I could not answer. I stood still, with cheeks I suppose again growing so white, that the doctor hastily approached me with hartshorn. But I put it away and shook my head.
"I am not going to faint again, thank you."
"Daisy, Daisy!" said the doctor, "don't you know that your welfare is very dear to me?"
"I know it," I said. "I know you are like a good brother to me, Dr. Sandford."
"I am not like a brother at all!" said he. "Cannot you see that?"
"I do not want to see it," I answered sadly. "If I have not a brother in you, I have nothing."
"Why?" he asked shortly.
But I made no answer, and he asked no more. He looked at me, made a step towards the door, turned back, and came close to me, speaking in a husky changed tone, -
"You shall command me, Daisy, as you have long done. Let me know what to do to please you."
He went away then and left me. And I gathered my strength together and went back to Mr. Thorold.