + +Daisy said nothing, but she thought within herself she could +not do that! + +"Can you command yourself, Daisy?" + +"I will try, Dr. Sandford." + +"You _must_ do it for my sake," added the doctor. + +"Dr. Sandford," said Daisy, "was that what you meant?" + +"When?" + +"When you said, if I was a good child?" + +"It must have been that I meant, I think. I could have said it +in no other connection." + +"The pony-chaise, ma'am, for Miss Randolph " said a servant +at the door. + +"The chaise may go away again, Daisy, I suppose," said Mrs. +Sandford. "You will not want it." + +"Yes, she will," said the doctor, "to drive to Melbourne. +Go, Daisy, since you are ready; I will follow you. That little +waddling fellow can be overtaken without any great +difficulty." + +"Do you want me to drive slowly, sir?" + +"Not at all," said the doctor; "only drive well, for I shall +come and see." + +If ever a little pride in her driving accomplishments had +lodged in Daisy's mind, she certainly did not feel it that +afternoon. She drove without knowing very well how she drove; +she did not think of Dr. Sandford's criticism, or admiration; +what she thought of, was the miles of the road to Melbourne. + +They were not very many, and unconsciously the eager spirit in +Daisy's fingers made itself known to Loupe's understanding, +through the medium of the reins. He travelled better than +usual, so that they were not more than half way from Melbourne +when the doctor's gig overtook them. And then Loupe went +better yet. + +"Remember, Daisy, and keep quiet " said the doctor, as he +took her out of the chaise. Daisy trembled, but she followed +him steadily through the hall and up the stairs, and into her +father's room. Then she went before him, yet even then she +went with a moderated step, and stood by her father's couch at +last, silent and breathless. Breathless with the very effort +she made to keep silent and quiet. With excitement too; for +Mr. Randolph was looking feeble and pale, more than Daisy had +ever seen him, and it frightened her. He was not in bed, but +on a sofa; and as Daisy came to his side he put out his arm +and drew his little daughter close to him. Without a word at +first and Daisy stooped her lips to his, and then stood hiding +her face on his shoulder; perfectly quiet, though trembling +with contained emotion, and not daring to say anything, lest +she should say too much. + +"Daisy," said her father, "Daisy, do you know I have been +ill?" + +There was a little, little tone of surprise or disappointment +in the voice. Daisy felt it, knew it, but what could she do? +She was afraid to speak, to say anything. She turned her face +a little to Dr. Sandford; he saw an agony struggling in the +eye that appealed to him. This was not what he wanted. + +"She knows it almost too well," he said, coming to the rescue; +"I have been her gaoler all these days; a severe one." + +"Are you glad to see me, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph. + +Daisy half raised herself, half glanced at his face, and +turning from him threw herself upon Dr. Sandford's arm with a +cry, and gave way to a deep passion of weeping. Deep and +still; her sobs could not but be heard, but they were kept +under as much as the heaving of that little breast could bear. +Mr. Randolph's pale face flushed; and the doctor saw that his +precautions had been too good. + +"Why, Daisy!" he said, lightly, "is this your self-command?" + +"Let me have her " said Mr. Randolph. "Self-command is a good +thing, doctor; but people may have too much of it." + +And getting hold of Daisy's hand, which the doctor brought +within his reach, he again drew the sobbing child to his +breast and folded her close in both his arms. The sobs were +very soon hushed; but during all the rest of the doctor's +visit, and through all the conversation that took place, Daisy +and her father never changed their position. The conversation +indeed was not much, being confined to a few quiet questions +and answers and remarks; and then Dr. Sandford took his +departure, leaving Daisy very unconscious of his movements. He +only waved his hand to Mr. Randolph, with a smile at Daisy who +did not see him. + +"Daisy my darling " said Mr. Randolph, when he was gone. + +"Papa! " came in a whisper. + +"What is the matter?" + +Daisy lifted her face from its resting-place and kissed, with +kisses that were like velvet, first one side of her father's +mouth, and then the other. + +"Papa Dr. Sandford told me I must keep quiet." + +"Well, you shall," said Mr. Randolph. "That is right enough. +You shall keep quiet, and I will go to sleep." + +So he did. But he did not loose his hold