onel and a
general to talk to; but Dr. Sandford sat down by me.

"How do you like it, Daisy?"

I told him, and thanked him for bringing me.

"Are you tired?"

"No--I don't think I am tired."

"You are not hungry, of course, for you can eat nothing. Do you think
you shall sleep?"

"I don't feel like it now. I do not generally get sleepy till a great
while after this."

"You will go to sleep somewhere about nine o'clock," said the doctor;
"and not wake up till you are called in the morning."

I thought he was mistaken, but as I could not prove it I said nothing.

"Are you glad to get away from school?"

"On some accounts. I like school too, Dr. Sandford; but there are some
things I do not like."

"That remark might be made, Daisy, about every condition of life with
which I am acquainted."

"I could not make it just now," I said. He smiled.

"Have you secured a large circle of friends among your
schoolmates,--that are to last for ever?"

"I do not think they love me well enough for that," I said, wondering
somewhat at my guardian's questioning mood.

"Nor you them?"

"I suppose not."

"Why, Daisy," said Mrs. Sandford, "I am surprised! I thought you used
to love everybody."

I tried to think how that might be, and whether I had changed. Dr.
Sandford interrupted my thoughts again--

"How is it with friends out of school?"

"Oh, I have none," I said; thinking only of girls like myself.

"None?" he said. "Do you really know nobody in New York?"

"Nobody,--but one old lady."

"Who is that, Daisy?"

He asked short and coolly, like one who had a right to know; and then
I remembered he had the right. I gave him Miss Cardigan's name and
number.

"Who is she? and who lives with her?"

"Nobody lives with her; she has only her servants."

"What do you know about her then, besides what she has told you?
Excuse me, and please have the grace to satisfy me."

"I know I must," I said half laughing.

"_Must?_"

"You know I must too, Dr. Sandford."

"I don't know it, indeed," said he. "I know I must ask; but I do not
know what power can force you to answer."

"Isn't it my duty, Dr. Sandford?"

"Nobody but Daisy Randolph would have asked that question," he said.
"Well, if duty is on my side, I know I am powerful. But, Daisy, you
always used to answer me, in times when there was no duty in the
case."

"I remember," I said, smiling to think of it; "but I was a child then,
Dr. Sandford."

"Oh!--