" Mr. Randolph closed the book and laid it on
the table, and drew his little daughter again within his arms.
"That child is in a way to get ruined!" said Mrs. Randolph
energetically.
"But Daisy, our work people are not lame or blind--how will they do?"
said her father.
"They are poor, papa. I would like to have the others too, but we can't
have everybody."
Mr. Randolph kissed the little mouth that was lifted so near his own,
and went on.
"Do you think then it is wrong to have our friends and neighbours? Shall
we write to your aunt and cousins, and Gary McFarlane and Capt.
Drummond, to stay away?"
"No, papa," said Daisy smiling, and her smile was very sweet,--"you know
I don't mean that. I would like to have them all; but I would like the
feast made for the other people."
"You will let the rest of us have some strawberries?"
"If there are enough, papa. For that day, I would like the other people
to have them."
Mr. Randolph seemed to find something as sweet as strawberries in
Daisy's lips.
"It is the very most absurd plan I ever heard of!" repeated her mother.
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