Part 62 (1/2)
”Because, I know you can do what you like. You always could manage things for me.”
He smiled a little, but went on in an unchanged tone.
”You are too young; and - excuse me - you have another disqualification.”
”I will do just as you tell me,” I said.
”If I let you in.”
”You will let me in.”
”I do not see that I ought. I think I ought not.”
”But you _will_, Dr. Sandford. My cousin was very dear to me when I was a child at Melbourne - I love him yet very much - no one would take so good care of him as I would; and it would be a comfort to me for ever. Do let me go in! I have come for that.”
”You might get sick yourself,” he said. ”You do not know what you would be obliged to hear and see. You do not know, Daisy.”
”I am not a child now,” - I replied.
There was more in my answer than mere words; there was more, I know, in my feeling; and the doctor took the force of it. He looked very sober, though, upon my plan, which it was evident he did not like.
”Does Mrs. Randolph give her consent to this proceeding?” he asked.
”She knows I came that I might look after Preston. I did not tell her my plan any further.”
”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 ap.r.o.ns; and at my ap.r.o.ns 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.”