Run down to the kitchen this minute, Sarah Mary, and bring me up the beef-tea, and a nice little delicate slice of toast, done to a turn, to eat with it.

Mind you, don't let the toast get burnt, for if I can't see I can taste, and well know when my toast is burnt." Poppy was about to give a saucy answer, but a look from Primrose restrained her, and before she left Penelope Mansion she had provided the old lady with her luncheon.

Primrose said a few words of farewell and regret, and then Poppy set out, determined to take her chance of finding Jasmine and Daisy at home.
"I'll go back to my own place to-night," she said to herself, "and tell my mother that wanity of wanities is London--my fifteen shillings will just buy me a single third, and I needn't eat nothing until to-morrow morning." When Poppy arrived at Miss Egerton's she was told by Bridget that Miss Jasmine was out, but that she would find Miss Daisy by herself upstairs.

Poppy ran nimbly up the stairs, and knocked at the sitting-room door; there was no answer, and turning the handle, she went in.

Daisy was lying with her face downwards on the sofa--sobs and quivers shook her little frame, and for a time she did not even hear Poppy, who bent over her in some alarm.
"Now, Miss Daisy, darling, I'm real glad I has come in--why, what is the matter, missie ?" "Nothing, Poppy; nothing indeed," said Daisy, "except that I'm most dreadfully unhappy.