In spite of the burden that lay on Daisy’s heart, she and Capt.  Drummond had a good time the next morning over the Saxon Heptarchy.  They went down to the shore for it, at Daisy’s desire, where they would be undisturbed; and the morning was hardly long enough.  The Captain had provided himself with a shallow tray filled with modelling clay; which he had got from an artist friend living a few miles further up the river.  On this the plan of England was nicely marked out, and by the help of one or two maps which he cut up for the occasion, the Captain divided off the seven kingdoms greatly to Daisy’s satisfaction and enlightenment.  Then, how they went on with the history! introduced Christianity, enthroned Egbert, and defeated the Danes under Alfred.  They read from, the book, and fought it all out on the clay plan, as they went along.  At Alfred they stopped a good while, to consider the state of the world in the little island of Britain at that time.  The good king’s care for his people, his love for study and encouragement of learning; his writing fables for the people; his wax candles to mark time; his building with brick and stone; his founding the English navy, and victories with the same; no less than his valour and endurance in every time of trial; all these things Capt.  Drummond whose father had been an Englishman, duly enlarged upon, and Daisy heard them with greedy ears.  Truth to tell, the Captain had read up a little for the occasion, being a good deal moved with sympathy for his little friend, who he saw was going through a time of some trial.  Nothing was to be seen of that just now, indeed, other than the peculiarly soft and grave expression which Daisy’s face had worn all this week; and which kept reminding the Captain to be sorry for her.

They got through with Alfred at last—­by the way, the Captain had effaced the dividing lines of the seven kingdoms and brought all to one in Egbert’s time—­and now they went on with Alfred’s successors.  A place was found on the sand for Denmark and Norway to shew themselves; and Sweyn and Canute came over; and there was no bating to the interest with which the game of human life went on.  In short, Daisy and the Captain having tucked themselves away in a nook of the beach and the tenth and eleventh centuries, were lost to all the rest of the world and to the present time; till a servant at last found them with the information that the luncheon bell had rung, and Mrs. Randolph was ready to go out with the Captain.  And William the Conqueror had just landed at Hastings!

“Never mind, Daisy,” said the Captain; “we’ll go on with it, the next chance we get.”

Daisy thanked him earnestly, but the thought that Sunday must come and go first, threw a shadow over her thanks.  The Captain saw it; and walked home thinking curiously about the “field of battle”—­not Hastings.

Daisy did not go in to luncheon.  She did not like meeting all the people who felt so gay, while she felt so much trouble.  Nor did she like being with her mother, whose manner all the week had constantly reminded Daisy of what Daisy never forgot.  The rest of Saturday passed soberly away.  There was a cloud in the air.