"It is no matter if you did laugh, Nora," said Daisy; "you got grave again, and the picture was very nice."
"I didn't laugh!" said Nora; "and if I did, everybody else did. I don't think the pictures I saw were at all like pictures they were just like a parcel of people dressed-up."
Some gay paper mottoes made a diversion and stopped the little mouths for a time; and then the people went away.
"Well, Daisy," said Mrs. Gary, "how do you like this new entertainment?"
"The pictures? I think they were very pretty, aunt Gary."
"How happened it that somebody else wore my diamonds?" said her mother, "and not you. I thought you were to be dressed for Queen Esther?"
"Yes, mamma, so I was at first; and then it was thought best "
"Not by me," said Preston. "It was no doing of mine. Daisy was to have been Esther, and she herself declared off backed out of it, and left me to do as best I could."
"What was that for, Daisy?" said Mrs. Gary. "You would have made an excellent Esther."
"What was that for, Daisy?" said Mrs. Randolph. "Did you not like to be Esther?"