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,