The expedition to Annecy had been determined on, and papa and
mamma were to go. I went in a carriage with them, while the
others were on horseback; so I had a nice quiet time, which
suited me; a time of curious secret enjoyment. It seemed as if
a gratulation came to me from every blade of grass and every
ray of sunlight; because I was a servant of God, and as wholly
given up to do His will as they were. There was communion
between them and me. Of those "ministers of His, that do His
pleasure," I would be one; to do what He had for me to do in
the world, should be my care and joy at once; and the care of
myself - I left it to Him. One goes light when one does not
carry that burden.
"Daisy, you are dreadfully sober," said mamma.
"Not dreadfully, mamma, I hope," I said with a smile.
"You are pale too," she went on. "Mr. Randolph, Daisy thinks
too much."
"It is an old weakness of hers," said papa. "I am afraid it is
beyond our reach, Felicia."
"I will break it up for to-day," said mamma as the carriage
stopped and Mr. De Saussure came to the steps. "Charles, Daisy
has got into a brown study. I give her to you in charge, not
to allow anything of the sort again till we get home. And
order luncheon at once, will you. I can't go walking or sight-
seeing without that."
Mr. de Saussure gave me his arm and took me with him, as he
said, to help about the luncheon. It was soon spread out of
doors, beneath the shade of some large trees, and we gathered
round it in holiday mood. Bread was sweet, with that page of
beauty spread out before my eyes all the time; - for between
the boles of the trees and under their hanging branches I
could see the glittering waters of the lake and a bit of its
distant shore. I did not go into a brown study, however, not
wishing to give occasion to Mr. De Saussure's good offices. I
thought he had quite enough enjoyed his charge during the
business before luncheon. To my disappointment, after the meal
papa declared himself tired and went to lie down.
"We have forgotten our agreement," said Mr. De Saussure. "At
luncheon, we were all to tell, Mrs. Randolph, what we think
the worthiest thing to live for."
"Were we?" said mamma. "That sounds like one of Daisy's
problems."
"It is not hers, however," he rejoined; "any further than that
I am mainly curious to know what she will say about it."
"You ought to be equally anxious about my opinion, it seems to
me," mamma said.
"Do I not know it already? Pour la patrie, - does anything go
before that in your mind? Honestly, Mrs. Randolph, - is it not
in your opinion the worthiest thing anybody can do, to fight,
or to die - still better, - for the independence of the
South?"