“My mission is successful,” said Mr. Dinwiddie.

“But I was not offended the least bit, Mr. Dinwiddie,” said Daisy.

“I believe it; but Nora thought you had so much reason, that she would not come alone to make her apology.”

The young man looked towards Mr. Randolph, whose attention was just then taken by somebody who had come to him on business.  He waited.

“Won’t you sit down, Mr. Dinwiddie?” said Daisy.

“I must go.”

“But I want to ask you a question, sir.”

Mr. Dinwiddie sat down.

“Mr. Dinwiddie,” said Daisy with a grave face, “what are my talents?”

“What is the question, Daisy?  I do not understand.”

“You know, sir—­one servant had ten and another had five.  What are my talents?”

“I do not know.”

“But how can I tell, Mr. Dinwiddie?”

Then the young man’s eyes glowed, as Daisy had a few times seen them do before.  “Ask the Lord, Daisy.  See what his word tells you to do.”

“But Mr. Dinwiddie, I am little; I can’t do much.”

“You cannot do anything.  But Jesus can use you, to do what he pleases,—­if you will be his little servant.—­Give me that spoon, Nora.”

“But Marmaduke——­”

“Yes—­I know,” said her brother.  He took from Nora’s hand and unfolded from its wrapping-paper a very curious thing, which he told Daisy was an Egyptian spoon.  He did not give her time to look at it, only he held it so that she saw what it was.

“You see that spoon, Daisy.  It cannot do anything.  But in your hand it might carry drops of comfort to somebody’s lips.”

Daisy looked earnestly at the spoon, then at the bright eyes that were fixed on her; and taking his meaning, she smiled, a bright, satisfied smile.  It satisfied Mr. Dinwiddie too.  He wrapped up the spoon again, handed it to Nora, and rose up to make his adieus to Mr. Randolph.

“Daisy,” whispered Nora, “this spoon is for you.  Will you take it for my birthday present?  Marmaduke says it is very handsome.  It is his—­he gave it to me to give to you.”

“It is very, very old,” said Mr. Dinwiddie coming to Daisy.  “It was found in an old Egyptian tomb, and was made and put there perhaps before the Israelites came out of Egypt.  Good bye!”

He took Daisy’s hand with a strong, kindly grasp, and went away with his little sister just as the dinner-bell rang.  Daisy had not time to look at her present.  She held it tight, and went in to dinner with it in her hand.

Daisy did not generally dine with her father and mother.  To-day was a great exception to the rule.  Even to-day she was not expected to eat anything till the dessert came on; she had had her dinner; so she had the more time for other things.  Her place was by her mother; Capt.  Drummond on the other side, and Gary McFarlane opposite.  Then her aunt, Mrs. Gary, had arrived, just an hour before dinner; and she and her children and one or two other friends filled the table, and the talking and laughing went round faster than the soup.  Daisy looked and listened, very much pleased to see her aunt and cousins, and amused; though as usual in her quiet fashion she gave no sign of it.