"
"What _did_ you say, Daisy?" asked her mother.
"Mamma, I did not say _that_. I said something — I did not mean
it for anything like that."
"Tell me exactly what you did say — and no more delay."
"Wait till after breakfast," said Mr. Randolph. "I wish to be
present at the investigation of this subject, Felicia — but I
would rather take it by itself than with my coffee."
So there was a lull in the storm which seemed to be gathering.
It gave Daisy time to think. She was in a great puzzle. How
she could get through the matter without exposing all Ransom's
behaviour, all at least which went before the blow given to
herself, Daisy did not see; she was afraid that truth would
force her to bring it all out. And she was very unwilling to
do that, because in the first place she had established a full
amnesty in her own heart for all that Ransom had done, and
wished rather for an opportunity to please than to criminate
him; and, in the second place, in her inward consciousness she
knew that Mrs. Randolph was likely to be displeased with her,
in any event. She would certainly, if Daisy were an occasion
of bringing Ransom into disgrace; though the child doubted
privately whether her word would have weight enough with her
mother for that.
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