"
"So you went to see her?"
"I have never spoken much to her, papa. But I went inside of
her gate one day, and saw her trying to take care of some poor
flowers; so then I thought, maybe, if I took her a nice little
rose-bush, she might like it."
"And then like you? Well — you tried the experiment?"
"No, papa. I did get a rose-bush from Logan, and he told me
how to plant it; and I was on my way to the cottage, and had
almost got there; and then I recollected mamma had said I must
not speak to anybody without her leave."
"So you came home?"
"Yes, papa. No, papa, I went to ride with Dr. Sandford."
"Have you asked leave of your mother?"
"No, papa," — said Daisy, in a tone of voice which
sufficiently expressed that she did not intend it.
"So, my dear little Daisy," said her father, drawing his arm
round her a little more closely — "you think a rose-bush would
serve instead of friends to make this poor creature happy?"
"Oh, no, papa!"
"What was the purpose of it, then?"
"Only — to get her to like me, papa."
"What were _you_ going to do to make her happy?"
"Papa, if you lived in such a place, in such a way, wouldn't
you like to have a friend come and see you sometimes?"
"Certainly! — if you were the friend.
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