The next day was an exceedingly hot and sultry one. Daisy had no
visiters until quite late in the afternoon; however it was a peaceful
day. She lay quiet and happy, and Juanita was quite as well contented
that the house should be empty and they two alone. Late in the
afternoon, Preston came.
"Well my dear little Daisy! so you are coming home"
"Am I?" said Daisy.
"To be sure; and your foot is going to get well, and we are going to
have all sorts of grand doings for you."
"My foot _is_ getting well."
"Certainly. Don't be a Quaker, Daisy."
"What sort of doings are you going to have, Preston?"
"First thing--as soon as you are well enough for it--we are going to
have a grand pic-nic party to Silver Lake."
"Silver Lake? what, on the other side of the river?"
"Yes."
"O how delightful! But I shall not be able to go in a long time,
Preston."
"Yes, you will. Aunt Felicia says you are coming back to Melbourne now;
and once we get you there, we'll cure you up. Why you must have moped
half your wits away by this time. I don't expect to find more than
two-thirds of the original Daisy left."
"I haven't moped at all."
"There! that is proof the first. When people are moping and do not know
they are moping, that is the sign their wits are departing. Poor Daisy!
I don't wonder. We'll get you to rights at Melbourne."
"Doctor Sandford will not let me be moved."
"Doctor Sandford cannot help himself. When aunt Felicia says so, he will
find ways and means."
"Preston," said Daisy, "I do not think you understand what sort of a man
Dr. Sandford is."
"Pray enlighten me, Daisy. I thought I did."
But Daisy was silent.
"What sort of a man is he?"
"Preston," said Daisy abruptly, "I wish you would bring me from
Melbourne that tray filled with something,--plaster,--I don't know what
it is,--on which Capt. Drummond and I studied geography, and history."
"Geography and history on a tray!" said Preston. "That would be one's
hands full to carry!"
"Well, but it was," said Daisy. "The tray was smooth filled with
something, something a little soft, on which you could mark; and Capt.
Drummond drew the map of England on it; and we were just getting into
the battle--what battle was it?--when William came over from France and
King Harold met him?"
"Hastings?"
"We were just come to the battle of Hastings, before Capt. Drummond went
away; and I should like so much to go on with it!"
"But was the battle of Hastings on the tray?"
"No, Preston, but the place was; and Capt. Drummond told me about the
battles."
"Who is here to tell you about them now, Daisy?"
"Couldn't you?--sometimes, now and then?"
"I might; but you see, Daisy, you are coming to Melbourne now, and there
will be Silver Lake and lots of other things to do. You won't want the
tray here."
Daisy looked a little wistfully at her cousin. She said nothing. And
Preston turned sharply, for he heard a soft rustle coming up the path,
and was just in time to spring to the door and open it for his aunt.
"Plow insufferably hot!" was Mrs. Randolph's remark. "How do you do,
Daisy?"
"I think she is bewitched to stay in banishment, aunt Felicia; she will
have it she is not coming home."
Mrs. Randolph's answer was given to the doctor, who entered at the
instant behind Preston.
"How soon can Daisy be moved, doctor?"
The doctor took a leisurely view of his little patient before he
replied.
"Not at present."
"How soon?"
"If I think her fit for it, in a fortnight; possibly earlier."
"But that is, not till September!"
"I am afraid you are correct," said the doctor coolly. Mrs. Randolph
stood pondering the question, how far it was needful to own his
authority.
"It is dreadfully hot here, in this little place! She would be much
better if she were out of it."
"How have you found it at Melbourne to-day?"
"Insufferable!"
"How has it been with you, Daisy?"
"It has been a nice day, Dr. Sandford."
The contrast was so extreme between the mental atmosphere of one speaker
and of the other, that Dr. Sandford smiled. It was ninety degrees of
Fahrenheit--and the fall of the dew.
"I have heard nobody say as much for the day before," he remarked.
"But she would be much better at Melbourne."
"As soon as I think that, she shall go."
