“Plenty, papa,” said Daisy gratefully.

“And why didn’t you go yesterday afternoon, as I thought you intended?” Daisy’s and Ransom’s eyes met.

“Papa, it was a great deal pleasanter this morning than it would have been then; I never had such a nice ride.”

“And what do you want done now?  Is your table ready?”

“It will be ready—­Mr. Stilton is getting it ready.”

“Who is invited, Daisy?” inquired Mr. McFarlane.  “Do you intend to receive any except those who are not your friends?”

“I don’t think those of a different class had better come,” said Daisy.

“Daisy is quite right,” said Mrs. Randolph.  “Do you not intend to shew yourself?” said her husband, with some meaning.

“I?  No!  Certainly not.  At her age, since you choose to indulge Daisy in her whim, she may do what she pleases.”

Was this what the man meant by Randolph’s people being “stuck up?” Daisy looked grave, and her father bade her run away and attend to her preparations.

Even then she went slowly and a little puzzled, till she reached the housekeeper’s room; and there the full beauty of the occasion burst upon her.  Such nice things as Joanna was making ready!

Daisy ran off at full speed to Logan to get a supply of greens and flowers to trim her baskets.  Nora was coming to help her and be with her all day, and arrived just in time.  With aprons and baskets full, the two children sought a hidden spot on the bank under the trees, and there sat down, with strawberry baskets in one heap and the sprigs and leaves to dress them in another.

“Now throw off your hat,” said Daisy.  “It’s shady enough, and you’ll feel cooler.  Now Nora, how shall we do?—­You try one and I’ll try one; that will be best; and then we can see.  I want them to look very pretty, you know; and they are to be filled with strawberries to send home to the children; if we make them very nice they will go on the table, I think, and help dress it up.”

For a time there was comparative silence, while the little hands turned and twisted the mosses and bits of larch and cedar and hemlock in and out of the openings of the baskets.  It was not found easy at first to produce a good effect; hands were unused to the work; and Nora declared after half an hour she believed the baskets would look best plain, just as they were.  But Daisy would not give up.  She grew very warm indeed with the excitement of her efforts, but she worked on.  By and by she succeeded in dressing a basket so that it looked rich with green; and then a bit or two of rosebuds or heath or bright yellow everlasting made the adornment gay and pretty enough.  It was taken for a model; and from that time tongues and fingers worked together, and heat was forgotten.

[Illustration]

“Isn’t this pleasant!” exclaimed Daisy at length, dropping her work into her lap.  “Isn’t it just as pleasant as it can be, Nora?”