Then came great fruit cakes and pound
cakes, superbly frosted and dressed with strawberries and
rosebuds; Joanna had spared no pains. Great store of sliced
bread and butter too, and plates of ham and cold beef, and
forms of jelly. And when the dressed baskets of strawberries
were set in their places all round the table, filling up the
spaces, there was a very elegant, flowery, and sparkling
appearance of a rich feast. Why was not Nora there? — and with
the next thought Daisy flew back to the library to find her
father. He was found.
"Oh, papa," she said, gently, though she had rushed in like a
little summer wind, "are you going to come to the feast?"
"What for, my dear?"
"Papa, they will all like it; they will be pleased."
"I think they will enjoy themselves better without me."
"Papa, I am sure they would be pleased."
"I should only make it a constraint for them, Daisy. I do not
think they will want anything but the strawberries —
especially if _you_ look at them."
"But mamma is not here to speak to them either, papa."
"You think somebody must speak to them, eh? I don't think I
can make speeches, Daisy," said Mr. Randolph, stretching
himself at ease in a chaise longue.
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