CHAPTER VIII.
EGYPTIAN GLASS.
It became necessary for me to think how soon I could be ready, andarrange to get my leave-takings over by a certain time. Dr. Sandfordcould not wait for me. He was an army surgeon now, I found, andstationed at Washington. He had to return to his post and leave MissPinshon to bring me up to Washington. I fancy matters were easilyarranged with Miss Pinshon. She was as meek as a lamb. But it neverwas her way to fight against circumstances. The doctor ordered that Ishould come up to Washington in a week or two.
I did not know till he was gone what a hard week it was going to be.
As soon as he had turned his back upon Magnolia, my leave-takingsbegan. I may say they began sooner; for in the morning after hisarrival, when Margaret was in my room, she fell to questioning meabout the truth of the rumour that had reached the kitchen. Jem said Iwas going away, not to come back. I do not know how he had got hold ofthe notion. And when I told her it was true, she dropped the pinesplinters out of her hands, and rising to her feet, besought me that Iwould take her with me. So eagerly she besought me, that I had muchdifficulty to answer.
"I shall be in a school, Margaret," I said. "I could not have anybodythere to wait on me."
"Miss Daisy won't never do everything for herself?"
"Yes, I must," I said. "All the girls do."
"I'd hire out then, Miss Daisy, while you don't want me--I'd be rightsmart--and I'd bring all my earnin's to you regular. 'Deed I will!Till Miss Daisy want me herself."
I felt my cheeks flush. She would bring _her_ earnings to _me_. Yes,that was what we were doing.
"'Clar, Miss Daisy, do don't leave me behind! I could take washin' anddo all Miss Daisy's things up right smart--don't believe they knowshow to do things up there!--I'll come to no good if I don't go withMiss Daisy, sure."
"You can be good here as well as anywhere, Margaret," I said.
"Miss Daisy don' know. Miss Daisy, s'pose the devil walkin' roundabout a place; think it a nice place fur to be good in?"
"The devil is not in Magnolia more than anywhere else," I said.
"Dere Mass' Edwards--" Margaret said half under her breath. Even in myroom she would not speak the name out loud.
The end of it was, that I wrote up to Washington to Dr. Sandford toask if I might take the girl with me; and his answer came back, thatif it were any pleasure to me I certainly might. So that matter wassettled. But the parting with the rest was hard. I do not knowwhether it was hardest for them or for me. Darry blessed me and prayedfor me. Maria wept over me. Theresa mourned and lamented. Tears andwailings came from all the poor women who knew me best and used tocome to the Sunday readings: and Pete took occasion to make privaterequest, that when I was grown, or when at any time I should want amanservant, I would remember and send for him. He could do anything,he said; he could drive horses or milk cows or take care of a garden,or _cook_. It was said in a subdued voice, and though with a gleam ofhis white circle of teeth at the last-mentioned accomplishment, it wassaid with a depth of grave earnestness which troubled me. I promisedas well as I could; but my heart was very sore for my poor people,left now without anybody, even so much as a child, to look after theircomfort and give them any hopes for one world or the other.
Those heavy days were done at last. Margaret was speedy with mypacking; a week from the time of Dr. Sandford's coming, I had said mylast lesson to Miss Pinshon, read my last reading to my poor people,shaken the last hand-shakings; and we were on the little steamerplying down the Sands river.
I think I was wearied out, for I remember no excitement or interestabout the journey, which ought to have had so much for me. In apassive state of mind I followed Miss Pinshon from steamer to station;from one train of cars to another; and saw the familiar landscape flitbefore me as the cars whirled us on. At Baytown we had been joined bya gentleman who went with us all the rest of the way; and I began bydegrees to comprehend that my governess had changed her vocation, andinstead of taking care, as heretofore, was going to be taken care of.It did not interest me. I saw it, that was all. I saw Margaret'sdelight, too, shown by every quick and thoughtful movement that couldbe of any service to me, and by a certain inexpressible air ofdeliverance which sat on her, I cannot tell how, from her bonnet downto her shoes. But her delight reminded me of those that were notdelivered.
