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.
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