Daisy In The Field

"Is it a possible thing," said mamma, "that a daughter of mine

can be such a simpleton? It is time you were married, Daisy,

if you can break hearts like that, without knowing it."

"Better be a simpleton than wicked," I said.

"And that comes to the point," said mamma. "You have most

unaccountably encouraged the addresses of these gentlemen -

and seeing that you did, so have I; - now, to clear both

yourself and me, let your preference be made known. It need

not take you long to make your mind up, I suppose."

"I am very sorry, mamma. I have done wrong; I have been very

foolish; but I cannot do worse. I do not like either of these

gentlemen well enough for what you mean."

"If you have done wrong, you can mend it," said mamma. "Liking

will come fast enough, Daisy; a girl like you does not think

she can like anybody but her father and mother; she finds out

her mistake in time. So will you. I will decide for you, if

you have no choice. Charles De Saussure is my friend, and I

think he is most of a man of the two. I will tell Charles that

you will make him happy by and by."

"No, mamma, I will not. Do not tell him so."

"Do you like Hugh Marshall better?"

"I do not like either of them in the way you mean."

"Do you like Hugh better? Answer me."

"Mamma -"

"No, answer me. A plain answer. Do you like Hugh better?"

"A great deal better; but -"

"That settles it," said mamma. "You shall be Hugh Marshall's

wife. Don't tell me a word against it, Daisy, for I will not

hear you. I do not like Marshall as well, myself, but his

property is even larger, I believe; and as I am not in love, I

may be allowed to think of such things. It is away over on the

Mississippi; but we cannot help that. I will make Hugh happy

to-day, and then - you shall, Daisy."

"No, mamma, - never. It cannot be."

"It must, Daisy. You have compromised yourself, and me. You

have allowed these gentlemen's attentions; you have been seen

everywhere with them; you owe it to yourself and them to

declare your choice of one of them now. You must make up your

mind to it. If you are not in love, it cannot be helped; that

will come in time; but I think you are. Hey, Daisy?" she said,

lifting my chin with her forefinger and looking into my face,

- "isn't it true? Isn't it true? Ah, silly thing! - Eyes that

are wells of sweetness for somebody - for all down they go, -

a mouth that has smiles enough for somebody, - though it

trembles, - and what does this rose leaf mean, that is

stealing over every one of your two cheeks? it is a witness to

somebody, who has brought it there. Go - I know all about it.

You may make your confession to Hugh, if you like it best."