"I know it. I speak from experience. I tried it once, for a whole afternoon; and you've no idea how good tea-time was when it came!" "What _could_ set you about such a piece of work, Gary?" said his hostess laughing. "Conscience, my dear," said her sister. "I am not at all surprised. I wonder if anybody has been to church to-day?" "I am sorry for the clergyman, if anybody has," remarked Gary. Mrs. Randolph's arm had slipped from Daisy, and Daisy slipped away from her mother's sofa to the table; where she dipped sponge biscuits in milk and wondered at other people's Sundays. A weight seemed settling down on her heart. She could not bear to hear the talk; she eat her supper and then sat down on the threshold of one of the glass doors that looked towards the west, and watched the beautiful colours on the clouds over the mountains; and softly sung to herself the tune she had heard in church in the morning. So the colours faded away, and the light, and the dusk grew on, and still Daisy sat in the window door humming to herself. She did not know that Gary McFarlane had stolen up close behind her and gone away again. He went away just as company came in; some gay neighbours who found the evening tempting, and came for a little diversion. Lamps were lit and talking and laughing went round, till Mrs. Randolph asked where Daisy was. "In the window, singing to the stars," Gary McFarlane whispered. "Do you know, Mrs. Randolph, how she can sing?" "No,--how? She has a child's voice." "But not a child's taste or ear," said Gary. "I heard her the other day warbling the gypsy song in 'The Camp in Silesia,' and she did it to captivation. Do, Mrs. Randolph, ask her to sing it. I was astonished." "Do!" said Capt. Drummond; and the request spread and became general. "Daisy--" said Mrs. Randolph. Daisy did not hear; but the call being repeated she came from her window, and after speaking to the strangers, whom she knew, she turned to her mother. The room was all light and bright and full of gay talkers. "Daisy," said her mother, "I want you to sing that gypsy song from the 'Camp in Silesia.' Gary says you know it--so he is responsible. _Can_ you sing it?" "Yes, ma'am." "Then sing it. Never mind whether you succeed or not; that is of no consequence." "Mamma----," began Daisy. "Well, what?" Daisy was in great confusion. What to say to her mother she did not know. "No matter how you get along with it," repeated Mrs. Randolph. "That is nothing." "It isn't that, mamma,--but--" "Then sing. No more words, Daisy; sing." "Mamma, please don't ask me!" "I _have_ asked you. Come Daisy--don't be silly." "Mamma," whispered Daisy trembling, "I will sing it any other night but to-night!" "To-night? what's to-night?" "To-night is Sunday." "And is that the reason?" Daisy stood silent, very much agitated. "I'll have no nonsense of the kind, Daisy. Sing immediately!" But Daisy stood still. "Do you refuse me?" "Mamma--" said Daisy pleadingly.