Melbourne House, Volume 1

o lean out of her window. There was a honeysuckle 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 le

aisy-it

d Daisy,-"i

, ma

y went on. "June, are yo

June, shifting her

to-day. To be sure, he is King al

, you won't

from the window and s

; but she we

Bible do you like

your white muslin, to-day-o

une-which part of the

ll they had to go through"-Jun

y?-w

ss Daisy-Christ

hey have to

y confusedly. "Miss Daisy, ple

and what for? Wh

it for you, Miss Daisy.

of her dressing, till it was finished. All the while June was fastening her frock, and tying her sash, an

er when all t

lf distinctly, as it was her manner often to speak. Daisy was accustomed to her, and hea

the field

e field o

e field o

n your

's voice, clear and full, raised the sweet notes to a pitch that might have

it would be approved. Her father was engaged to eat it all, and he held to his promise; only a

ph, as the trout was very nearly reduced to a sk

y's face, but she did no

ld," said Mr. Randolph. "The burden of

id his wi

ow whether I am

he lady rejoined. "The heat will be insufferable.

isy came into he

go to church

oo hot,

't mind it. I wo

ything! Please yourself

shade of the trees. It is n

gh to kill

et out all right, on the way to the church by the evergreens. Preston Gary was a good deal surpri

u bound, Dais

rch, Pr

is the o

is closed, and we are going over to that l

dissenting ch

od with a good deal of expression. "I wish all other folks and churches was as peaceable and

ould 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

t 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 perfe

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

beautiful Saviour loved her and that she loved him, that although if she could have been sorry, s

ch 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 h

l 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, si

mb! the l

mb on

was slain, b

rcede f

e notes measuredly rose and fell; and little Daisy who could take no other open part in what wa

t 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, w

am glad t

ght clasp of her little

ad been with

was Daisy's humble

ow what Jesus has done and to love him for it,

r. Dinw

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, over

us, you want to

r. Dinw

eathless manne

find that to obey him, you may have a gr

field of battle

tations 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

; "but how will you fight, Daisy? you are a weak litt

ll me, Mr.

bank and drew Dai

nd that everything you have belongs to him; so that his will is

t tell me what you mean

at I wante

Lord's will, don't be afraid, but trust him to help you to do it.

with a gleam on her face which even th

s all,

lease tell me what you

Lord, Daisy, yo

t know, Mr. Dinwiddie,

ith all your heart, you will find that in everything you do y

l 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

n 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

n Daisy came down to tea,-"where h

er order of quadrupeds

ble!" said Mrs. Randolph. "

mam

re lyin

, ma

er. The family were gathered in the library; the windows open, the f

know how I was going to live through it. There is a little freshness

andolph, who was moving from window to w

to think about," said M

ring me a c

eeds," said Mr. McFarlane obeying the

uld, yo

it once, for a whole afternoon; and you've

uch a piece of work, Gary?"

. "I am not at all surprised. I wonder

clergyman, if anybod

bear to hear the talk; she eat 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 ha

evening tempting, and came for a little diversion. Lamps were lit and ta

" Gary McFarlane whispered. "Do you k

he has a ch

y warbling the gypsy song in 'The Camp in Silesia,' and she did it to

nd; and the request spr

e came from her window, and after speaking to the strangers, whom she knew, she

gypsy song from the 'Camp in Silesia.' Gary says

, ma

hether you succeed or not;

-," beg

l, w

sion. What to say to her

g with it," repeated Mrs. R

that, ma

o more words,

lease don

ou. Come Daisy-

embling, "I will sing it an

? what's

ht is S

that the

ilent, very m

e kind, Daisy. Sing immediat

u refu

aid Daisy

me a card fr

ph rapidly wrote a word o

he gypsy?" crie

voice yet. Take that

o obey this order. Mr. Randolph was sitting at some distance talking w

" he inquired, looking from the writing to

song from

ou sin

s,

so at onc

cast down, the blood all leaving her face to reinforce so

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 suggesti

derstand m

ap

t, and then t

breathe that one word. She knew the tone of great di

r room-I will give you ten minutes to recover yourself. Then,

stood there with her two h

you will not?" s

y, papa-" came from

ow where we are. Daisy-do you hear me?-turn about

st 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.

, had taken a quiet seat in a corner;

he cannon's mouth like t