"Half an hour, perhaps; and I was getting tired," was the girl's reply; but Archie did not ask her to sit down beside him, for he wanted all the bench to lounge upon, and leaning upon his elbow he went on talking to her, and answering her questions jestingly, until she said:
"How is your father?"
Then there came a shadow upon the face of the boy, who replied:
"He is worse, and they have sent for Uncle John and Lady Jane. We expect them to-day."
"Yes, I know; they came while you were asleep. Lady Jane looks very proud," Daisy said, and Archie rejoined:
"She looks as she is then. I hate her!"
If Archie hated her, Daisy did too, and she answered promptly, "So do I!" though she had never seen the lady in question until that morning when she rode by, arching her long neck and looking curiously around her.
"She thinks the world made only for her and the baby Neil," Archie said, "and Dorothy thinks so too. She is in a great way about her coming because we have no servants, I don't care! Let Uncle John give us some money if they want style when they come to Stoneleigh."
"That's so!" and Daisy nodded approvingly; then she went on: "Mother has made some lemon jelly for the dinner, because Dorothy says she makes it so nice, and I am going over this evening to wash the dishes and help Dorothy a little."
"You? I wouldn't!" Archie said, looking reflectingly at her.