He came; and though his fine face took no gloom upon it and his blue eye was as usual impenetrable, the eyes that anxiously watched him were not satisfied.  Dr. Sandford said nothing; and Mrs. Randolph had self-control sufficient not to question him, while he made his examinations and applied his remedies.  But the remedies, though severe, were a good while in bringing back any token of consciousness.  It came at last, faintly.  The doctor summoned Mrs. Randolph out of the room then and ordered that his patient should be kept in the most absolute and profound quiet.  No disturbance or excitement must be permitted to come near him.

“How long, doctor?”

“I beg your pardon, Mrs. Randolph?—­”

“How long will it be before he is better?”

“I cannot say that.  Any excitement or disturbance would much delay it.  Let him hear nothing and see nothing—­except you, and some attendant that he is accustomed to.”

“O doctor, can’t you stay till he is better?”

“I will return again very soon, Mrs. Randolph.  There is nothing to be done at present for which I am needed.”

“But you will come back as soon as you can?”

“Certainly!”

“And O, Dr. Sandford, cannot you take Daisy away?”

“Where is she?”

“I don’t know—­she is not come home.  Do take her away!”

The doctor went thoughtfully down stairs, and checking his first movement to go out of the front door, turned to the library.  Nobody was there; but he heard voices, and passed out upon the piazza.  Daisy’s pony chaise stood at the foot of the steps; she herself had just alighted.  Preston was there too, and it was his voice the doctor had first heard, in anxious entreaty.

“Come, Daisy!—­it’s capital down at the river; and I want to shew you something.”

“I think I am tired now, Preston.  I’ll go another time,” said Daisy.

“Daisy, I want you now.  Come! come!—­I want you to go now, this minute.”

“But I do not feel like a walk, Preston.  I can’t go till I have had my dinner.”

Preston looked imploringly at the doctor, towards whom Daisy was now mounting the steps.  It is safe to say that the doctor would willingly have been spared his present task.

“Where have you been now, Daisy?” he said.

Daisy’s face brightened into its usual smile at sight of him.  “I have been to Crum Elbow, Dr. Sandford.”

“Suppose you go a little further and have luncheon with Mrs. Sandford and me?  It will not take us long to get to it.”

“Does mamma say so, Dr. Sandford?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will be ready in a moment.”

“Where are you going?” said her friend stopping her.

“Only up stairs for a minute.  I will be ready in two minutes, Dr. Sandford.”

“Stop,” said the doctor, still detaining her.  “I would rather not have you go up stairs.  Your father is not quite well, and I want him kept quiet.”