Daisy looked up at her mother, with a quick refutation of this statement of the case in her mind, but something stayed her lips.  Mr. Randolph saw and read the look.  He put his arm round Daisy and drew her up to him, speaking with grave decision.

“Daisy, say all you have to say at once—­do you hear me? and spare neither for Ransom nor yourself.  Tell all there is to be told, without any shuffling.”

“Papa, I should not have objected to his having a sandwich—­or as many as he liked.  I should have thought it was proper.  But he took the meringues—­and so many that the dish was left very small; and then he carried off Joanna’s lark pie, the whole of it; and he did not mind what I said; and then, I believe—­I suppose that is what Ransom meant—­I believe I told him he was worse than Fido.”

“Was Ransom offended at that?”

“Yes, papa.  He did not like my speaking to him at all.”

“Of course not,” said Mrs. Randolph.  “Boys never like to be tutored by girls; and Daisy must expect her brother will not like it if she meddles with him; and especially if she addresses such language to him.”

“I said only exactly that, mamma.”

“Ransom put it differently.”

A flush came up all over Daisy’s face; she looked at her mother appealingly, but said nothing and the next moment her eyes fell.

“Did Ransom answer you at the time, Daisy?”

“Yes, sir,” Daisy said in a low voice.

“How?”

“Papa!—­” said Daisy confounded.

“What did he say to you?”

“He did not say much—­” said Daisy.

“Tell me what his answer was?”

“Papa, he struck my ears,” said Daisy.  A great crimson glow came all over her face, and she hid it in her father’s breast; like an injured thing running to shelter.  Mr. Randolph was lying on a sofa; he folded his arm round Daisy, but spoke never a word.  Mrs. Randolph moved impatiently.

“Boys will do such things,” she said.  “It is very absurd in Daisy to mind it.  Boys will do such things—­she must learn that it is not her place or business to find fault with her brother.  I think she deserved what she got.  It will teach her a lesson.”

“Boys shall not do such things in my house,” said Mr. Randolph in his usual quiet manner.

“As you please!” said the lady in a very dissatisfied way; “but I think it is only what all boys do.”

“Felicia, I wish to reverse your decision about this day’s pleasure.  Seeing Daisy has had her lesson, do you not think she might be indulged with the play after it?”

“As you please!” returned the lady very drily.

“Do you want to go, Daisy?”

“If you please, papa.”  Daisy spoke without shewing her face.

“Is Mr. Dinwiddie at Mrs. Sandford’s?” inquired Mrs. Randolph.

“O no, mamma!” Daisy looked up.  “He is not coming.  He is gone a great way off.  I do not suppose he is ever coming here again; and Nora is going away soon.”