A Victory

"Ah, I thought so!" he said. "Even so soon, Daisy, you are
leaving me for somebody else."

"Papa!" I exclaimed, hiding my face in his neck, - "I will
never leave you, till you say so."

"Till I say so? I will not be over selfish, my dear child. I
do not mean that."

"Who is it to be, Daisy?" my mother's voice said behind us.

I started up in absolute terror. What had I said? and what did
she mean? I looked at her, speechless.

"Well?" she said laughing, "what is the matter? You need not
turn white about it. Is your father the only one to be in your
confidence? I will withdraw then."

"Stop! - Mamma!" I cried; "what are you saying? There is no
confidence. What are you talking about?"

"I only asked, who it was to be, Daisy? I thought you were
talking of leaving us, and naturally concluded it was to be
with somebody."

"Mamma - oh, mamma, I was speaking only in the abstract."

Mamma laughed. "In the abstract! Well, you will have to come
from generals to particulars, Daisy. Abstractions will not
satisfy anybody long."

I was in great difficulty and great confusion. Papa drew me
into his arms again and kissed my lips and cheeks and eyes, as
if he would have hid my blushes.

"You shall be as abstract as you like," he said; "and as long
as you like. I give you leave."

"That's nonsense, though, Mr. Randolph," said my mother,
standing at the back of his chair. "Daisy cannot live in
abstractions for ever. She must choose, and let her choice be
known; and the sooner the better. Nobody can guess it now. She
has been abstract enough."