“Dr. Sandford!—­I believe—­I got asleep,” she said in a bewildered kind of way.

“How did you get here, Daisy?”

“I came here, sir.”

“What for did you come here?”

Daisy looked troubled; glanced at the doctors face, and then rested her head on her hand.

“Who has been vexing you now?” said he at haphazard.

“I am not vexed,” said Daisy in the gentlest of all possible tones.

“Tired?”

“I think I am tired.”

“Honour bright, Daisy!—­has not some one been vexing you?”

“I ought not to have been vexed,” said Daisy slowly.

“I will wager that you are wrong there, and that you ought to have been vexed.  Who was it, Daisy?”

“Never mind, please, Dr. Sandford!  It is no matter at all now.”

She put her little hand confidingly in the doctor’s as she spoke and looked very earnest.  He could not resist her.

“I wish I had come sooner,” he said.  “I shall be suspicious of everybody, Daisy.  Come—­you and I must go to dinner, or there will be a hue and cry after us.”

Indeed by this time the whole party were gathered, and in impatient expectation that the dinner would make up to them in some degree for the various disappointments of the morning.  All were gathered and had arranged themselves conveniently upon the grass, around the feast which was spread out upon the tablecloth, before anybody knew that two of their number were wanting.  The cry was just raised, “Where is the doctor?”—­when the doctor hove in sight with Daisy by his side.  Everybody was placed already; and it was very natural that the doctor keeping hold of Daisy’s hand, led her with him to the spot that seemed to be left for his occupancy, and seated her there beside him.  On the other side of Daisy was Mrs. Stanfield.  She was very well satisfied with this arrangement, seeing that her father was surrounded by people and busy besides; and that Nora and Ella were with Alexander and Ransom.

What a gay tableful they were! all talking and laughing, though everybody declared himself exceeded by the heat and bored by the fishing, and generally tired of everything but eating and drinking.  But iced champagne was now at the parched lips, and boned turkey and jellied ham were waiting attention, and a good time had come.  It was some while, of course, before Daisy could be served.  She waited, feeling very happy and amused; for a party of people taking a cold dinner out of doors do not look nor act exactly like the same people taking a hot dinner in the house.  Daisy never dreamed that anybody was noticing her.  She had a disagreeable surprise.

“Daisy,” said Mrs. Randolph from a little distance, and across several people,—­“Daisy, what did you do that for?”

“Mamma!”—­said Daisy.  “What, mamma?”

“Have you a headache?”

“O no, mamma.”

“What did you put up your hand to your brow for?”