"
"He is!" said Dr. Sandford. "Most boys are. You have not felt
lonely, then, Daisy?"
"Oh, no, sir."
"I believe I should, in your place. What is the matter, then?
I ask as your friend and physician; and you must tell me,
Daisy. Who has been to see you to-day?"
"Papa —he came and read to me. Then a little girl — and
mamma."
"Did the little girl trouble you?"
"Not much —" said Daisy, hesitatingly.
"In what way?"
"She only would not learn to read as fast as I wanted."
"You were the teacher?"
"Yes, sir — I was trying — I wanted to teach her."
"And has her obduracy or stupidity caused all this sorrow and
annoyance?"
"Oh, no, sir —" But Daisy's eyes filled.
"Then has Mrs. Randolph been the trouble-maker?"
Now Daisy flushed, her lip worked tremblingly; she turned her
little head to one side, and laid her hand over her brow, to
baffle those steady blue eyes of the doctor's. But the doctor
left the side of the couch, and took a step or two towards
where Juanita was sitting.
"Mrs. Benoit," said he, "has this little patient of yours had
her tea?"
"No, sir. His honour knows, it's early yet in the afternoon."
"Not so very. Do you mean she took enough for dinner to last
her till to-morrow?"
"No, sir; her dinner was little better than nothing.
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