Produced by Karen Lofstrom and PG Distributed Proofreaders
[Transcriber's note: The source text contained no Chapter VIII or
Chapter XVIII.]
[Illustration: SILVER LAKE]
"Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and
whether it be right."—PROV. xx. II.
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NEW YORK:ROBERT CARTER & BROTHERS,530 BROADWAY.1865.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1864, by
ROBERT CARTER AND BROTHERS,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the
Southern District of New York.
Stereotyped by SMITH & MCDOUGAL, 82 & 81 Beekman St.
Printer: by E.O. JENKINS, 20 North William St.
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The next day turned out so warm, that the carriage was not brought forDaisy till late in the afternoon. Then it came, with her father and Dr.Sandford; and Daisy was lifted in Mr. Randolph's arms and carefullyplaced on the front seat of the carriage, which she had all to herself.Her father and the doctor got in and sat opposite to her; and thecarriage drove away.
The parting with Juanita had been very tenderly affectionate and hadgone very near to Daisy's heart. Not choosing to shew this more than shecould help, as usual, Daisy at first lay still on the cushions with anexceedingly old-fashioned face; it was as demure and sedate as if thegravity of forty years had been over it. But presently the carriageturned the corner into the road to Melbourne; Daisy caught sight for asecond of the houses and church, spires of Crum Elbow, that she had notseen for so long. A pink flush rose over her face.
"What is it, Daisy?" said Mr. Randolph, who had been watching her.
"Papa—it's so nice to see things again!"
"You had a pretty dull time of it at Mrs. Benoit's?" remarked thedoctor.
"No—O no, I didn't. I did not have it dull at all."
"How did you escape that, Daisy?"
"I do not know, Dr. Sandford. There was no room for dulness."
The gentlemen smiled, but Daisy's father with a not altogether satisfiedexpression. He grew satisfied, as he marked the changes in Daisy's face.The ride was delightful to her. The carriage was easy; she was nicelyplaced; and through the open glass before her she could look out quiteuninterruptedly. It was so pleasant, she thought, even to see the roadand the fences again. That little bit of view before Mrs. Benoit'swindow she had studied over and over till she knew it by heart. Nowevery step brought something new; and the roll of the carriage wheelswas itself enlivening. There was a reaped grain field; there a meadowwith cattle pasturing. Now they passed a farm wagon going home, ladenwith sheaves; next came a cottage, well known but not seen for a longtime, with its wonted half door open and the cottager's children playingabout. Then came patches of woodland, with the sun shining through; anda field of flourishing Indian corn with the sunlight all over it; thenmore meadows with cattle.
"Do you ride comfortably, Daisy?"