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 ?" "Yes, mamma--I liked it at one time." "And why not at another time ?" "I found out that somebody else would like it too, mamma; and I thought----" Mrs.Randolph broke out with a contemptuous expression of displeasure.
"You thought you would put yourself in a corner! You were not manager, Daisy; and you must remember something is due to the one that is.