"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.
Pages:
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377