Is that what mamma calls being a fanatic?"
— Daisy's meditations were broken off; for a general stir
round the table made her look up.
The table was cleared, and the servants were bringing on the
fruit; and with the fruit they were setting on the table a
beautiful old fashioned silver ?pergne, that was never used
but for great occasions. Generally it was adorned with fruit
and flowers; to-day it was empty, and the attendants proceeded
to arrange upon it very strange looking things; packages in
white paper, books, trinkets, what not; and in the middle of
all a little statuette of a Grecian nymph, which was a great
favourite of Daisy's. Daisy began to guess that the ?pergne
had something to do with her birthday. But the nymph? —
perhaps she came there by her beauty to dignify this use made
of the stately old thing. However, she forgot all about
fanatics and Mr. Dinwiddie for the present. The looks and
smiles of the company were unmistakable. Who would speak
first?
"How are you to reach the ?pergne, Daisy?" said her father.
"Shall I be the medium?" said Mrs. Gary. "These things are to
travel up to Daisy, I suppose."
"I will represent the rolling stock of this road, and
undertake to carry parcels safely," said Mr.
Pages:
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111