Melbourne House, Volume 2

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

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,

pes. 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 lo

our bush planted-"

N

rong enough to make the

is

ld; but I met with an

ga

st bide here t

ay so, and she went slowly back to the house. As she mounted the piazza st

re you about?" he said dr

ing,

u like doi

it is not at

d. What were you abou

ride with D

cupy the who

o, p

nothing the re

, not n

le more frank. Have you any object

t would give you any pleasure. I

pleasure to have y

arm on her father's shoulder, looking over to the blue

he is a cripple. Papa, her legs and feet are all bent up under her, so that she cannot walk at all; her way of movin

of extreme misery

ink it is-it must be

I shoul

but nobody stops to eat it with her. She is all alone by night and by day; and she is di

two things is th

o things

or to have nobo

ita, Daisy suddenly added,-"Papa, I should

u? Pra

I think, to have people love

s would be better, without

hard!"-said Daisy with a most pro

understand, lacks both thos

, pa

e going to tell me

" said Daisy, "but

teresting subje

faintest expression of

s looking very sober

ry if I could not do something t

did yo

ke me, you know, papa; because she is rather cros

went to

e day, and saw her trying to take care of some poor flowers; so then I t

u? Well-you tried

; and I was on my way to the cottage and had almost got there; and then I

u came

pa, I went to ride

ked leave of

of voice which sufficiently expr

round her a little more closely-"you think a rose-bush woul

o, p

he purpose

t her to li

going to do to

n such a way, wouldn't you like to hav

if you were

t," Daisy said in the most sedately meek way p

at a loss to understand the part that al

as Daisy's answer. Mr. Randolph

not mis

papa-

t w

give her a little

tness, and a little s

it is right for you

something?" said the c

ing, D

ne a full five minutes;

th an open book in her

t dare bring her own; a

rd

at men should do to you

y? It seems very plain; bu

is what makes me t

is r

this,

want of somebody to co

I were in her place

o do in every case what we would l

-if it wouldn't be

have to let you go wit

Rand

think, if you asked her, mam

think I shall try my

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 h

ave Daisy leave to do what she liked in the matter of Molly Skelton; and was rewarde

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. Randol

e 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 ma

ing 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

you like roses? this is very sweet. I thought maybe you

articulate-nevertheless expressive of rude wonder and incr

d Daisy. "Where would it look prettiest

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-bu

o 'lon

oubt of it. Molly was not looking at her, but her face was ungenial; and as Daisy hesitated she made a little ges

ow and see how it lo

ted 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 k

wear a white robe in h

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 shew 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 pul

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

n being a Lady Flora to the poor creature, I'll tell ye

ium?" sa

Just

o be in the greenhou

t 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 a

t is an excel

sy-I'm glad y

uld have the flo

e served

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 p

te 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

g her undivided attention to the purple "Jewess," with a sort of soft prayer going on all

are you goi

Preston?" said Daisy a

question by another in that fashion? You

. I am w

ou going to

oing to

rry a pot of geran

y," said Daisy

glorious ride, Daisy. I am going to the Fish's, to se

I am sorry;

hy

t this a

. Consider-I shall be going away before very long, an

reston! I have got s

ha

ake me an hour or two.

. And they have beautiful things there, which you would like to se

he 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;

hat wretched old being?

es

do with you. Do you like, is it possible

y said gently; "but Presto

s into his horse and sprung away, with a grace and life that kept Daisy looking after him

e trowel, M

aisy 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

e's gate; and by that tim

d doing well. While she stood there before it, the cottage door opened and the poor inmate came out. S

id, in a most uninviting a

time on those poor, restless, unloving eyes opposite her-"and I wanted to see

e 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 grea

said Daisy. "Where would

nches 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

comes, you can take the pot up and take it into the house, just as it is;

" said

as cold enough to freeze. It would have to go in the house. The rose can stay out all winter if you

m?" sai

are so many kinds that they have to be

?"-sai

ts are in a pot, you know, and have not been disturbe

y's next question, giv

h. And I love flowers;

you sometimes?

eer, but there was certainly a tone of assent in it. She

the child went on.

this speech. Molly did not understand. Daisy

ell that he died for you. And if you love him, he will take you there when y

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

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

ct, 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

. 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 jo

ed talking, when she heard herself hailed from the road. She started. Presto

st vision which Preston's voice had interrupted-"I'

ome, Daisy. I thought you d

into her pony

pted something

thought it so," said

doing, down the

not talk to you nicely while y

d. 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. Dais

y to meet her. "What kept you so long at that dismal

on from the Fish place

was no use in my staying. But what w

y. "I did not think it was a long ti

me what you were about? What

n sunbeams, looking and feeling puzzled. How much was it wo

ignorance and rudeness and disorder-and you contented to be i

ry unhappy

ch people, unless you make it so by shewing them something

bles!" ech

either. That old thing's o

could have answered

roses and myrtles, than she is with her sunflow

like if I were in h

her a silver cup and fork, Daisy? You would certainly like that, if yo

of silver cups and forks, and sh

ee you have been

-she said look

where my uncle and aunt do not wish you to go? You know they do not wish i

Preston's hand and saying, "Come with me," she drew him down the steps and over the grass till she reached one of the gar

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

ven, Daisy?" said Preston, who

he child. "I d

, yo

g it for oneself, not f

ly looking

ee what you mea

o have us do to other people wha

lace-do you not think you would like to ha

oked dis

o in and get ready for d

ht 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

isy was gone to bed,-"and I have failed utterly. I t

" said Mrs

Felicia. It was orderl

went to t

The sermon wa

n, Preston! Spea

am speaking sober t

going to that horrid pl

ess, ma'am-so far

singular," s

o at least it seems to me. There will be nothin

ng is apt to wear out, my d

do not know Daisy. She

of fanaticism enough

h;-"both as a physician and as a philosopher. By far the best way is not to oppose

lieve it in the least. If she had not your suppor

ear; those are your best chance. Draw off Daisy's a

erly in the discussion, and becoming the manager-in-chief intrusted with its execution.