e and worse. But
Juanita, I shall have to finish the play now--I cannot help it. How
shall I keep good? Can I?"

"My love knows the Good Shepherd carry his lamb in his bosom, if she let
him. He is called Jesus, for he save his people from their sins."

Daisy's face was very lowly; and very touching was the way she bent her
little head and passed her hand across her eyes. It was the gesture of
penitent gentleness.

"Tell me some more, Juanita."

"Let the Lord speak," said the black woman turning over her well used
Bible. "See, Miss Daisy--'Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity
envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not
behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own--'"

"I was puffed up," said Daisy, "because I was to wear those beautiful
things. I will let Nora wear them. I was seeking my own, all the time,
Juanita. I didn't know it."

"See, Miss Daisy--'That women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broidered hair, or gold, or
pearls, or costly array.'"

"Is there any _harm_ in those pretty things, Juanita? They are so
pretty!"

"I don't know, Miss Daisy; the Lord say he not pleased with them; and
the Lord knows."

"I suppose," said Daisy----but what Daisy supposed was never told. It
was lost in thought.

"My love see here what please the Lord--'the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.'"

Daisy lifted her little face and kissed the fine olive cheek of her
friend.

"I know now, Juanita," she said with her accustomed placidness. "I
didn't know what was the matter with me. I shall have to play in the
pictures--I cannot help it now--but I will let Nora be Queen Esther."

It was quite late by this time and Daisy after a little more talk went
home; a talk which filled the child's heart with comfort. Daisy went
home quite herself again, and looked as happy and busy as a bee when she
got there.

"Daisy! what late doings!" exclaimed her father. "Out all the afternoon
and practising all the morning--Where have you been?"

"I have been visiting, papa."

"Pray whom?"

"Molly, papa--and Juanita," Daisy said, not very willingly, for Mrs.
Randolph was within hearing.

"A happy selection!" said she. "Go and get ready for dinner, Daisy."

"Have you been all the afternoon at those two places, Daisy?" asked her
father, within whose arms she stood.

"Yes, papa."

He let her go; and a significa