“It will not be good for anything, Eloise,” Daisy persisted gently.  “It should not be made but just before you want it—­just a few minutes.”

“You are wise, Daisy,” returned her cousin.  “I do not know so much as you do, you see.”

Daisy fell back a little.  Eloise and Theresa went to unpacking the hampers; and James, acting under their direction, carried and placed the various articles they took out, placed and replaced; for as new and unlooked-for additions were made to the stock of viands, the arrangement of those already on the tablecloth had to be varied.  There was a wonderful supply; for a hamper had come from every house that had sent members to the party.

“What shall we do with it all?” said Eloise.

“Find out what people like—­or are expected to like.  Just look at the cold chickens! and the ham!  I am so thankful for that red lobster, to make a variety.  There are three boxes of sardines—­and what is that?”

“Anchovy paste.”

“Well!—­and look at the other things!  We want an army to eat them.  There is a dog, to begin with.”

Theresa said it with comical coolness; but Eloise screamed, as a little spaniel was perceived to be snuffing round the tablecloth.

“It’s Ransom’s dog!  Run, Daisy, run, and keep him off.  Just stay there and keep watch of him, or he’ll be all over everything.  Daisy, run!”

Daisy left the hampers, and walked, or indeed obeyed orders and ran, to where the little spaniel was threatening a rout among the whole army of cold chickens.  Daisy called him off, and then stood by to take care of him.  It was very amusing to see Eloise and Theresa unpack the hampers; and Ella and Nora, finding it so, made no move to join Daisy in her distant watch.  The men were busy running to and fro with the unpacked eatables, and keeping up the fire, and setting piles of plates everywhere, and laying glasses all round the tablecloth—­for they would not stand up—­and putting wine in coolers, that is to say, in pails of ice water.  Daisy felt alone again, left out of the play.  She looked at Nora and Ella in the distance—­that is, just far enough away to be out of her society, eagerly standing over the hampers; and for a moment felt not very well pleased, either with them or her cousin Eloise.  But then she remembered that she was tired, and sat down with her back against a tree; resolved to take all things patiently, if she could; and she very soon found enough to do, and amusing enough, in ordering the arrangement of the dishes on the tablecloth.  Logan was sure to set a thing down in the wrong place, if he set it anywhere; and even James was confused in such a very novel state of his department.  Daisy found exercise for all her wisdom, and full content came with full employment, naturally.