Melbourne House, Volume 1

chaise at the door, and Daisy in

u got all in there?

t you bel

ill that co

you want. There's a big

ve you g

did her father's heart good. Mr. Randolph was stand

matter, Dais

nybody is a person of f

n to laugh, and Mr.

sy, as well as I do. When do

g with a very pleased face at what was in it. Daisy said she suppos

ou be tired

I am going

u catch, Daisy,-f

y, answering some unusual tenderness of face or manner, sprung up and threw

e set forth; and well pleased he went in to breakfast. Daisy and Preston had breakfasted already, before

his horse's spirits, and returning to go quietly for a space by the side of the pony-chaise. Loupe ne

h short legs!" said Preston, wat

road without seei

e it. What I want t

I want to se

at the very happy and busy little fa

that you have not seen

said Daisy. "I have seen y

rs to his horse, and wen

All the work going on in the fields had interest for her, and all the passers-by on the road. A strange interest, often, for Daisy was very apt to be wondering whether any of them knew and loved the name she loved best; wondering who among all those rou

re. A little way beyond that everything became new. Mrs. Randolph's carriage never came that road.

ston, pointing with his whip; "that is where t

e is it,

alf past nine.

all. I wanted to kn

ll make, Daisy! Can't stand fas

And I've had all this ride since. I am going to

you up to that little gate, will you? I'll see if

eeds, among which a few poppies and hollyhocks and balsams grew straggling up where they could. Nothing kept them out of the path but the foot-tread of the people that w

the horses round to the barn; and bring the baskets

wait? where

o get some

eston?-O

s the

nything in the

and milk and cheese and a platter of strawberries. Preston got into the chaise and set the tray on his knees. After him had come from the house a woman in a fly-away cap and short-gown. She stood just inside the gate leaning her arms on it. If she had not been there, perhaps Daisy would still have refused to touch the

afishin'?" said th

am," Pres

t little

tain

such indelicate work! But I shouldn't wonder, now, if she was to catch s

ston, who was eating strawberries

of your party?"

ere, ma'am,"

there that haint no

im a little while

at little creetur

"Now, ma'am, what do we owe you, besides

the table, if you're a mind to. We always calculate to set a good meal, and we're allowed to; but we don't never cal

, for the sun had grown warm, and there was hardly air enough to flutter the leaves in the high branches. But Daisy and Preston pushed on briskly, and soon the gurgle of the brook gave its sweet sound to their ears. They followed up the stream then, ove

this will do. Can't have a better pla

manage, Preston?" s

shew

d put together the light rod which she

at little wate

es

he water curls round

es

think there must be some speckled fellows ther

t must I d

re, and then watch; and if a fish jumps up and catc

w it from here? I

If you went nearer, you would frighten the fish. They are just about as shy as if they were D

not," said Da

ide of the brook. The next time it landed on a big stone this side of the waterfall. The third trial fastened the

isy," said Sam, as he got t

d eyes and ears for nothing but the trout in the brook. Minutes went by. The brook leaped and sang on its way the air brought the sweet odours of mosses and ferns; the leaves flapped idly overhead; you could he

ation: H

d, Miss Daisy,

sy under her breath, as if the fi

try t'other ba

t ba

s Daisy. Will I put

the rod in Sam's hands and went up to see what Preston was doing. He was some distance higher up the stream. Slowly and

, Preston!"

te," said

n't ei

hat there are any

aid he saw l

the flies then. Sa

aid Sam, comin

s, will you?-and be spr

and above it the great trees towered up as if they would hide the sun. Sam came presently with the bait. Preston dressed his hook, and gave his line a swing, to cast the bait into the pool; rathe

pity!" s

Here, Sam-just go up that tre

had shot up high before it put forth a single branch,

n,-"be alive and do

't-" sa

sn't worth his bread and salt. That's it, Sam

e could clasp it; so after a little rough work on his part and anxious watching on Daisy's, he got to the branches. But now the lin

softly. "O Preston, let him

le further, Sam-it's oak wood, it will hold you; a li

ark body was falling through the air and splashed into the pool. The water flew all over the two fishers who stood by its side; Pres

at lay near and held it out to Sam; and so in a few minutes drew him to the shore and helped him out. Sam went to a littl

rt, Sam?" s

ered, in a tone as

ton. "All's well that ends well. Hollo!-here's my hook go

below,

it here, will you? This

" said Daisy, "he's all wet as he can be-do let him go righ

"Nonsense, Daisy!-a ducking like that won

all his clothes are full of water, and the sun d

this hook for me, while I see how the brook is further up. I'

ackle in hand, silently at work. Daisy sa

t, Sam?" she

s answer was not disc

rs. Dipper's, and maybe she can give you something

on Sam

almost fin

, ma

Dipper's and get yourself dry-and don't

ateful "Thank you, Miss Daisy!" set off at a bound. Daisy watched

r, Daisy, it's no use coaxing the trout in this place at present-and I haven't found

ket is down by my fishing-place-it'

the brook, which would serve for table and seats too, it was so large and smooth. Pre

u have no right to be so lu

y n

ind of a Spartan animal, whi

nts. She had set out a plate of delicate rolls, and another with bread and

I want to see w

aisy. "Why, Joanna has

ton. "And what have

put in some jelly for me. What s

th jelly and lemon pie. But what has J

e are san

he

rolls are stuffed

olls immediately. "What sort of an animal is a

I know anything,"

you w

if I had anybody

rfect these sandwiches

the water makes me hungry. O I wish I had given Sam

id Preston, helping h

id not have a second breakfast either. I am so

him," said Preston. "I dare s

ter, the last thing,"

Daisy," he said, "I hope you are not getti

Pres

cause it i

t his handsome pleasant face which she liked v

N

poor meet together; the Lor

"that don't mean that

ot made alike, what

estions, Daisy? I hope you are not going to turn out a M

. Anybody," said Daisy; "bu

u get hold of

t wo

you quoted to me a

ing them th

wh

se," said Daisy, with a li

! How came you to be reading the

e to r

g it," said Preston. "Who set you to re

at deal after five o'clock. What

ught you were hungry. What is the use of jelly, if you don't e

ou mean by proper times

ie. It's capital. It mel

s an excell

on, what d

all be religious Dai

mean by bei

ve begun already. I am come in good time. I won't let you be anything but jus

en, Preston!" D

lous,-and you would not

gious people," said Daisy steadily; "and they co

l watch you. But they won't like it much down at Melbourne

at Preston's last words were truth. Among her opposers Daisy must reckon her father and mother, if she laid herself open at all to the charge of being "religious." And what opposition that w

ou to consider my

ly!" sai

onourable"

me under command. Come," said he, kissing her grave little face, "are a

st boys of sixteen, and which Daisy fully relished. It met her notions

, "there is something on i

line threw it out high and dry on the shore-"and what's

pail of water till we come back. There's that tin pail-we

t though they tried the virtue of their bait in various places, however it was

isy held to her own understanding of the text that had been in debate; for there was a fine portion of le