Part 10 (1/2)

The answer came very low, but though Daisy did not want to listen she could not help hearing.

”Mother wants a pound of ham, sir.”

”Have you brought the money for the flour?”

”No, sir ? mother'll send it.”

”We don't cut our hams any more,” said the storekeeper. ”Can't sell any less than a whole one ? and that's always cash.

There! Go, child ? I can't cut one for you.”

Daisy looked after the little ragged frock as it went out of the door. The extreme mystery of some people being rich and some people poor, struck her anew, and perhaps something in her look as it came back to the storekeeper made him say, ?

”They're very poor folks, Miss Randolph ? the mother's sickly, and I should only lose my money. They came and got some flour of me yesterday without paying for it ? and it's necessary to put a stop to that kind of thing at once. Don't you think that basket'll suit, ma'am?”

Baskets? and what meant those words which had been over and over in Daisy's mind for the few days past? ? ”Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” Her mind was in great confusion.

”How much does a ham cost, Mr. Lamb?”

”Sixteen pence a pound, ma'am,” said the storekeeper rather dryly, for he did not know but Daisy was thinking a reproof to him.

”But how many pounds are there in a ham?”

”Just as it happens, ma'am ? sometimes twenty, and from there down to ten.”

”Then how much does a whole ham cost?” said Daisy, whose arithmetic was not ready.

”A ham of fifteen pounds, ma'am, would be about two dollars and forty cents.”

Daisy stood looking at the baskets, and thinking how much money she would have over if she took the sixpenny ones. She wanted twenty baskets; she found that the difference of price between the plain and the pretty would leave her twenty s.h.i.+llings in hand. Just enough! thought Daisy, ? and yet, how could she go to a strange house and offer to give them a ham?

She thought she could not. If she had known the people; but as it was ? Daisy bought the pretty baskets and set off homewards.

”Whatsoever ye would that others should do to you, do ye even so to them” ? Daisy could see nothing along the road but those words. ”That is my King's command to me ? and those poor people have got no breakfast. If I was in that little girl's place, I would _like_ to have it given to me. But those other baskets ? would they do? ? I could make them do somehow ? Nora and I could dress them up with greens and flowers!”

The pony chaise stopped. Sam came up alongside.

”Sam, take those baskets back to the store. I am going back there.”

Round came the chaise, and in five minutes more they were at the Crum Elbow corner again, for Daisy's heart-burning had not let her go far. Mr. Lamb was exceedingly mystified, as it was very unusual for young ladies like this one to come buying whole hams and riding off with them. However, he made no objections to the exchange, being a gainer by ten cents; for Daisy had asked for a ham of fifteen pounds.

Then Daisy enquired the way to the girl's house, and her name, and set off in a new direction. It was not far; a plain little brown house, with a brown gate a few yards from the door.

Daisy got out of the chaise and opened the gate, and there stood still and prayed a little prayer that G.o.d would help her not to feel foolish or afraid when she was trying to do right.

Then she went up to the door and knocked. Somebody said in a very uninviting tone of voice, ”Come in!”

It was hard for Daisy; she had expected that somebody would open the door, but now she must go in and face all that was there. However, in she went. There was a poor room to be sure, with not much in it. A woman was taking some hot bread, just baked, out of a little cooking stove. Daisy saw the little girl standing by; it was the right place.

”Well!” said the woman, looking up at Daisy from her stove oven ? ”what is it?” She looked pale and unhappy, and her words were impatient. Daisy was half afraid.

”I am Daisy Randolph” ? she began, gently.