Melbourne House, Volume 1
ughter in the hall, and boots clattering over the marble a
ome. Daisy sat up and rubb
d 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
l, D
l, p
the feast
s nothing left but the boar
and drew his little da
enjoyed
ave enjoyed it
birthday! Do you think now y
r-I thin
raid your ham did not figure on
watching her saw something in her f
d i
id Daisy, colo
was t
erything that was t
seems to me that was a mistake, though I a
you think I would make
inished economist, that might be. Do you mean that I
you would not
t. "I think I cannot grant that request
ed not evade the order, though she f
the ham for th
for
hout her breakfast. She came to Mr. Lamb's to buy ham,
ecame of yo
ones; and Nora and I dressed them
aughter on his knee and softly
ou not go to Crum Elbow yesterda
g did better, for
?" said Mr. Randolph, who w
be so very good as
ll, Daisy. I ask,-a
ty was worth a straw after that
t like to tell you, because R
re must give way
haise," said Daisy, l
u gave
, s
ng her head round to face him, "tell me what
papa,-that was all,-s
new you w
s,
not give me this information when I asked
ansom would not li
ould revenge himself
apa! not
moved you t
Ransom. I was afraid you would be dis
spleased when he
," said Da
leasure all gone o
s,
not said to him quite all that she had confessed to her brother. He would have liked the whole confession; but did not s
hat is t
if you like. You can s
t take it so-she will not take the lea
o you
ld me s
old yo
woman-Mrs.
id you s
at her ho
ou go to h
her the h
ldn't have anything witho
dn't even take the
you engage he
na could find h
nor into any strange house, Daisy, without my leave. Now g
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. He
, Miss Daisy, with making tha
you go away, please, and leav
ut it's most time
o know what was right to do? and still more, how was she to do it wisely and faithfully? Little
e of June at the door, "you
er father; and there also, to her great
id Mr. Dinwiddie. "I found her in great trouble because, sh
ave her a very peaceful and reassuring kiss. The gentlemen both s
successful," sa
d the least bit, Mr. D
had so much reason, that she would
hose attention was just then taken by somebo
own, Mr. Dinwidd
ust
o ask you a q
widdie
aisy with a grave face,
tion, Daisy? I do
had ten and another had f
not
I tell, Mr.
d a few times seen them do before. "Ask the L
ie, I am little;
ou, to do what he pleases,-if you will be hi
Marma
apping-paper a very curious thing, which he told Daisy was an Egyptian spoon. He
anything. But in your hand it might car
ing his meaning, she smiled, a bright, satisfied smile. It satisfied Mr. Dinwiddie too. He w
u take it for my birthday present? Marmaduke says it is
It was found in an old Egyptian tomb, and was made and put th
little sister just as the dinner-bell rang. Daisy had not time to look at
other things. Her place was by her mother; Capt. 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 friend
come off, Daisy?" sa
ty?" said
rthday ente
ay-makers to take supper and strawberr
id Mrs. Gary, look
tated the mat
y-makers! What wa
ive them pleasure, au
e we to give everybody pleasure that we can? At that rate,
thing," said Mrs. Randolph. "Dais
said Mrs. Gary, appeali
ndolph. "The worst you can say
ff, Daisy?" said
Daisy. "I think it
ob-nails behav
nsom. "I don't believe we shall have any
em strawberries?
som; "and baskets and
said Mrs. Gary,
company behave?"
ed gravely. She thought as much could not be said of t
there, Daisy?"
resent, mamma. It i
poon! Where di
-I mean, Nora
ut Mr. Di
ing,
id you spea
brought Nora to
id you s
he li
he lady-"did Mr. Dinw
Mr. Randolph; "but I think pri
ary, seeing a contraction in her si
Mrs. Randolph. "I don'
s spoon," said Gary McFa
ious, upon
is is a nice piece of carving-and very old it undoubtedly is. This is the lotus, Daisy-this ste
; "and what is a lo
to-morrow, privately, I will
-"Why, here's a duck's head at the end of the handle.
kes the spoon, aunt
he is, I have told you
spending the summer with a neighbour of ours
he a fana
, and it was lost. Daisy's spoon made the round of the company. It was g
y this spoon of y
but she said, "Wi
. Do you set a high value
n she said, "I think it
ry
was a general little laugh r
rs. Gary. "May I ask, why this piece
nt Gary, that is a gift,"
d forty years old, your seco
oth of them," Mr.
said the lady briskly. But Mr.
Daisy, "what i
ays you are. Do you li
is
. And mamma, what do
have you," said her mothe
ondered what it could be that Mr. Dinwiddie was an
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.
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 épergne had somethin
ch the épergne, Dai
rs. Gary. "These things are to
and undertake to carry parcels safely," said Mr. M
the lady;-"or else I don't see what is the use of these
ings will be criticised, provided it
nsmit thi
f books. Five or six little volumes, in pretty binding-Daisy looked eagerly to
a!" said Daisy, l
Randolph. "I am n
name in them
r aunt. Preston was Daisy's olde
id Daisy, sending a grateful loo
ry?" inquired Mr. McFa
," Mrs. Ra
aid Gary. "What is t
aluable-take
isy by a stretch of his long arm a little paper covered package. Da
white cotton-the
stantly. Mrs. Randolph
tly; however her face did not shew the light of
"Mrs. Randolph, I am afraid you are not literary
g a Chinese puzzle, with the
u think that
think-perhaps-from
I am anything
ly. But a shout from the whole tableful answered to t
I know who will plague people worse than a puzzle, if she ge
ck pair of riding or dri
ese came from Elo?se, D
wo beautiful toilet bo
the table was
y, taking from the épergne a
ent. Give her mine fir
s? I don't see
Proserpine in
his to Daisy? But why is she c
been carrying a basket, which might easily have been a basket of flowers, I don't see how the statement
Daisy, whose eyes sparkled. "
"Hand her over. You have a variety, Dai
," said Gary McFarl
, too," said
on?" cried Daisy.
er aunt, handing the note. "Nobody
again, looked very grave, and fin
it?" said
if she would be permitted to keep it
mises; the intent and understanding being, that henceforth the pony carriage and pony are Daisy's so
pa-" Ran
Randolph," said Ransom's mother. "Daisy ca
e use of him now,"
mother rose, with the ladies,