I asked anxiously. Dr. Sandford's brow grew grave.
"Daisy, I don't know, as you say; but I have lived among the
Northern people in my life; and when a Yankee 'takes a
notion,' he is as tough a customer as ever I wish to have to
deal with."
"But they are not accustomed to fighting," I said.
"I am afraid they will be, before it is through."
"Then you think they are as brave as the South? Can they be?"
Dr. Sandford laughed at me a good deal. Nevertheless, I could
not find out what he thought; and I knew, I thought, what he
did not know so well. I knew the fiery proud spirit of my
native portion of the people. While his banter fell on my
ears, my eyes went off to the sunlit green fields where the
troops were parading; on Southern soil; and I saw in
imagination the rush and fury of vengeful onset, which might
come over those very fields; I saw the unequal contest; I saw
- what happened soon after. I sighed as I turned my eyes to
the doctor again.
"You are more of a Southerner than I thought you," he said.
And I fancied some gratification lurked behind the words.
"But you are true?" I exclaimed.
"True!" said the doctor, smiling. "True to what? I hope I am
true."
"I mean, you are a true Northerner? you do not sympathise with
the South?"
"I do not think they are in the right, Daisy; and I cannot say
I wish they should succeed. It is very natural that you should
wish it."
"I do not," I said. "I wish the right to succeed."
"I believe you do, or you would not be Daisy. But, with a
woman, - excuse me, - the right is where her heart is."
Dr. Sandford touched so much more than he knew in this speech,
I felt my cheek grow hot. I thought at the same time that he
was speaking with the intent to find out more than he knew. I
was silent and kept my face turned from him.
"You do not plead guilty," he went on.
"The charge is not guilt, but weakness," I said coolly.
"Weakness!" said the doctor. "Not at all. It is a woman's
strength."
"To be misled by her feelings?"
"No; to be led by them. Her feelings tell her where the right
is - generally. You are Daisy; but a woman, and therefore
perhaps no exception. Or are you an exception? How is it,
Daisy?"
"I do not wish the South to succeed, Dr. Sandford - if that is
what you mean."
"It is quite enough," he said, "to constitute you a remarkable
exception. I do not know three more at this minute, in this
cause. You will not have the sympathies of your father and
mother, Daisy?"