Daisy in the Field

by Susan Warner

"Will that do?" said papa as I gave it back.

"Papa, only one thing more, - if you are willing, that we should sometimes write to each other?"

"Hm - that sounds moderate," said papa. "By the way, why was not this letter written and sent sooner? What is the date? - why, Daisy! -"

"What, papa?"

"My child, this letter, - it is a good year old, and more; written in the beginning of last winter."

It took me a little while to get the full bearings of this; then I saw that it dated back to a time quite anterior to the circumstances of Faustina St. Clair's story, whatever that amounted to. Papa was all thrown back.

"This is good for nothing, now, you see, Daisy."

"Oh, no, papa."

"For the purposes of action."

"Papa, it does not matter, the date."