Mrs. Randolph sat down and took out her
tetting-work; but she only did a few stitches.
"What child was that I met running from the house as I came
up?" she asked, a little to Daisy's discomfiture.
"It was a little girl who belongs in the village, mamma."
"How comes she to know you?"
"It happened by accident partly, in the first place."
"What accident?"
"Mamma, I will tell you another time, if you will let me." For
Daisy knew that Juanita was not far off.
But Mrs. Randolph only said, "Tell me now."
"Mamma — it was partly an accident," Daisy repeated. "I found
out by accident that they were very poor — and I carried them
something to eat."
"Whom do you mean by 'them'?"
"That little girl and her mother — Mrs. Harbonner."
"When did you do this?"
"About the time of my birthday."
"And you have kept up the acquaintance since that time?"
"I carried the woman work once, mamma. I had papa's leave to
go."
"Did you ask mine?"
"No, mamma. It was papa who had forbidden me to go into any
house without leave; so I asked him to let me tell her about
the work."
"What was — this child here for, to-day?"
"Mamma — she is a poor child, and could not go to school; and
— I was trying to teach her something.
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