"I don't believe you are paying a bit of attention to me!" the boy flung out angrily. "I wish you hadn't gone to that old city. You were twice as good fun before. And I s'pose you won't climb trees or run races or--or do any of the things that used to be such good fun. What in the world _did_ you do there?" "Oh, I'll try them with you again. But I've been out with father all the afternoon----" "And now he'll be so taken up with you he won't want me. Girls haven't any call to be out so much with men." "Not when they are our own fathers?" smiling. "Well--there's knitting, and spinning, and sewing, and darning stockings----" "I thought you were begging me to go out and have a good romp with you?" "Oh, that's different." She laughed. Then father came in and they had supper. After that until he went out he had to help Felix with sums, then the boy was sleepy, and went to bed. Daffodil had to talk about her visit. She had been to the theatre twice and to some fine out-of-doors concerts. Then the afternoon at the Pembertons, where the ladies had been so beautifully dressed, and the dance and the tea on the lawn. She had been sent to a dancing class and knew the modern steps. "And I just don't believe any one can beat grandad;" said Norah with pride. "And stout as he is, he's as light on his feet as a young girl. And about this Miss Wharton and her living alone with servants just as if she was a widow, and she must be an old maid. It's queer they should make so much of her." "But she's so nice and sweet. Everybody likes her. And her house is so full of pretty things. The gentlemen are always wanting to dance with her and come to tea." "Well, it's very queer except for a queen. There was a great queen once who didn't and wouldn't get married." "That was Queen Elizabeth and Virginia was named in her honor." "Well, I hope you won't get sick of us after a little. But blood's thicker than water;" and Norah nodded confidently to Daffodil's mother. Then it seemed really strange to go over to the Byerly's to tea. They had been older girls in school. Now they were busy all day spinning and Kate wove on a hand loom. Girls worked through the day and frolicked in the evening. They all seemed so large to Daffodil. They joked one another about beaux. Half a dozen young men were invited. Kitchen and dining-room was all one, and the two tables were put together, and would have groaned with their burden if they had not been strong. "I want Daffodil Carrick," said Ned Langdale rather peremptorily. "I went to her first party and she came to mine." "That's whether she wants you," said Janie saucily. "Do you, Daffodil?" "Do I--what?" "Want Ned to take you in to supper. We're pairing off. By right you ought to take Kate," to Ned. "She can have some of the younger boys." Daffodil was rather startled at Ned. He had grown so tall and looked so manly. "I'll take Archie," she said a little timidly. Archie smiled and came over to her, clasping her hand.