"You are pale."
"That is womanish; but I am not weak or faint, though."
"Do you maintain your purpose?"
"Yes, certainly."
"You had better take off your bonnet and shawl then. You would
find them in the way."
I obeyed, and went on to envelope myself in my apron. Dr.
Sandford looked on grimly. Very ill pleased he was, I could
see. But then I laid my hand on his arm and looked at him.
"I am so much obliged to you for this," I said earnestly. And
his face softened.
"I am afraid it is wrong in me," he remarked.
"If you thought it was, you would not do it," I answered; "and
I hope I should not ask it. I am ready now. But Dr. Sandford,
I want teaching, as to what I ought to do. Who will teach me?"
"I will teach you. But you know how to give a sick man tea or
soup, I fancy, without much teaching."
"There are other things, Dr. Sandford."
"It will not be necessary. There are others to do the other
things. Captain Gary has only some simple wounds to be
dressed."
"But there are others, Dr. Sandford? And I must know how to do
all that the nurses do. I am not here to be in the way. I am
not going to take care of my cousin only."
"There is enough to do," said the doctor; "but, you will not
like it, Daisy."
Something in his wistful look at me, something in the contrast
between merely seeing what he was afraid I should see, and the
suffering itself which by the sufferers had to be borne,
touched me keenly. My eyes filled as I looked at the doctor,
but I think the purpose in my heart perhaps came out in my
face; for his own suddenly changed, and with a "Come, then!" -
he gave me his arm and led the way upstairs and into another
succession of rooms, to the ward and the room where my cousin
Preston lay.