something, that does _not_ take care of the children. I shall not trust
the business certainly to her."

Daisy wondered a little that Mrs. Sandford, who was so good-natured,
could not do what was needful; but she said nothing.

"I think I shall turn over the whole thing in charge to you, Daisy?"

"But, Dr. Sandford, what can _I_ do?"

"Drive down with me to-morrow and see how big the children are, and then
have the things made."

"But I am afraid I do not know enough."

"I dare say you can find out. _I_ do not know enough--that is very
certain; and I have other things to attend to besides overseeing
mantua-makers."

"Our seamstress could do it,--if I could see her."

"Very well, then some other seamstress can. Now, Daisy--you may look at
this."

"What a beautiful thing! But what is it, Dr. Sandford?"

"What does it look like?"

"It does not look like anything that I ever saw."

"It is a scale from a butterfly's wing."

"Why, it is as large as a small butterfly," said Daisy.

The doctor shewed her where the little scale lay, so little that she
could hardly see it out of the glass; and Daisy went back to the
contemplation of its magnified beauty with immense admiration. Then her
friend let her see the eye of a bee, and the tongue of a fly, and divers
other wonders, which kept Daisy busy until an hour which was late for
her. Busy and delightfully amused.

CHAPTER XXI.

One day passed after another, and Daisy looked longingly for her summons
home, and still she did not receive it. Her fears and agonies were
somewhat quieted; because Dr. Sandford assured her that her father was
getting better; but he never said that her father was well, or that he
had not been very ill. Daisy knew that the matter had been very serious
that had prevented her being at Melbourne all these days. Her imaginings
of evil were doubtful and dim; but it seemed to her that her father
himself would have commanded her presence in all ordinary circumstances;
and a doubt like an ice-wind sometimes swept over her little spirit,
whether he could be too ill to know of her absence! No word that could,
be said would entirely comfort Daisy while this state of things lasted;
and it was very well for her that she had a wise and energetic friend
watching over her welfare, in the meanwhile. If business could keep her
from pining and hinder her from too much imagining, Dr. Sandford took
care that she had it. He contrived that she should in