"When it is properly exerted," I said. "But it is not now, Dr. Sandford, and it will not be. I am perfectly well; and I am going to do my work."
"You fainted just now from very exhaustion."
"I am not exhausted at all. Nor even tired. I am perfectly well."
"Disagreeable!" said the doctor, half laughing, though thoroughly disturbed. "What made you do it, then?"
I could not answer. I stood still, with cheeks I suppose again growing so white, that the doctor hastily approached me with hartshorn. But I put it away and shook my head.
"I am not going to faint again, thank you."
"Daisy, Daisy!" said the doctor, "don't you know that your welfare is very dear to me?"
"I know it," I said. "I know you are like a good brother to me, Dr. Sandford."
"I am not like a brother at all!" said he. "Cannot you see that?"
"I do not want to see it," I answered sadly. "If I have not a brother in you, I have nothing."
But I made no answer, and he asked no more. He looked at me, made a step towards the door, turned back, and came close to me, speaking in a husky changed tone, -
"You shall command me, Daisy, as you have long done. Let me know what to do to please you."
He went away then and left me. And I gathered my strength together and went back to Mr. Thorold.
From that time we all were, to all seeming, just as we had been before that day. Dr. Sandford went his rounds, with no change perceptible in his manner towards any- body, or towards me. I think I was not different in the ward from what I had been, except to one pair of eyes: The duties of every day rolled on as they had been accustomed to do; the singing of every night was just as usual. One thing was a little changed. I sought no longer to hide that Mr. Thorold was something to me. The time for that was past. Of the few broken minutes that remained to us, he should lose none, nor I, by unnecessary difficulty. I was by his side now, all I could without neglecting those who also needed me. And we talked, all we could, with his strength and my time. I cared not now, that all the ward should see and know what we were to each other.
Mr. Thorold saw a change in me, and asked the reason. And I gave it. And then we talked no more of our own losses.
"I am quite ready to go, Daisy," he had said to me, with a look both bright and sweet which it breaks my heart, while it gladdens me, to remember. "You will come by and by, and I shall be looking for you; and I am ready now, love."