I think of all the crushing griefs that a young person can be calledto bear, one of the sorest is the feeling of wrongdoing on the part ofa beloved father or mother. I was sure that my father, blinded by oldhabit and bound by the laws of the country, did not in the leastdegree realise the true state of the matter. I knew that the realcolour of his gold had never been seen by him. Not the less, _I_ knewnow that it was bloody; and what was worse, though I do not know _why_it should be worse, I knew that it was soiled. I knew that greed anddishonour were the two collectors of our revenue, and _wrong_ ouragent. Do I use strong words? They are not too strong for the feelingswhich constantly bore upon my heart, nor too bitter; though mychildish heart never put them into such words at the time. That myfather did not know, saved my love and reverence for him; but it didnot change anything else.
In the last stage of our journey, as we left a station where the trainhad stopped, I noticed a little book left on one of the empty seats ofthe car. It lay there and nobody touched it: till we were leaving thecar at Alexandria and almost everybody had gone out, and I saw that itlay there still and nobody would claim it. In passing I took it up. Itwas a neat little book, with gilt edges, no name in it, and having itspages numbered for the days of the year. And each page was full ofBible words. It looked nice. I put the book in my pocket; and on boardthe ferry-boat opened it again, and looked for the date of the day inMarch where we were. I found the words--"He preserveth the way of hissaints." They were the words heading the page. I had not time foranother bit; but as I left the boat this went into my heart like acordial.
It was a damp, dark morning. The air was chill as we left the littleboat cabin; the streets were dirty; there was a confusion of peopleseeking carriages or porters or baggage or custom; then suddenly Ifelt as if I had lighted on a tower of strength, for Dr. Sandfordstood at my side. A good-humoured sort of a tower he looked to me, inhis steady, upright bearing; and his military coat helped theimpression of that. I can see now his touch of his cap to MissPinshon, and then the quick glance which took in Margaret and me. Inanother minute I had shaken hands with my governess, and was in acarriage with Margaret opposite me; and Dr. Sandford was giving mybaggage in charge to somebody. And then he took his place beside meand we drove off. And I drew a long breath.
"Punctual to your time, Daisy," said the doctor. "But what made youchoose such a time? How much of yourself have you left by the way?"
"Miss Pinshon liked better to travel all night," I said, "becausethere was no place where she liked to stop to spend the night."
"What was your opinion on that subject?"
"I was more tired than she was, I suppose."
"Has she managed things on the same system for the four years past?"
The doctor put the question with such a cool gravity, that I could nothelp laughing. Yet I believe my laughing was very near crying. Atfirst he did so put me in mind of all that was about me when I usedto see him in that time long before. And an inexpressible feeling ofcomfort was in his presence now; a feeling of being taken care of. Ihad been looked after, undoubtedly, all these years--sharply lookedafter; there was never a night that I could go to sleep without mygoverness coming in to see that I was in my room, or in bed, and myclothes in order, and my light where it ought to be. And my aunt hadnot forgotten me, nor her perplexities about me. And Preston hadpetted me when he was near. But even Preston sometimes lost sight ofme in the urgency of his own pleasure or business. There was a greatdifference in the strong hand of Dr. Sandford's care; and if you hadever looked into his blue eyes, you would know that they forgotnothing. They had always fascinated me; they did now.
Mrs. Sandford was not up when we
got to the house where she wasstaying. It was no matter, for a room was ready for me; and Dr.Sandford had a nice little breakfast brought, and saw me eat it, justas if I were a patient. Then he ordered me to bed, and chargedMargaret to watch over me, and he went away, as he said, till luncheontime.
I drew two or three long breaths as Margaret was undressing me; I feltso comfortable.
"Are Miss Pinshon done gone away, Miss Daisy?" my handmaid asked.
"From Magnolia? yes."
"Where she gwine to?"
"I don't know."
"Then she don't go furder along the way we're goin'?"
"No. I wonder, Margaret, if they will have any prayer-meetings inMagnolia now?" For with the mention of Magnolia my thoughts sweptback.
"'Spect the overseer have his ugly old way!" Margaret uttered withgreat disgust. "Miss Daisy done promise me, I go 'long with MissDaisy?" she added.
"Yes. But what makes _you_ want to get away from home more than allthe rest of them?"
"Reckon I'd done gone kill myself, s'pose Miss Daisy leave me there,"the girl said gloomily. "If dey send me down South, I _would_."
"Send you South!" I said; "they would not do that, Margaret."
