"He is certainly better," she repeated, with exultation in her
voice; "and now, my dear Daisy, we will get away from this
horrid place. My dear, how - how grey you look! What is the
matter? you are tired to death."
I almost wished I was. However, I commanded myself, and told
her I had been walking far, and it was hot, and no doubt I was
grey with dust.
"And do you know," Mrs. Sandford went on, "they say the attack
has commenced. Firing has been heard from some direction down
in Virginia; the doctor told me."
"Mr. Vinton told me."
"Did he? while you were out? and you never mentioned it!
Daisy, you are the coolest creature! I envy you for that more
than for everything else you have got; though people do say -
some people - that Miss Randolph's grey eyes are depths of
delight. My dear! whose possible encomiums have I hit in your
memory, that your cheeks are taking up the matter with such a
delicious rose colour?"
She did not know what she touched. It was no vanity, but her
words brought up suddenly what Thorold had told his aunt about
Vermont lakes, and all the bitter-sweetness of that evening.
My heart swelled. I was very near bursting into tears and
astonishing Mrs. Sandford.
"Daisy, my dear," she said fondly and half seriously, "you are
too great a treasure to be risked out of your parents' hands.
The responsibility is weighing upon me. I hope Grant will get
well, I am sure, and take us away. What with one sort of
danger and another, it is really too much. Fancy, what it
would be if we were to lose this battle! Why, the rebels would
be here in no time; the doctor said so."
"Well -" I said. I could not tell all my thought; that in such
an event I would not be anywhere but where I was, for worlds;
unless indeed I could be with the army of General Patterson
before Johnston.
"Is Dr. Sandford really better?" I asked.
"He certainly is; I am so glad! and I will tell him you asked
so earnestly about him, and that will make him better still.
Yes, we will get away now from this dismal place some time, I
do believe. Do go and lie down, Daisy; and I will send you
some lemonade."
The lemonade stood by me all day; while I thought of the smoke
and the conflict to which no refreshment could come. I could
not touch the lemonade.
I cannot tell now whether that day was Friday or Saturday. I
have tried to recollect, and I cannot. I am not sure whether
it was not Thursday. But I know it was Saturday evening when
the next thing happened which stands clear in my memory. I was
in my own room, forlornly endeavouring to work some worsted
embroidery; - though the sickness of my heart seemed to find
its way into my fingers, and it was with pain and difficulty
that they pulled the needle in and out. It was only more
difficult to sit still and do nothing; and to read was
impossible. I sat drawing the wool through the canvass-drawing
long threads of thought at the same time - when Mrs. Sandford
burst in.