“Papa—­he came and read to me.  Then a little girl—­and mamma.”

“Did the little girl trouble you?”

“Not much—­” said Daisy hesitatingly.

“In what way?”

“She only would not learn to read as fast as I wanted.”

“You were the teacher?”

“Yes sir—­I was trying—­I wanted to teach her.”

“And has her obduracy or stupidity caused all this sorrow and annoyance?”

“O no, sir—­” But Daisy’s eyes filled.

“Then has Mrs. Randolph been the trouble-maker?”

Now Daisy flushed, her lip worked tremblingly; she turned her little head to one side and laid her hand over her brow, to baffle those steady blue eyes of the doctor’s.  But the doctor left the side of the couch and took a step or two towards where Juanita was sitting.

“Mrs. Benoit,” said he, “has this little patient of yours had her tea?”

“No, sir.  His honour knows, it’s early yet in the afternoon.”

“Not so very.  Do you mean she took enough for dinner to last her till to-morrow?”

“No, sir; her dinner was little better than nothing.”

“Then make a cup, in your best style, Mrs. Benoit—­and perhaps you will give me one.  And have you got any more of those big raspberries for her? bring them and a bit of toast.”

While Juanita was gone on this business, which took a little time, the doctor slowly paced back and forth through the small cottage room, with his hands behind him and a thoughtful face.  Daisy fancied he was considering her affair; but she was very much mistaken; Dr. Sandford had utterly forgotten her for the moment, and was pondering some difficult professional business.  When Juanita appeared with her tea tray, he came out of his abstraction; and though still with a very unrelaxed face, he arranged Daisy’s pillows so that she might be raised up a little and feel more comfortable.  His hands were strong and skilful, and kind too; there was a sort of pleasure in having them manage her; but Daisy looked on with a little wonder to see him take the charge of being her servitor in what came afterwards.  He made her a cup of tea; let her taste it from his hands; and gave the plate of raspberries into her own.

“Is it good?” he asked her.

“Very good!” Daisy said, with so gentle and reverential a look at him that the doctor smiled.  He said nothing however at present but to take care that she had her supper; and looked meanwhile to see the colour of Daisy’s cheeks change a little, and the worn, wearied lines of her face take a more natural form.  His own ministrations were more effectual than the eating and drinking; it was so very odd to have Dr. Sandford waiting upon her that Daisy was diverted, and could not help it.

“Will you take some tea too, Dr. Sandford?” she said in the midst of this.  “Won’t you take it now, while it is hot?”

“I take my tea cold, Daisy, thank you.  I’ll have it presently.”