Part 28 (1/2)
”Stop! - Mamma!” I cried; ”what are you saying? There is no confidence. What are you talking about?”
”I only asked, who it was to be, Daisy? I thought you were talking of leaving us, and naturally concluded it was to be with somebody.”
”Mamma - oh, mamma, I was speaking only in the abstract.”
Mamma laughed. ”In the abstract! Well, you will have to come from generals to particulars, Daisy. Abstractions will not satisfy anybody long.”
I was in great difficulty and great confusion. Papa drew me into his arms again and kissed my lips and cheeks and eyes, as if he would have hid my blushes.
”You shall be as abstract as you like,” he said; ”and as long as you like. I give you leave.”
”That's nonsense, though, Mr. Randolph,” said my mother, standing at the back of his chair. ”Daisy cannot live in abstractions for ever. She must choose, and let her choice be known; and the sooner the better. n.o.body can guess it now. She has been abstract enough.”
I was in the greatest perplexity at this speech, which conveyed to me no meaning whatever. Let my choice be known?
Did mamma know about Mr. Thorold? I knew she could not; but then, what did she mean?
”There is no hurry, Felicia,” said papa.
”I will not have Daisy marry any but an American, Mr.
Randolph.”
”Agreed. There is no present likelihood that she will.”
”But when we get to Florence, Mr. Randolph, and she is seen in the great world, things may not absolutely be within your control - or mine.”
Mamma stood tapping her fingers upon the back of my father's chair, and I thought her very odd indeed. Her last sentence, however, had a word that I could answer. I stood up and faced her.
”Mamma,” I said, ”I am going to say something that you will not like.”
”Then do not say it, Daisy.”
”I would not, if I could help it. But you know, mamma, I am a servant of G.o.d - I have not changed, - and I and the 'great world' have nothing in common.”
”Well? -” said mamma calmly.
”I do not belong to it. I have no place in it.”
”No, of course. You are just out of school. A few months more will change all that.”
”No, mamma, - please!”
”Yes, Daisy, - please!” she said, tapping my cheek with her finger, and then leaning forward to kiss me with smiling lips.
”You do not know what you are talking about, my love. You are made for the great world, Daisy. There is no danger of turning your head; so I have no objection to explain to you that you are magnificent.”
”Mamma, what difference can that possibly make?”
They both laughed at me, and mamma said I would soon see.
”But, mamma,” I urged, ”that world and I have nothing in common. I should be out of my place in it, and it would find me something strange.”