" For Daisy
knew that Juanita was not far off. But Mrs. Randolph only said, "Tell me
now."
"Mamma--it was partly an accident," Daisy repeated. "I found out by
accident that they were very poor--and I carried them something to eat."
"Whom do you mean by 'them?'"
"That little girl and her mother--Mrs. Harbonner."
"When did you do this?"
"About the time of my birthday."
"And you have kept up the acquaintance since that time?"
"I carried the woman work once, mamma. I had papa's leave to go."
"Did you ask mine?"
"No, mamma. It was papa who had forbidden me to go into any house
without leave; so I asked him to let me tell her about the work."
"What was this child here for to-day?"
"Mamma--she is a poor child and could not go to school; and--I was
trying to teach her something."
"What were you trying to teach her?"
"To read, mamma--and to do right."
"Have you ever done this before?"
"Yes, mamma--a few times."
"Can it be that you have a taste for low society, Daisy?"
Mrs. Randolph had been asking questions calmly while going on with her
tetting work; at this one she raised her eyes and bent them full, with
steady cold inquiry, on Daisy's face.
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