But his look at me was so infinitely glad and sweet, that my
senses failed me again. I did not sink down; but I stood
without sight or hearing. The clasp of his hand recalled me.
"It is Daisy!" he said smiling. "Daisy, and not a vision. My
Daisy! How is it?"
"What can I do for you?" I said hastily.
"Nothing. Stand there. I have been looking at you; and thought
it was long till you would look at me."
"I was busy."
"Yes, I know, love. How is it, Daisy? When did you come back
from Switzerland?"
"Months ago."
"I did not know of it."
"Letters failed, I suppose."
"Then you wrote?"
"I wrote, - with papa's letter."
"When?"
"Oh, long ago - long ago; - I don't know, - a year or two."
"It never reached me," he said, a shadow crossing his bright
brow.
"I sent it to your aunt, for her to send it to you; and she
sent it; I asked her."
"Failed," he said. "What was it, Daisy?"
The question was put eagerly.
"Papa was very good," I said; - "and you were very right,
Christian, and I was wrong. He liked your letter."
"And I should have liked his?" he said, with one of those
brilliant illuminations of eye and face.
"I think you would."
"Then I have got all I can ask for," he said. "You are mine;
and while we live in this world we belong to each other. Is it
not so?"
There was mamma. But I could not speak of her. Even she could
not prevent the truth of what Christian said; in one way it
must be true. I gave no denial. Thorold clasped my hand very
fast, and I stood breathless. Then suddenly I asked if he had
had his breakfast? He laughed and said yes, and still clasped
my hand in a grasp that said it was better than food and drink
to him. I stood like one from under whose feet the ground is
slipping away. I longed to know, but dared not ask, what had
brought him there; whether he was suffering; the words would
not come to my lips. I knew Dr. Sandford would be here by and
by; how should I bear it? But I, and nobody but me, must do
all that was done for this sufferer at least.
I left Mr. Thorold, to attend to duties that called me on all
hands. I did them like one in a dream. Yet my ordinary manner
was quiet, and I suppose nobody saw any difference; only I
felt it. I was looking all the time for the moment of Dr.
Sandford's appearance, and praying for strength. It came, his
visit, as everything does come, when its time was; and I
followed him in his round; waiting and helping as there was
want of me. I did it coolly, I know, with faculties sharpened
by an intense motive and feelings engrossed with one thought.
I proved myself a good assistant; I knew Dr. Sandford approved
of me; I triumphed, so far, in the consciousness that I had
made good my claim to my position, and was in no danger of
being shoved away on the score of incompetency.