“What is this?” said the lady in astonishment.

“What you see—­” said Mr. Randolph.

“Where did it come from?”

“The signature tells you.”

“But where did you get it?”

“Here—­this moment.”

“The impertinent little minx!”

“Hush.  She does not mean to be impertinent, Felicia.”

“Do you like misbehaviour that is not meant, Mr. Randolph?”

“Better than that which is meant.”

“I told you the child would get ruined in that place,” said Mrs. Randolph, after musing a few minutes over the little sheet of note-paper.

Mr. Randolph made a lather and applied it.  That might be the reason why he made no answer.

“I call it impertinence,” the lady went on, “and very well grown impertinence too—­from a child like that!  It is the trick of all religious people, to think themselves better and wiser than the rest of the world; but I think Daisy has learnt the lesson early!”

Still silence on Mr. Randolph’s part and steady attention to his toilet duties.

“What notice do you mean to take of this?”

“I think, none at all.”

“Mr. Randolph, Daisy is ruined!”

“I do not quite see it yet.”

“I wish you would see it.  She is full of stupid stiff ways, which will be habits fixed as iron in a little time if we do not break them up.  She does not act like a child.”

“She is very like a child to me,” said Mr. Randolph.

“You do not see.  Do you observe her way whenever she sits down to table?  She covers her face and remains in silent prayer, I suppose, a minute or so.”

A slight laugh came from Mrs. Randolph with the words.  Mr. Randolph could not well laugh, for he was shaving.  He remarked that he had never seen it.

“I wish you would remember and take notice.  She does it regularly.  And she is not a docile child any longer, I give you warning.  You will find it very difficult to do anything with her in the way of breaking up this religious stiffness of hers.”

Mr. Randolph was silent a while, and Mrs. Randolph looked vexed.  At length he remarked that indirect ways were the best.

“It will take both,” said his wife; “direct and indirect.”  And after that they went down to breakfast.

Mr. Randolph was the last, and he was not early; but this morning Daisy was later still.  Her father watched for her coming, and did not see it after all; Daisy stole in so quietly, she was in her seat by his side before he had noticed her.  Then perceiving the gentle, sweet, quiet little face beside him, and recognizing the timid feeling which made Daisy afraid to meet his eye, he could not refrain; he bent down and gave her a kiss.  He was very much touched by the little fluttering start and glance which Daisy returned to this salutation, and he saw that a pink flush of pleasure came into her cheeks.  Perhaps