"Do you love Preston Gary?" said mamma, sitting up-right to
look at me.
"Mamma, I always loved him. You know I did."
"Why did you not say so before?"
"I did say so, mamma, whenever I was asked. Will you let me
go? O mamma, let me go!"
"What could you do, child? he is in the hospital."
"Mamma, he may want so many things; I know he must want some
things."
"It is vain talking. You cannot go alone, Daisy."
"No, ma'am; but if I could get a good safe friend to go with
me?"
"I do not know such a person in this place."
"I do, mamma, - just the person."
"Not a fit person for you to travel with."
"Yes, mamma, just the one; safe and wise to take care of me.
And if I were once there, Dr. Sandford would do anything for
me."
Mamma pondered my words, but would not yield to them. I wept
half the evening, I think, with a strange strain on my heart
that said I must go to Preston. Childish memories came thick
about me, and later memories; and I could not bear the idea of
his dying, perhaps, alone in a hospital, without one near to
say a word of truth or help him in any wish or want that went
beyond the wants of the body. Would even those be met? My
nerves were unstrung.
"Do stop your tears, Daisy!" mamma said at length. "I can't
bear them. I never saw you do so before."
"Mamma, I must go to Preston."
"If you could go there properly, child, and had any one to
take care of you; as it is, it is impossible."
I half thought it was; I could not bend mamma. But while we
sat there under the light of the lamp, and I was trying to do
some work, which was every now and then wetted by a drop that
would fall, a servant brought in a note to me. It was from
Mrs. Sandford, in New York, on her way to Washington to look
after a friend of her own; and asking if in any matter she
could be of service to me or to mamma. I had got my
opportunity now, and I managed to get mamma's consent. I
answered Mrs. Sandford's note; packed up my things; and by the
early train next morning started with her for Washington.
Mrs. Sandford was very kind, very glad to have me with her,
very full of questions, of sympathy, of condolence, and of
care; I remember all that, and how I took it at the time,
feeling that Daisy and Daisy's life had changed since last I
was under that same gentle and feeble guidance. And I remember
what an undertone of music ran through my heart in the thought
that I might perhaps hear of, or see, Mr. Thorold. Our journey
was prosperous; and the next person we saw after arriving at
our rooms was Dr. Sandford. He shook hands with his sister;
and then, his eye lightened and his countenance altered as he
turned to the other figure in the room and saw who it was.