Lady Daisy by Dick King-Smith

Lady Daisy by Dick King-Smith

Author:Dick King-Smith [King-Smith, Dick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2019-09-11T16:00:00+00:00


‘How she does boss everyone about!’ said Ned’s father.

He must have heard her, thought Ned in a panic, he must have heard Lady Daisy!

‘Why, did you hear what she said, Dad?’ he said.

His father put down the newspaper.

‘What are you talking about, Ned?’ he said. ‘How could I hear what Mrs Thatcher said? I read it – in this paper. Honestly, that doll’s got more brains than you.’

CHAPTER 9

Goalkeeping Practice

Ned’s grandmother rang up next day.

‘Gran wants to speak to you,’ his mother called.

Ned came to the phone.

‘Hello, Gran.’

‘Hello, pet. How are you?’

‘Fine, thanks.’

‘And Lady Daisy Chain?’

‘Yes, she’s fine too.’

‘Does Mum know about her yet?’

‘Oh yes, and Dad.’

‘Your father knows that you have a doll?’

‘Yes.’

‘And what does he say about that?’

‘Oh, he said she was a pretty little thing.’

‘Blow me down!’

‘It’s a long story, Gran. I’ll tell you when I next see you.’

‘Well, when you do, I’ve something to show you. I was tidying my writing-desk the other day – it’s something I’ve been meaning to do for ages . . .’

‘Like the box-room?’

‘. . . ha, yes, and of course it’s a very, very old desk, that belonged in fact to your great-great-grandfather, and as I was going through all the little cubby-holes in turn, dusting them, I must have pressed on a spring or a catch or something, because what d’you think I found?’

‘Don’t know.’

‘A secret drawer!’

‘Wow!’

‘Yes, and in it was a packet of old photographs, all of your great-grandfather Sidney as a boy, and of his sister Victoria. He looks to be about seven years old, and she about four, and I dare say you can guess who she is holding in several of the pictures?’

‘Lady Daisy!’

‘Yes. D’you remember I said to you, when you found the doll, that I thought it might have been Victoria’s, and now it’s proved.’

‘That’s great, Gran,’ Ned said. ‘If you hadn’t found those photos, I should never have known who Lady Daisy belonged to, should I?’

‘Of course not. How could you?’

Lady Daisy was delighted when Ned told her.

‘Next time we go to Gran’s, I’ll show you the photographs,’ he said.

‘Oh, that will be splendid, Ned! To be able to see my own dear little Victoria again!’

The small pain that Ned felt was, he suddenly realized, of jealousy.

‘Do you think of me as yours, Lady Daisy?’ he said.

‘Of course, dear boy. Why, to be sure, you sound almost to be jealous of someone so long dead. There is no call for that, Ned. You have quite taken Victoria’s place in my affections.’

‘Oh, that’s great!’ said Ned. ‘And I’m very fond of you, you know. I always shall be.’

‘You may tire of me,’ said Lady Daisy, ‘as you grow older. That would be only natural. You may pass me on, to another child.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of it!’ said Ned.

Perhaps it was the red October sun, sinking in the west and shining in through the window of Ned’s bed-sitter, but once again it seemed to him almost as though there was a blush on the doll’s smooth cheeks.



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