of Daisy; and she +lay, still as happiness could make her, with her head upon his +breast. She knew, she was conscious, that he must be very +feeble yet, to go to sleep in that way; but she was with him +again, and in his arms, and her heart was so full of joy that +it could do nothing but overflow in silent thanksgivings and +prayers. Daisy would not have stirred till he did, no matter +how long it might have been; but there came an interruption. A +door opened, and Mrs. Randolph appeared on the threshold, and +so soon as she saw Daisy, beckoned her to come to another +room. Mr. Randolph's arms had relaxed their hold somewhat, and +Daisy obeyed the signal, and left him. + +Her mother wanted then to know all the story of her days at +Mrs. Sandford's; and Daisy had a good deal to tell. That is, +Mrs. Randolph's questionings made it so. Daisy herself would +not have had it a long story. Then she must see June, and +Joanna; and then came dinner. It was not till the afternoon +was well passed that the call came for her to go to her father +again. Daisy had watched and waited for it; her mother had +forbidden her to go in without it. At last she was sent for, +and Daisy sprang away. + +Mrs. Randolph was there. + +"No noise! remember," she said, lifting her finger as Daisy +came in. Daisy came near slowly. Her father held out his hand +to her, and folded her in his arms again. + +"You are such a noisy child!" he said, "your mother does +wisely to warn you." + +"She is an excitable child," said Mrs. Randolph; "and I +think you want warning too." + +"We will keep each other quiet," said Mr. Randolph. + +The lady looked on, with what seemed a doubtful eye. Nobody +watched it. Her husband's eyes were often closed; Daisy's +little head lay on his breast, quiet enough, unless when she +moved it to give soft noiseless kisses to her father's cheek. +They remained so a good while, with scarce any word spoken; +and Mrs. Randolph was busy at her tetting. The light faded; +the evening drew on. + +"It is time for Daisy's tea." It was the first thing that +broke a long silence. + +"She and I will have it together," said Mr. Randolph. + +"Will that be best for you, Mr. Randolph?" + +"I hope so." + +"I doubt it." + +"Most things in this world are doubtful," said Mr. Randolph; +"but we will try." + +"Will you choose to have tea now, then?" + +"Now? no." + +"This is Daisy's time." + +"Very well. She must wait for my time." + +Not a word did Daisy say; only little alternate throbs of joy +and fear, as her father or her mother spoke, passed through +her heart. Mrs. Randolph gave it up; and there was another +hour of quiet, very sweet to Daisy. Then lights were brought, +and again Mrs. Randolph proposed to have the tea served; but +again Mr. Randolph negatived her proposal; and things remained +as they were. At last Mrs. Randolph was summoned to preside at +the tea-table downstairs; for even now there were one or two +guests at Melbourne. Then there was a stir in the room +upstairs. The tray came with Mr. Randolph's supper; and Daisy +had the delight of sharing it, and of being his attendant in +chief. He let her do what she would; and without being +unquiet, Daisy and her father enjoyed themselves over that +entertainment. + +"Now I think I could bear a little reading," said Mr. +Randolph, as he laid his head back on his couch. + +"What, papa?" said Daisy, a sudden hope starting into some +dark corner of her heart, almost without her knowing it. + +"What? what you please." + +"Shall I read what I like, papa?" + +"Yes. If I do not like it, I will tell you." + +Daisy ran away and flew through the rooms to her own, and +there hastily sought her Bible. She could not wait to get +another; she took her own and ran back softly with it. Her +father's languid eye watched the little white figure coming +towards him, book in hand; the gentle, eager step, the slight +flush on the cheek; till she took her seat beside him. + +"What have you got there, Daisy?" he asked. + +"Papa my Bible." + +"Well what are you going to read?" + +"I don't know, papa " said Daisy, doubtfully. What would come +next? + +"Do you remember your picture, the 'Game of Life'?" + +"Yes, papa." + +"Do you remember your talk about good and evil spirits?