"
"Is reading a specific for happiness?"
"No sir — but — the Bible!" Daisy said, with a sudden glance.
And so clear and sure the speech of her childish eye was, that
the doctor, though believing nothing of it, would not breathe
a question of that which she believed.
"Oh, that is it!" he said. "Well, Daisy, this is the
beginning; but though I came in upon the middle of the subject
I do not understand it yet. Why did not the rose-tree get to
its destination!"
"Because — I remembered, just when I had got to the bottom of
the hill, that mamma would not let me."
Daisy's tone of voice told more than she knew of her subdued
state of disappointment.
"Mrs. Randolph had forbidden you to go to Molly's cottage?"
"No sir; but she had forbidden me to speak to anybody without
having her leave. I had forgotten it till just that minute."
"Ask her leave, and then go. What is the difficulty in that,
Daisy?"
"She will not give me leave, Dr. Sandford. Mamma does not like
me to do such things."
"Do you care much about it?"
"Yes, sir."
"Present your request to Mrs. Randolph to-morrow, Daisy — that
is my advice to you."
"It would be no use, Dr. Sandford."
"Perhaps not; but I advise you to take my advice; and lay the
rose-bush by the heels till to-morrow afternoon.
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