"She would not like it."
"Mamma and I do not see things with the - same eyes, some
things, Dr. Sandford. I think I ought to do it."
"I think she is right," he said. "You are not fit for it. You
have no idea what you would be obliged to encounter."
"Try me," I said.
"I believe you are fit for anything," he broke out in answer
to this last appeal; "and I owned myself conquered by you,
Daisy, long ago. I find I have not recovered my independence.
Well - you will go in. But you cannot be dressed - so."
"No, I will change my dress. I will do it immediately."
"No, not to-night!" exclaimed the doctor. "Not to-night. It is
bad enough to-morrow; but I shall not take you in to-night.
Rest, and sleep and be refreshed; I need not say, be strong;
for that you are always. No, I will not take you with me to-
night. You must wait."
And I could do no more with him for the time. I improved the
interval, however. I sent out and got some yards of check to
make aprons; and at my aprons I sat sewing all the evening, to
Mrs. Sandford's disgust.
"My dear child, what do you want of those things?" she said,
looking at them and me with an inexpressible disdain of the
check.
"I think they will be useful, ma'am."
"But you are not going into the hospital?"
"Yes; to-morrow morning."
"As a visitor. But not to stay."
"I am going to stay if I am wanted," I said, displaying the
dimensions of my apron for my own satisfaction.
"My dear, if you stay, you will be obliged to see all manner
of horrible things."
"They must be worse to bear than to see, Mrs. Sandford."
"But you cannot endure to see them, Daisy; you never can.
Grant will never allow it."
I sewed in silence, thinking that Dr. Sandford would conform
his will to mine in the matter.
"I will never forgive him if he does!" said the lady. But that
also I thought would have to be borne. My heart was firm for
whatever lay before me. In the hospital, by Preston's side, I
was sure my work lay; and to be there, I must have a place at
other bedsides as well as his. In the morning Mrs. Sandford
renewed her objections and remonstrances as soon as she saw
her brother-in-law; and to do him justice, he looked as ill
pleased as she did.
"Daisy wants to go into the hospital as a regular nurse," she
said.
"It is a weakness of large-hearted women now-a-days."
"Large-hearted! Grant, you are not going to permit such a
thing?"
"I am no better than other men," said the doctor; "and have no
more defences."