The doctor was absolute in his sphere, and Mr. Randolph moreover, she
knew, would back him; so Mrs. Randolph held her peace, though
displeased. Nay, she entered into a little conversation with the doctor
on other subjects, as lively as the day would admit, before she
departed. Preston, stayed behind, partly to improve his knowledge of Dr.
Sandford.
"All has gone well to-day, Daisy?" he asked her pleasantly.
"O yes. And Dr. Sandford, shall we finish the sun?"
"By all means. What more shall I tell you?"
"How much more do you know, sir?"
"I know that it is globe-shaped--I know how big it is--I know how heavy
it is; and I know that it turns round and round continually."
"O sir, do you _know_ all these things?"
"Yes."
"Please, Dr. Sandford, how can you?"
"You would mature into a philosopher, in time, Daisy."
"I hope not," muttered Preston.
"I know that it is globe-shaped, Daisy, because it turns round and lets
me see all sides of it."
"Is one side different from another?"
"Only so far, as that there are spots here and there," Dr. Sandford went
on, looking at the exceeding eagerness in Daisy's eyes. "The spots
appear at one edge--pass over to the other edge, and go out of sight.
After a certain time I see them come back again where I saw them first."
"O I should like to see the spots on the sun!" said Daisy. "You said
they were holes in the curtain, sir?"
"Yes."
"What curtain?" said Preston.
"You are not a philosopher," said the doctor.
"How long does it take them, the spots, Dr. Sandford, to go round and
come back again?"
"A little more than twenty-five days."
"How very curious!" said Daisy. "I wonder what it turns round for--the
sun, I mean?"
"You have got too deep there," said the doctor. "I cannot tell you."
"But there must be some reason," said Daisy; "or it would stand still."
"It is in the nature of the thing, I suppose," said Dr. Sandford; "but
we do not fully know its nature yet. Only what I am telling you."
"How came people to find these things out?"
"By watching--and experimenting--and calculating."
"Then how big is the sun, Dr. Sandford?"
"How big does it look?"
"Not very large--I don't know--I can't think of anything it looks like."
"It looks just about as big as the moon does."
"Is it just the same size as the moon? But Dr. Sandford, it is a great
deal further off, isn't it?"
"Four hundred times as far."
"Then it must be four hundred times as large, I should think."
"It is just about that."
"But I do not know how large that would be. I cannot think."
"Nor can I, Daisy. But I can help you. Suppose we, and our earth, were
in the centre of the sun; and our moon going round us at the same
distance from us that she is now; there would be room enough for the
whole concern, as far as distances are concerned."
"In the sun, Dr. Sandford?"
"In the sun."
"And the moon as far off as she is now?"
"Yes."
"But the _moon_ would not be in the sun too?"
"Plenty of room, and to spare."
Daisy was silent now. Preston looked from her face to the doctor's.
"Not only that, Daisy; but the moon then would be two hundred thousand
miles within the circumference of the sun; the sun's surface would be
two hundred thousand miles beyond her."
"Thank you, Dr. Sandford!"
"What for, Daisy?"
"I am so glad to know all that."
"Why?"
Daisy did not answer. She did not feel ready to tell her whole thought,
not to both her friends together, at least; and she did not know how to
frame her reply. But then perceiving that Dr. Sandford was looking for
an answer, and that she was guilty of the rudeness of withholding it,
she blushed and spoke.
"It makes me understand some things better."
"What, for instance?" said the doctor, looking as grave as ever, though
Preston was inclined to laugh. Daisy saw it; nevertheless she answered,
"The first chapter of Genesis."
"O you are there, are you?" said the doctor. "What light have I thrown
upon the passage, Daisy? It has not appeared to myself."
Now Daisy hesitated. A sure though childish instinct told her that her
thoughts and feelings on this subject would meet with no sympathy. She
did not like to speak them.
"Daisy has peculiar views, Dr. Sandford," said Preston. But the doctor
paid him no attention. He looked at Daisy, lifted her up and arranged
her pillows; then as he laid her back said, "Give me my explanation of
that chapter, Daisy."
