Daisy In The Field

As the spring drew on, and days grew gentle, and soft weather

replaced the strong brace of the winter frost, my condition of

health became more and more unsatisfactory. My mother grew

seriously uneasy at length and consulted Dr. Sandford. And the

next thing was Dr. Sandford's appearance at our hotel.

"What is the matter with you, Daisy?" he asked, very

professionally. Mamma was out when he came.

"Nothing -" I answered; "except what will take its own time."

"Not like you, that answer," he said.

"It is like me now," I replied.

"We must get back to a better condition. It is not I good for

you to be in this place. Would you like to go into quarters

near Melbourne, for the summer?"

"Better than anything! - if you could manage it. Mamma would

not like it."

"I think I can convince her."

Dr. Sandford I knew had powers of convincing, and I judge they

were helped on this occasion by facts in the pecuniary state

of our affairs, to which my mother could no longer quite shut

her eyes. She had not money to remain where she was. I think

she had not been able, properly, to be there, for a good while

past; though the bills were paid somehow. But now her

resources failed; the war was evidently ending disastrously

for the South; her hopes gave way; and she agreed to let Dr.

Sandford make arrangements for our going into the country. It

was very bitter to her, the whole draught she had to swallow;

and the very fact of being under necessity. Dr. Sandford had a

deal of trouble, I fancy, to find any house or arrangement

that would content her. No board was procurable that could be

endured even for a day. The doctor found at last, and hired,

and put in order for us, a small cottage on the way between

Melbourne and Crum Elbow; and there, early in June, mamma and

I found ourselves established; "Buried," she said;

"sheltered," I thought.

"I wish I was dead," mamma said next morning.

"Mamma - why do you speak so? just now."

"There is no sort of view here - nothing in the world but

those grass fields."

"We have this fine elm tree over the house, mamma, to shade

us. That is worth a great deal."

"If the windows had Italian shades, they would be better. What

windows! Who do you suppose lived here before us?"

"Mamma, I do think it is very comfortable."

"I hope you will show that you think so, then. I have had no

comfort in you for a long time past."

I thought, I should never have comfort in anybody any more.

"What has changed you so?"

"Changes come to everybody, I suppose, mamma, now and then."