Daisy hid her face again in his breast; what could she answer? Mr. Randolph unfolded the little palm swollen and blistered from the marks of his ruler.
"Why did you offend me, Daisy?" he said gravely.
"Oh papa!" said Daisy beside herself,—"I didn't—I couldn't—I wouldn't, for anything in the world! But I couldn't offend the Lord Jesus!"
She was weeping again bitterly.
"That will not do," said Mr. Randolph. "You must find a way to reconcile both duties. I shall not take an alternative." But after that he said no more and only applied himself to soothing Daisy; till she sat drooping in his arms, but still and calm. She started when the sound of steps and voices came upon the verandah.
"Papa, may I go?"
He let her go, and watched her measured steps through the long room, to the door, and heard the bound they made as soon as she was outside of it. He rang the bell and ordered June to be called.
She came.
"June," said Mr. Randolph, "I think Daisy wants to be taken care of to-day—I wish you would not lose sight of her."
June courtesied her obedience.