However, in she went. There was a poor room to be sure,
with not much in it. A woman was taking some hot bread, just
baked, out of a little cooking stove. Daisy saw the little
girl standing by; it was the right place.
"Well!" said the woman, looking up at Daisy from her stove
oven — "what is it?" She looked pale and unhappy, and her
words were impatient. Daisy was half afraid.
"I am Daisy Randolph" — she began, gently.
"Go on," said the woman, as Daisy hesitated.
"I was in Mr. Lamb's store just now, when your little girl
came to buy some ham."
"Well! — what then?"
"Mr. Lamb said he would not cut any, and she was obliged to go
without it."
"Well, what have you to do with all that?"
"I was sorry she was disappointed," said Daisy, more steadily;
"and as Mr. Lamb would not cut one for her I have brought a
whole one — if you will please accept it. It is at the gate,
because the boy could not leave the horses."
The woman set her bread on the floor, left the oven door open,
and rose to her feet.
"What did you tell her, Hephzibah?" she said, in a threatening
voice.
"I didn't tell her nothing," said the girl hurriedly — "I
never spoke to her."
"How did she know what you came for?"
"I was so near," said Daisy, bravely, though she was afraid,
"that I couldn't help hearing.
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