There was a grand supper, and everybody was full of pleasure and
complimentary speeches and discussion and praise of the tableaux. That
was among the elder portion of the company. The four or five children
were not disposed to such absolute harmony. Grapes and ices and
numberless other good things were well enjoyed, no doubt; but amidst
them all a spirit of criticism was rife.

"Daisy, your wings didn't look a bit like real wings--" said Jane
Linwood.

"No," echoed Nora, "I guess they didn't. They were like--let me see what
they were like! They were like the wings of a windmill."

"No, they weren't!" said Ella. "I was in the drawing-room--and they
didn't look like a windmill a bit. They looked queer, but pretty."

"Queer, but pretty!" repeated Nora.

"Yes, they did," said Ella. "And you laughed when you were Red
Riding-hood, Nora Dinwiddie."

"I didn't laugh a bit!"

"It is no matter if you did laugh, Nora," said Daisy;--"you got grave
again, and the picture was very nice."

"I didn't laugh!" said Nora; "and if I did, everybody else did. I don't
think the pictures I saw were at all like pictures--they were just like
a parcel of people dressed up."

Some gay paper mottoes made a diversion and stopped the little mouths
for a time; and then the people went away.

"Well Daisy," said Mrs. Gary,--"how do you like this new entertainment?"

"The pictures? I think they were very pretty, aunt Gary."

"How happened it that somebody else wore my diamonds?" said her
mother,--"and not you. I thought you were to be dressed for Queen
Esther?"

"Yes, mamma, so I was at first; and then it was thought best--"

"Not by me," said Preston. "It was no doing of mine. Daisy was to have
been Esther, and she herself declared off--backed out of it, and left me
to do as best I could."

"What was that for, Daisy?" said Mrs. Gary. "You would have made an
excellent Esther."

"What was that for, Daisy?" said Mrs. Randolph. "Did you not like to be
Esther?"

"Yes, mamma--I liked it at one time."

"And why not at another time?"

"I found out that somebody else would like it too, mamma; and I
thought----"

Mrs. Randolph broke out with a contemptuous expression of displeasure.

"You thought you would put yourself in a corner! You were not manager,
Daisy; and you must remember something is due to the one that is. You
have no right to please yourself."

"Come here, Daisy," said her father, "and bid me good night. I dare say
you w