England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Inheritance and succession -- Fiction
"Come along, Miss Daisy," she exclaimed; "'tis time we was a-moving
home, and you mustn't trouble the gentleman no further, missy."
"I s'ant go home, and I will stay," responded Daisy, her face growing
very red as she clung to her new friend. The man put his arm round her
in delight.
"Sit down, my girl," he said, addressing Anne, "the little miss is not
troubling me. Quite the contrary, she reminds me of a little lassie I
used to know once, and she had the same name too, Daisy. Daisy Wilson
was her name. Now this little kid is so like her that I shouldn't a bit
wonder if she was a relation--perhaps her daughter. Shall I tell you
what your two names are, little one?"
Daisy nodded her head and looked up expectantly. Anne, hoping no harm
was done, and devoured with curiosity, resumed her seat.
"Your mamma's name was Daisy Wilson. You are her dear little daughter,
and your name is Daisy Harman. Well, I'm right, ain't I?" The man's face
was now crimson, and he only waited for Daisy's reply to clasp her to
his breast. But Daisy, in high delight at his mistake, clapped her
pretty hands.
"No, no," she said, "you're quite wrong. Guess again, guess again."
Instantly his interest and excitement died out. He pushed the child a
trifle away, and said,--
"I made a mistake. I can't guess."
"I'm Daisy Home," replied Daisy, "and my mamma was never no Daisy
Wilson. Her name is Sarlotte Home."
The stranger put Daisy gently from his lap, and the discovery which was
to affect so many people might never have been made but for Anne, who
read the _Family Herald_, was burning with anxiety and wonder. Many
kinds of visions were flashing before her romantic young eyes. This man
might be very rich--very, very rich. He must have something to say to
them all. She had long ago identified herself with the Home family. This
man was coming to give them gold in abundance. He was not so beautiful
to look at, but he might be just as valuable as the pretty lady of
Harold's dreams. That pretty lady had not come back, though Anne had
almost prayed for her return. Yes, she was sure this man was a relation.
It was highly probable. Such things were always happening in the _Family
Herald_. Raising her shrill, high-pitched voice, she exclaimed,--
"Miss Daisy, you're too young to know, or may be you furgets. But I
think the gen'leman is near right. Yer mamma's name wos Harman afore she
married yer papa, missy, and I ha' seen fur sure and certain in some old
books at the house the name o' Daisy Wilson writ down as plain as could
be, so maybe that wor yer grandma's name afore she married too."
At these words the stranger caught Daisy up and kissed her.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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