"It isn't an explanation, sir;--I did not know there was anything to
explain."
"The light I have thrown on it then--out of the sun."
Preston was amused, Daisy saw; she could not tell whether the doctor
was; his blue eyes gave no sign, except of a will to hear what she had
to say. Daisy hesitated, and hesitated, and then with something very
like the old diplomacy she had partly learned and partly inherited from
her mother, she said,
"If you will read the chapter, I will tell you."
Now Daisy did not think Dr. Sandford would care to read the chapter, or
perhaps have the time for it; but with an unmoved face he swung himself
round on his chair and called on Mrs. Benoit for a Bible. Preston was in
a state of delight, and Mrs. Benoit of wonder. The Bible was brought,
Dr. Sandford took it, and opened it.
"We have only time for a short lecture to-day," he remarked, "for I must
be off. Now Daisy, I will read, and you shall comment."
Daisy felt worried. She turned uneasily and rested her face on her hand,
and so lay looking at the doctor; at his handsome calm features and
glittering blue eye. What could _she_ say to him? The doctor's eye saw a
grave sweet little face, a good deal flushed, very grave, with a whole
burden of thought behind its unruffled simplicity. It may be said, that
his curiosity was as great as Daisy's unwillingness. He began, facing
her as he read. Juanita stood by, somewhat anxious.
'"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."'--
The doctor stopped and looked down at that face of Daisy looking up at
him. He waited.
"I did not use to think how much all that meant," said Daisy humbly. The
doctor went on.
He went on with the grand, majestic words of the story, which sounded
very strange to Daisy from his lips, but very grand; till he came to the
fourteenth verse. '"And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament
of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for
signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: and let them be for
lights in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth: and
it was so."' The doctor looked at Daisy again.
"There," said she, "that is very different now from what it used to
be--I didn't know what sort of lights those were; it's a great deal more
wonderful now. Won't you read on a little further?"
"'And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and
the lesser light to rule the night; he made the stars also. And God set
them in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth, and
to rule over the day, and over the night, and to divide the light from
the darkness: and God saw that it was good.'"
"That is what I mean," said Daisy, as the doctor paused. "I never knew
before what those 'lights' meant--I thought the sun was--I don't know
what; I didn't think much about it; but now I never shall forget again.
I know now what sort of a light was made to rule the day; and I don't
wonder--"
"Do not wonder what, Daisy?"
"I do not wonder that God said that it was good. I am so much obliged to
you for telling me about it."
"Never heard a more satisfactory application of knowledge in my
life,"--the doctor remarked with a smile as he handed back the Bible to
Mrs. Benoit. And then he and Preston went off; but Daisy lay long very
thoughtfully looking after them out of her window. Till the sound of the
horses' feet was far out of hearing Daisy lay there looking into the
evening. She did not stir till Mrs. Benoit brought her supper.
"Isn't it wonderful, Juanita," she said with a long drawn breath, "how
the sun divides the light from the darkness?"
"Most things is wonderful, that the Lord makes," answered the black
woman.
"Are they?" said Daisy.
"But what makes my love sigh?" said Juanita anxiously; for Daisy's face
had not brightened up, though she was taking her tea. Daisy looked at
her.
"O Juanita!" she said,--"I am afraid that Dr. Sandford is in the
darkness!"
"Where the sun don't shine it be darkness, sure!" said Juanita. "And he
do not see the Light of the world, Miss Daisy."
Daisy's eyes filled, filled. She liked Dr. Sandford very much. And then
who else that she loved had never seen that Light! Daisy pushed aside
her tears and tried to drink her tea; but at last she gave it up. Her
spoon fell into her saucer and she lay down and hid her face in the
pillow. The black woman stood with a strange grave look and with
watering eyes, silent for a little time; holding Daisy's tray in her
hands and waiting.
"Miss Daisy--"
"What, Juanita?"
"My love take her tea, to be strong; and then see how many she can bring
out of the darkness."
