Mrs. Randolph rose then, and inquired of the doctor what would be the best means of removing Daisy?

“She must not be moved,” the doctor said.

“Not to-night?”

“No, madam; nor to-morrow, nor for many days.”

“Must she be left here?”

“If she were out in the weather, I would move her,” said the doctor; “not if she were under a barn that would shed the rain.”

“What harm would it do?”

The doctor could not take it upon him to say.

“But I cannot be with her here,” said Mrs. Randolph; “nor anybody else, that I can see.”

“Juanita will take care of her,” said the doctor.  “Juanita is worth an army of nurses.  Miss Daisy cannot be better cared for than she will be.”

“Will you undertake the charge?” said Mrs. Randolph, facing round upon Daisy’s hostess.

“The Lord has given it to me, madam,—­and I love to do my Lord’s work,” was Juanita’s answer.  She could not have given a better one, if it had been meant to act as a shot, to drive Mrs. Randolph out of the house.  The lady waited but till the doctor had finished his directions which he was giving to the black woman.

“I don’t see,” then she said to her husband, “that there is anything to be gained by my remaining here any longer; and if we are to go, the sooner we go the better, so that Daisy may be quiet.  Dr. Sandford says that is the best thing for her.”

“Capt.  Drummond will see you home,” said her husband.  “I shall stay.”

“You can’t do anything, in this box of a place.”

“Unless the child herself desires it, there is no occasion for your remaining here over night,” said the doctor.  “She will be best in quiet, and sleep, if she can.  You might hinder, if your presence did not help her to this.”

“What do you say, Daisy?” said her father tenderly, bending over her;—­“shall I stay or go?  Which do you wish?”

“Papa, you would not be comfortable here.  I am not afraid.”

“Do you want me to go?” said her father, putting his face down to hers.  Daisy clasped her two arms round his neck and kissed him and held him while she whispered,

“No, papa, but maybe you had better.  There is no place for you, and I am not afraid.”

He kissed her silently and repeatedly, and then rose up and went to look at the storm.  It had ceased; the moon was struggling out between great masses of cloud driving over the face of the sky.  Mrs. Randolph stood ready to go, putting on her “capuche” which she had thrown off, and Juanita laying her shawl round her shoulders.  The doctor stood waiting to hand her to the carriage.  The Captain watched Daisy, whose eye was wistfully fixed on her mother.  He watched, and wondered at its very grave, soft expression.  There was very little affection in the Captain’s mind at that moment towards Mrs. Randolph.

The carriage was ready, and the lady turned round to give a parting look at the child.  A cold look it was, but Daisy’s soft eye never changed.