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Find me the grounds of your philosophy." + +Daisy thought what that might mean, and guessed at it. She +turned to the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, a favourite +chapter, and read the parable of the sheep and the goats. The +servant had withdrawn; Daisy and her father were alone. There +was a moment's pause when she had done. + +"Is that all?" said Mr. Randolph. + +"That is all of _this_, papa." + +"There is nothing there about the rejoicings of the good +spirits," said Mr. Randolph. + +Daisy's fingers trembled, she hardly knew why, as she turned +over the leaves to find the place. Her father watched her. + +"Are you sure it is there, Daisy?" + +"Oh, yes, papa it is in the story of the man with a hundred +sheep I will find it directly." + +So she did, and read the parable in the fifteenth chapter of +Luke. Her father listened with shut eyes, while the child's +voice gave the words in a sort of sweet clear gravity. + +" 'Then drew near unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to +hear Him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This +man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this +parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred +sheep, in he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and +nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until +he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his +shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth +together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice +with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto +you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that +repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which +need no repentance. Either what woman having ten pieces of +silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and +sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And +when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her +neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found +the piece which I had lost. Likewise I say unto you, there is +joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that +repenteth.' " + +There Daisy stopped, and there was silence. Presently her +father opened his eyes. He saw that hers were full, but they +were not looking at her book, neither at him; they were gazing +away at the light, with an intent, very serious expression. + +"Daisy! " said her father. + +She came back instantly to a sweet happy look at him. + +"What were you studying?" + +"Papa! I was thinking " + +"What were you thinking." + +"I was thinking, papa," said Daisy, unwillingly, "how +strange it is that anybody should try to _hide himself from +God_." + +She started a little and rose up, for her mother stood on the +other side of the light now. Mrs. Randolph's voice was a note +belonging to another chord. + +"Daisy, it is your bedtime." + +"Yes, mamma." + +Mr. Randolph made no attempt to hinder his wife's arrangements +this time. Daisy exchanged a very tender good-night with him +and then went away. But she went away very happy. She thought +she saw good days coming. + +There were good days that followed that one, for a while. +Daisy's readings and sweet companionship with her father were +constant, and grew sweeter as he grew stronger. But the +strengthening process was not rapid. About a fortnight had +passed, when Mrs. Sandford one day made enquiry about it of +her brother-in-law. + +"Slow work " said the doctor. + +"He will get over it, won't he?" + +"I hope he will." + +"But cannot anything be done for him, Grant?" + +"He is going to do the best thing. He is going to Europe." + +"To Europe! This winter?" + +"Now, in a few weeks, or less." + +"It will be good for your pet Daisy." + +"Doubtfully " said the doctor, with a very complicated +expression of face; but he was taking off his boot at the +moment, and maybe it pinched him. "She will not go." + +"Not go! Daisy! Does not her mother go?" + +"Yes." + +"And not Daisy? Why not Daisy." + +"She gives so much trouble " said the doctor. + +"Trouble! I thought her parents were so fond of her." + +"Mr. Randolph is unequal to any agitation; and Mrs. Randolph +regulates everything." + +"But wouldn't it be good for Daisy?" + +"I think so." + +"Poor child! What will they do with her?" + +"Send her to a Southern plantation, under care of a governess, +as I understand." + +"It will half kill Daisy," said Mrs. Sandford. + +"It takes a great deal to kill people," said the doctor. + +"I do not know how to believe you," said the lady. "Is it all +fixed and settled, Grant?" + +"They leave Melbourne next week." + + + + +THE END + + + + +BUTLER & TANNER, THE SELWOOD PRINTING WORKS, FROME, AND +LONDON + + + + + + + + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MELBOURNE HOUSE*** + + +******* This file should be named 18686-8.txt or 18686-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/8/6/8/18686 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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