"I, Juanita?" said Daisy rousing up.
"Maybe the Lord send his message by little hands. What hinder?"
"But, Juanita, _I_ can't do anything?"
"Carry the Lord's message, Miss Daisy."
"Can I?"
"Why not, my love? The dear Lord, he do all. And Miss Daisy knows, he
hear the prayer of his servants."
The child looked at the black woman, with a wistful, earnest, searching
look that it was curious to see. She said nothing more; she eyed Juanita
as if she were searching into the depth of something; then she went on
with her supper. She was thoughtful all the evening; busy with
cogitations which she did not reveal; quiet and absent minded. Juanita
guessed why; and many a prayer went up from her own secret heart.
But from, about this time Daisy began to grow well again. She could not
be moved, of course; Dr. Sandford would not permit that; neither to be
carried home, nor to change her place and position in the cottage. But
she was getting ready for it. The latter half of August cooled off from
its fierce heats and was pleasantly warm. Daisy took the benefit of the
change. She had rather a good time, those last weeks at Juanita's house;
and perhaps that was one reason why Dr. Sandford, seeing it, chose to
let well alone and would not have anybody take Daisy home. Daisy had a
very good time. She had the peace of Juanita's house; and at home she
knew there would be things to trouble her. She had books and could read
now as much as she liked; and she was very fond of reading. Preston did
not find it expedient to bring the geography tray; on the other hand,
Mr. Randolph thought it good to come every day and spend a piece of time
with his little daughter; and became better acquainted with her than
ever he had been in his life before. He discovered that Daisy was very
fond of knowledge; that he could please her no way better than by taking
up the history of England and reading to her and stopping to explain
everything by the way which Daisy did not understand. English history
was certainly an old story to Mr. Randolph; but to discuss it with Daisy
was a very new thing. He found her eager, patient, intelligent, and wise
with an odd sort of child-wisdom which yet was not despicable for older
years. Daisy's views of the feudal system, and of the wittenagemot, and
of trial by jury, and of representative legislation, were intensely
amusing to Mr. Randolph; he said it was going back to a primitive
condition of society, to talk them over with her; though there I think
he was mistaken. If Daisy had read those pages of history to herself,
she would have passed over some of these matters at least with little
heed; she would not have gone to anybody with questions. But Mr.
Randolph reading to her, it was an easy thing to ask the meaning of a
word as they passed; and that word would draw on a whole little bit of
talk. In this intercourse Mr. Randolph was exceedingly gentle,
deliberate, and kind. Daisy had nothing to fear, not even that she might
weary him; so those were hours of real enjoyment to both parties.
Preston not very seldom came and made himself agreeable; playing an
occasional game of chess, and more often regaling Daisy with a history
of his expeditions. Other visitors Daisy had from Melbourne, now and
then; but her best friend for real service, after her father and
Juanita, was Dr. Sandford. He took great care of his little patient's
comfort and happiness; which was a pretty thing in him, seeing that he
was a young man, busy with a very good country practice, and furthermore
busy with the demands made upon him as an admired pet of society. For
that was Dr. Sandford, and he knew it perfectly well. Nevertheless his
kind care of Daisy never abated.
It was of course partly his professional zeal and care that were called
for; but it could not have been those that made him keep up his lectures
to Daisy on the wonderful things she found for him, day by day. In
professional care those lectures certainly began; but Daisy was getting
well now; had nothing more to trouble her, and shewed an invariably
happy as well as wise little face. Yet Dr. Sandford used to sit down and
tell her of the things she asked about, with a sort of amused
patience--if it was no more; at any rate he was never impatient. He
talked to Daisy of the stars, which, with the moon, were very naturally
the next subjects of investigation after the sun.
