It was not exactly a new thing, nor was Daisy entirely surprised at the attempt to divert her from her purpose.

She was wise enough to guess that Preston's object had been more than the pleasure of her company; and she knew that all at home, unless possibly her father might be excepted, neither liked nor favoured her kindness to Molly and would rejoice to interrupt the tokens of it.

All were against her; and Daisy's hand, went up again and again.

"It is good I am weak and not very well," she thought; "as soon as I grow strong mamma will not let me do this any more.

I must do all I can now." So she came to the cripple's gate; and by that time the tears were all gone.
Nobody was in the little courtyard; Daisy went in first to see how the rose looked.