hing," I said.

"It is almost tea-time. Hadn't you better be walking home, before
Medusa comes looking out for you?"

I rose up, and bade Uncle Darry good-night.

"Good-night, missis," he said heartily, "and de morning dat hab no
night, for my dear little missis, by'm by."

I gave him my hand, and walked on.

"Stuff!" muttered Preston, by my side.

"You will not think it 'stuff' when the time comes," I said, no doubt
very gravely. Then Preston burst out.

"I only wish Aunt Felicia was here! You will spoil these people,
Daisy, that's one thing, or you would if you were older. As it is, you
are spoiling yourself."

I made no answer. He went on with other angry and excited words,
wishing to draw me out, perhaps; but I was in no mood to talk to
Preston in any tone but one. I went steadily and slowly on, without
even turning my head to look at him. I had hardly life enough to talk
to him in _that_ tone.

"Will you tell me what is the matter with you?" he said, at last, very
impatiently.

"I am tired, I think."

"Think? Medusa is stiffening the life out of you. _Think_ you are
tired! You are tired to death; but that is not all. What ails you?"

"I do not think anything ails me."

"What ails _me_, then? What is the matter? What makes you act so?
Speak, Daisy--you must speak!"

I turned about and faced him, and I know I did not speak then as a
child, but with a gravity befitting fifty years.

"Preston, did you strike Uncle Darry yesterday?"

"Pooh!" said Preston. But I stood and waited for his answer.

"Nonsense, Daisy!" he said again.

"What is nonsense?"

"Why, _you_. What are you talking about?"

"I asked you a question."

"A ridiculous question. You are just absurd."

"Will you please to answer it?"

"I don't know whether I will. What have you to do with it?"

"In the first place, Preston, Darry is not your servant."

"Upon my word!" said Preston. "But yes, he is; for mamma is regent
here now. He must do what I order him anyhow."

"And then, Preston, Darry is better than you, and will not defend
himself; and somebody ought to defend him; and there is nobody but
me."

"Defend himself!" echoed Preston.

"Yes. You insulted him yesterday."

"Insulted him!"

"You know you did. You know, Preston, some men would not have borne
it. If Darry had been like some men, he would have knocked you down."

"Knocked me down!" cried Preston. "The sneaking old scoundrel! He
knows that I would shoot hi