But I could not bear this state of things long; and at last I
excused myself from a party one morning and went to walk with
papa; and then that hedgehog of thoughts began to stir and
unfold and come to life. Still I wanted quiet. We had been
going through a picture gallery, where I did not see the
pictures; then, as often before, I persuaded papa to walk on
further and take post where we could look at our leisure on
the beautiful Dome. This was an unceasing pleasure to me. Papa
was not so fond of it; he came for my sake, as he often was
accustomed to do. To-day, instead of soothing, its majestic
beauty roused all there was to rouse within me. I suppose we
were a long time silent, but I do not know.
"Daisy, you are very quiet," papa said at length.
"Yes papa," I said, rousing myself. "I was thinking."
"That is an old disease of yours, my pet. I wish I could enjoy
that great Dome as much as you do."
"Papa, it is so perfect!"
"The Grecian temples suit me better, Daisy."
"Not me, papa."
"Why do they not? What can equal their grace and symmetry?"
"It is cold beauty, papa; there is nothing to lift the
thoughts up; and I don't believe those who built them had any
high thoughts - spiritual thoughts, I mean, papa."
"And you think the builder of the Dome of Florence had?"
"Yes, sir - I think so."
"The one means no more to me than the other, Daisy."
"Papa," I said, "don't you remember, when you sent me word I
must stay two years longer in school without seeing you and
mamma, you sent me a promise too? - by Aunt Gary."
"I remember very well, Daisy. Are you going to claim the
promise?"
"Papa, may I?"
"Certainly."
"But, papa, -does the promise stand good, like Herod's promise
to that dancing woman? is it to be whatever I ask?"
"I believe I said so, Daisy. By the way, why do you not like
dancing?"
"I suppose I should like it, papa, if I let myself do it."
"Why not let yourself do it? You do not want to make yourself
singular, Daisy."
"No more than I must, papa. But about your promise."
"Yes. Well?"
"It stands good, papa? if it is 'to the half of your
kingdom.' "
"That was a rash promise of Herod, Daisy."
"Yes, papa; but I am not a dancing girl."
Papa laughed, and looked at me, and laughed again, and seemed
a good deal amused.
"What put that argument into your mouth?" he said. "And what
is the reason that it is an argument? You are very absurd,
Daisy! You are very absurd not to dance; so your mother says;
and I am absurd too, by that reasoning; for I like you better
than if you did. Well, not being a dancing girl, what is your
petition? I reckon it will stand good, even to the half of my
kingdom. Though indeed I do not know how much of a kingdom
will remain to me, by the time matters are composed at home.
There will be no crops grown at the South this year."