nt look passed between him and his wife.

"A little too much of a good thing," said Mr. Randolph.

"It will be too much, soon," the lady answered.

Nevertheless Daisy for the present was safe, thanks to her friend Dr.
Sandford; and she passed on up stairs with a spirit as light as a bird.
And after she was dressed, till it was time for her to go in to the
dinner-table, all that while a little figure was kneeling at the open
window and a little round head was bowed upon the sill. And after that,
there was no cloud upon Daisy's face at all.

In the drawing-room, when they were taking tea, Daisy carried her cup of
milk and cake to a chair close by Preston.

"Well, Daisy, what now?"

"I want to talk to you about the pictures, Preston."

"We did finely to-day, Daisy! If only I could get the cramp out of
Frederica's fingers."

"Cramp!" said Daisy.

"Yes. She picks up that handkerchief of hers as if her hand was a bird's
claw. I can't get a blue jay or a canary out of my head when I see her.
Did you ever see a bird scratch its eye with its claw, Daisy?"

"Yes."

"Well, that is what she puts me in mind of. That handkerchief kills
Marie Antoinette, dead. And she won't take advice--or she can't. It is a
pity you hadn't it to do; you would hold it right queenly. You do Esther
capitally. I don't believe a Northern girl can manage that sort of
thing."

Daisy sipped her milk and eat crumbs of cake for a minute without making
any answer.

"Preston, I am going to let Nora be Queen Esther."

"What!" said Preston.

"I am going to let Nora be Queen Esther."

"Nora! Not if I know it," said Preston.

"Yes, but I am. I would like it better. And Nora would like to be Queen
Esther, I know."

"I dare say she would! Like it! Of course. No, Daisy; Queen Esther is
yours and nobody's else. What has put that into your head?"

"Preston, I think Nora would like it; and you know, they said she was
most like a Jewess of all of us; I think it would be proper to give it
to her."

"I shall not do it. We will be improper for once."

"But I am going to do it, Preston."

"Daisy, you have not liberty. I am the manager. What has come over you?
You played Esther beautifully only this morning. What is the matter?"

"I have been thinking about it," said Daisy; "and I have concluded I
would rather give it to Nora."

Preston was abundantly vexed, for he knew by the signs that Daisy had
made up her mind; and he was beginning to know th