"I think not," I said. "I have heard nothing about it."
"I will see that that is set right," Mr. Thorold remarked. "And now, do you know we must go down?—that is, I must; and I do not think I can leave you here."
"Oh, you have to be on parade!" I exclaimed, starting up; "and it is almost time!"
It was indeed, and though my companion put his own concerns in the background very politely, I would be hurried. We ran down the hill, Mr. Thorold's hand helping me over the rough way and securing me from stumbling. In very few minutes we were again at the gate and entered upon the post limits. And there were the band, in dark column, just coming up from below the hill.
We walked the rest of the way in orderly fashion enough, till we got to the hotel gate; there Mr. Thorold touched his cap and
left me, on a run, for the camp. I watched till I saw he got there in time, and then went slowly in; feeling that a great piece of pleasure was over.
I had had a great many pieces of pleasure in my life, but rarely a companion. Dr. Sandford, Miss Cardigan, my dear Capt. Drummond, were all much in advance of my own age; my servants were my servants, at Magnolia; and Preston had never associated with me on just the footing of equality. I went upstairs thinking that I should like to see a great deal more of Mr. Thorold.
Mrs. Sandford was on the piazza when I came down, and alone; everybody was gone to parade. She gave me a little billet.
"Well, my dear Daisy!—are you walked to death? Certainly, West Point agrees with you! What a colour! And what a change! You are not the same creature that we brought away from New York. Well, was it worth going for, all the way to see that old ruin? My dear! I wish your father and mother could see you."
I stood still, wishing they could.