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 up stairs 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.
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