Daisy looked a little troubled.
"No, mamma--I do not think I have."
"Is not this child very rude and ill-mannered?"
"Yes, ma'am, but--"
"Is she even a clean child?"
"Not _very_, mamma."
"You are changed, Daisy," said Mrs. Randolph, with a slight but keen
expression of disdain. The child felt it, yet felt it not at all to the
moving of her steadfastness.
"Mamma--it was only that I might teach her. She knows nothing at all,
almost."
"And does Daisy Randolph think such a child is a fit companion for her?"
"Not a _companion_, mamma."
"What business have you with a child who is not a fit companion for
you?"
"Only, mamma, to try to be of some benefit to her."
"I shall be of some benefit to you, now. Since I cannot trust you,
Daisy--since your own delicacy and feeling of what is right does not
guide you in such matters, I shall lay my commands on you for the
future. You are to have nothing to do with any person, younger or older,
without finding out what my pleasure is about it. Do you understand
me?"
"Yes, mamma."
"You are to give no more lessons to children who are not fit companions
for you.
Pages:
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392