"Yes; that is of course too. But which do you like best, of
the two? I suppose you have some preference."
"Mamma, I think I prefer the pearls, but you know -"
Mamma stopped my mouth with a kiss. "Little goose!" she said,
- "I am not talking of pearls. Did I not say what I was
thinking of? I supposed we both had the same thought, Daisy,
and that you would understand me."
"I thought it was pearls and rubies, mamma."
"Well, now you know it is not; and again I come back to my
question, - Which is it to be?"
"Which - of what, mamma?"
"Nonsense, Daisy; - you know."
"I know nothing of any choice that I have to make, ma'am, if
you do not mean about jewels; and of them, as I said, I should
prefer neither."
"You may choose and refuse among jewels," said my mother, -
"and refuse and choose; but among some other things it is
necessary to make a choice and stick to it."
"Yes, mamma; but I am not in such a necessity."
"What choice have you made, then? It is the same thing, Daisy;
only I want to know. Do you not think it is reasonable that I
should know?"
"Please explain yourself, mamma."
"Hugh Marshall, then, and Charles De Saussure. What is your
mind about them?"
"I like them, mamma, as your friends and as mine, - very well,
- but no more."
"Only very well."
"No more, mamma."
"Very well, is a good deal," said mamma coolly. "Which of them
must I like a little more than very well, Daisy?"
"Mamma? -"
"Whoever owns and possesses you, I should wish to like very
much. Which is it to be, Daisy?"
"Neither of these gentlemen, mamma."
"Did De Saussure propose to you yesterday?"
"Yes."
"What did you say to him?"
"I made him understand that he was nothing to me."
"He is something to me," said mamma. "He is one of the first
young men I know, and has one of the finest estates - close by
yours, Daisy."
"Estates are nothing in such a matter, mamma."
"That is like saying that pearls and rubies are nothing on
such a skin as yours," said mamma laughing. "But you may think
of the men, Daisy, and I will think of the estates; that is
all en règle."
"I do not wish to think of these men, mamma."
"It is late in the day to say that. You must have thought of
them both, Daisy, and long ago."
"It never entered my head till yesterday, mamma, that either
of them liked me."
"You must have seen it for weeks past."
"I did not, mamma, - I never thought of such a thing as
possible, till yesterday."