an' all of 'em,
be mad, though!"

"So I was sayin'," said the policeman, who was quite well acquainted
with Jim; "and now, youngster, the best thing you can do is to take the
little lady home, and tell her folks to look out for her better than to
put her under the care of this old know-nothing."

This entirely met Jim's views; and, snatching up the almost empty
basket, he seized the hand of the now frightened Daisy, and hurried her
homeward, leaving the policeman and the captain exchanging compliments
until such time as the latter saw fit to retire from the field, and
hasten to our house to deliver up the results of poor Daisy's sale.

It may be imagined what consternation reigned in the Livingstone
household, when this escapade of its youngest member came to light;
while the grief and bewilderment of that little damsel herself, who
had, in all good faith, believed that she had mother's sanction for her
course, were pitiable to witness. As for Jim, not even the gratifying
pecuniary results could nullify his mortification at the disgrace which
he believed to have fallen upon the family, especially his beloved Miss
Daisy; and he found it hard to forgive the captain, who had encouraged
and abetted her.

"Philanthropy has certainly seized upon this family to an alarming
extent," said Bessie Sandford, when she heard the story, "but I
_wish_ that I had been there to see pet Daisy at her post acting
peanut-vender."

How far Daisy's effort to prove to Matty that she "was not proud"
affected that young cripple, could not be told; but she did not fail to
hear of the thing from Jim.

As for Captain Yorke, he received his full share of reprimand, and
caution for the future, from his wife, who, all unaccustomed as she,
too, was to city ways, had far more natural sense of what was fitting
and advisable.

"If I could but go round with him to keep him up to the mark, Mrs.
Livingstone," she said, when apologizing to mother for the captain's
share in the late escapade; "but, bless you, dear lady, he's more of a
child than little Daisy herself, when he's out of his usual bearings. I
think he's best off at home, with Jabez and Matildy Jane to look after
him, when I can't."

And she sighed heavily, as if the responsibility were too much for her.

But the captain could not be brought to this view of the case. He was
enjoying himself in his own way among the city sights and sounds.

CHAPTER VIII.

NOT ON THE PROGRAMME.