“Mamma,” said she whisperingly, “won’t you kiss me?”

Mrs. Randolph stooped instantly and gave the kiss; it could not be refused, and was fully given; but then she immediately took Doctor Sandford’s arm and went out of the house.  The Captain reverently bent over Daisy’s little hand, and followed her.

The drive was a very silent one till Dr. Sandford was left at his own door.  So soon as the carriage turned again, Mrs. Randolph broke out.

“How long did he say, Mr. Randolph, the child must be left at that woman’s cottage?”

“He said she must not be moved for weeks.”

“She might as well stay forever,” said Mrs. Randolph,—­“for the effect it will have.  It will take a year to get Daisy back to where she was!  I wish fanatics would confine their efforts to children that have no one else to care for them.”

“What sort of fanaticism has been at work here, Mrs. Randolph?” the Captain enquired.

“The usual kind, of course; religious fanaticism.  It seems to be catching.”

“I have been in dangerous circumstances to day, then,” said the Captain.  “I am afraid I have caught it.  I feel as if something was the matter with me.”

“It will not improve you,” said Mrs. Randolph drily.

“How has it wrought with Daisy?”

“Changed the child so that I do not recognize her.  She never set up her own will before; and now she is as difficult to deal with as possible.  She is an impersonation of obstinacy.”

“Perhaps, after all, she is only following orders,” said the Captain with daring coolness.  “A soldier’s duty makes him terribly obstinate sometimes.  You must excuse me,—­but you see I cannot help appreciating military qualities.”

“Will you be good enough to say what you mean?” the lady asked with sufficient displeasure of manner.

“Only, that I believe in my soul Daisy takes her orders from higher authority than we do.  And I have seen to-day—­I declare!  I have seen a style of obedience and soldierly following, that would win any sort of a field—­ay, and die in it!” added the Captain musingly.  “It is the sort of thing that gets promotion from the ranks.”

“How did all this happen to-day?” asked Mr. Randolph, as the lady was now silent.  “I have heard only a bit of it.”

In answer to which, Capt.  Drummond went into the details of the whole day’s experience; told it point by point, and bit by bit; having a benevolent willingness that Daisy’s father and mother should know, if they would, with what sort of a spirit they were dealing.  He told the whole story; and nobody interrupted him.

“It is one thing,” said the Captain thoughtfully as he concluded,—­“it is one thing to kneel very devoutly and say after the minister, ’Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these laws in our hearts;’—­I have done that myself; but it gives one an entirely different feeling to see some one in whose heart they are written!”