At last Daisy got him upon the subject of trilobites. It was not
difficult. Dr. Sandford was far more easy to move than Preston--in this
matter at least. He only smiled, and slid into the story very simply;
the story that Daisy was so eager to hear. And it did not seem less
worth hearing than she had expected, nor less wonderful, nor less
interesting. Daisy thought about it a great deal, while Juanita listened
and doubted; but Daisy did not doubt. She believed the doctor told her
true. That the family to which her little fossil trilobite
belonged--the particular family--for they were generally related, he
said to the lobster and crab, were found in the very oldest and deepest
down rocks in which any sort of remains of living things have been
found; therefore it is likely they were among the earliest of earth's
inhabitants. There were a great many of them, the doctor said, and many
different species; for great numbers of them are found to this day in
those-particular rocks. The rocks must have been made at the time when
the trilobites lived, and have somehow shut them in. And the doctor
thought it likely that at the time when they lived, there was no dry
land in existence, but all covered by the sea. He would not take it upon
him to be positive; but this he could tell Daisy; there was never a
stick or a leaf to be found in those old rocks that ever lived and grew
on dry ground, though there were plenty that grew in the sea, until in
the very topmost or latest of those rocks some few bits of fern growth
began to appear.
"But what plants live under water?" said Daisy.
"Sea weeds."
"Oh! So many of them?"
"So many, that the rocks are sometimes darkened by their fossil remains,
and in some places those remains form beds of coal several feet thick."
"And are there a great many remains of the trilobites?"
"There are whole rocks, Daisy, that are formed almost entirely of
trilobites."
"Sea weeds and trilobites--what a strange time!" said Daisy. "Was that
all that was living?"
"No; there were other sea creatures of the lower kind, and at last
fishes. But when the fishes became very numerous, the trilobites died
out and passed away."
That old time had a wonderful charm for Daisy; it was, as she thought,
better than a fairy tale. The doctor at last let her into the secret
that _he_ had a trilobite too; and the next time he came he brought it
with him. He was good enough to leave it with Daisy a whole day; and
Daisy's meditations over it and her own together were numberless and
profound.
The next transition was somewhat sudden; to a wasp or two that had come
foraging on Daisy's window-sill. But Dr. Sandford was at home there; and
so explained the wasp's work and manner of life, with his structure and
fitness for what he had to do, that Daisy was in utter delight; though
her eyes sometimes opened upon Dr. Sandford with a grave wistful wonder
in them, that he should know all this so well and yet never acknowledge
the hand that had given the wasp the tools and instinct for his work,
one so exactly a match for the other. But Dr. Sandford never did. He
used to notice those grave looks of Daisy, and hold private speculation
with himself what they might mean; private amused speculation; but I
think he must have liked his little patient as well as been amused at
her, or he would hardly have kept up as he did this personal ministering
to her pleasure, which was one of the great entertainments of Daisy's
life at this period. In truth only to see Dr. Sandford was an
entertainment to Daisy. She watched even the wave of his long locks of
hair. He was a fascination to her.
"Are you in a hurry to get home?" he would ask her every now and then.
Daisy always said, "No sir; not till you think it is time;" and Dr.
Sandford never thought it was time. No matter what other people said,
and they said a good deal; he ordered it his own way; and Daisy was
almost ready to walk when he gave permission for her to be taken home in
the carriage. However, the permission was given at last.
"To-morrow night I shall not be here, Juanita," Daisy remarked as she
was taking her supper.
"No, Miss Daisy."
"You will be very quiet when I am gone."
It had not been a bustling house, all those weeks! But the black woman
only answered,
"My love will come to see Juanita sometimes?"
"O yes. I shall come very often, Juanita--if I can. You know when I am
out with my pony, I can come very often,--I hope."
Juanita quite well understood what was meant by the little pauses and
qualifying clauses of this statement. She passed them over.
But Daisy shed a good many tears during Juanita's prayer that night. I
do not know if the black woman shed any; but I know that some time
afterwards and until late in the night, she knelt again by Daisy's
bedside, while a whisper of prayer, too soft to arouse the child's
slumbers, just chimed with the flutter and rustle of the leaves outside
of the window moving in the night breeze.
[Illustration: THE DOCTOR'S TRILOBITE.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Melbourne House, Volume 1, by Susan Warner