"Dr. Sandford, if you are willing to take the trouble of
stopping without the certainty of taking Daisy back with you,
I have some hopes that the result may be satisfactory to all
parties."
"_Au revoir_, then," said the doctor, and he strode off.
"Now, Daisy," said her father, still having his arms about her
— "what is it?"
Mrs. Randolph stood by the table and looked coldly down at the
group. Daisy was under great difficulty; that was plain.
"Papa — I wish Ransom could tell you!"
"Where is the boy?"
Mrs. Randolph rang the bell.
"It is no use, mamma; he has gone off with Preston somewhere."
"That is a mere subterfuge, Daisy, to gain time."
Daisy certainly looked troubled enough, and timid also; though
her meek look at her mother did not plead guilty to this
accusation.
"Speak, Daisy; the telling whatever there is to tell must come
upon you," her father said. "Your business is to explain the
charge Ransom has brought against you."
All Daisy's meditations had not brought her to the point of
knowing what to say in this conjuncture. She hesitated.
"Speak, Daisy!" her father said, peremptorily.
"Papa, they had put me — Eloise and Theresa Stanfield — they
had put me to watch the things.
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