"Yes, that would be nice: but I should have a party. O there are plenty
to have. There is Kitty Marsden."

"I don't know Kitty Marsden, much"--said Daisy.

"And Ella Stanfield."

"I like Ella Stanfield"--said Daisy sedately.

"And there are the Fishes."

"I don't like Mrs. Fish's children very well;--when Alexander and Ransom
get together, they make--a great deal of disturbance!"

"O we needn't mind their disturbance," said Nora; and she went on
discussing the plan and the advantages of the party. Suddenly Daisy
broke in with a new subject. "Nora, you know the story of the servants
with the talents, in the New Testament?"

"Yes--" said Nora with open eyes; "I know."

"Do you know what it means?--the talents, I mean; of course I know what
the rest means; but do you know what the talents are? Is it just
money?--because then you and I have very little indeed; and all the
servants had something."

"Why Daisy, what made you think of that just now? we were talking about
the party."

"I have been thinking of it all the while," said Daisy. "I was reading