"Dere was man wantin' to buy me--give mighty high price, de overseersaid." In excitement Margaret's tongue sometimes grew thick, likethose of her neighbours.
"Mr. Edwards has no right to sell anybody away from the place," Iinsisted, in mixed unbelief and horror.
"Dunno," said Margaret. "Don't make no difference, Miss Daisy. Whocare what he do? Dere's Pete's wife--"
"Pete's wife?" said I. "I didn't know Pete was married! What of Pete'swife?"
"Dat doctor will kill me, for sure!" said Margaret, looking at me."Do, don't, Miss Daisy! The doctor say you must go right to bed, now.See! you ain't got your clothes off."
"Stop," said I. "What about Pete's wife?"
"I done forget. I thought Miss Daisy knowed. Mebbe it's before MissDaisy come home."
"What?" said I. "What?"
"It's nothin', Miss Daisy. The overseer he done got mad with Pete'swife and he sold her down South, he did."
"Away from Pete?" said I.
"Pete, he's to de old place," said Margaret, laconically. "'Spect heforgot all about it by dis time. Miss Daisy please have her clothesoff and go to bed?"
There was nothing more to wait for. I submitted, was undressed; butthe rest and sleep which had been desired were far out of reach now.Pete's wife?--my good, strong, gentle, and I remembered always_grave_, Pete! My heart was on fire with indignation and torn topieces with sorrow, both at once. Torn with the helpless feeling toothat I could not mend the wrong. I do not mean this individual wrong,but the whole state of things under which such wrong was possible. Iwas restless on my bed, though very weary. I would rather have been upand doing something, than to lie and look at my trouble; only thatbeing there kept me out of the way of seeing people and of talking.Such things done under my father and mother's own authority,--on theirown land--to their own helpless dependants; whom yet it was _they_made helpless and kept subject to such possibilities. I turned andtossed, feeling that I _must_ do something, while yet I knew I coulddo nothing. Pete's wife! And where was she now? And _that_ was thesecret of the unvarying grave shadow that Pete's brow always wore. Andnow that I had quitted Magnolia, no human friend for the presentremained to all that crowd of poor and ignorant and needy humanity.Even their comfort of prayer forbidden; except such comfort as eachbeliever might take by himself alone.
I did not know, I never did know till long after, how to many atMagnolia that prohibition wrought no harm. I think Margaret knew, andeven then did not dare tell me. How the meetings for prayer were notstopped. How watch was kept on certain nights, till all stir hadceased in the little community; till lights were out in the overseer'shouse (and at the great house, while we were there); and how then,silently and softly from their several cabins, the people stole awaythrough the woods to a little hill beyond the cemetery, quite far outof hearing or ken of anybody; and there prayed, and sang too, and"praised God and shouted," as my informant told me; not neglecting allthe while to keep a picket watch about their meeting-place, to givethe alarm in case anybody should come. So under the soft moonlightskies and at depth of night, the meetings which I had supposed brokenup, took new life, and grew, and lived; and prayers did not fail; andthe Lord hearkened and heard.
It would have comforted me greatly if I could have known this at thetime. But, as I said, I supposed Margaret dared not tell me. After along time of weary tossing and heartache, sleep came at last to me;but it brought Pete and his wife and the overseer and Margaret in newcombinations of trouble; and I got little refreshment.
"Now you have waked up, Miss Daisy?" said Margaret when I opened myeyes. "That poundin' noise has done waked you!"
"What noise?"
"It's no Christian noise," said Margaret. "What's the use of turnin'the house into a clap of thunder like that? But a man was makin' it o'purpose, for I went out to see; and he telled me it was to call folksto luncheon. Will you get up, Miss Daisy?"
Margaret spoke as if she thought I had much better lie still; but Iwas weary of the comfort I had found there and disposed to trysomething else. I had just time to be ready before Dr. Sandford camefor me and took me to his sister-in-law. Mrs. Sandford welcomed mewith great kindness, even tenderness; exclaimed at my growth; but Isaw by her glance at the doctor that my appearance in other respectsstruck her unfavourably. He made no answer to that, but carried us offto the luncheon-room.
There were other people lodging in the house besides my friends; along table was spread. Dr. Sandford, I saw, was an immense favourite.Questions and demands upon his attention came thick and fast from bothends and all sides of the table; about all sorts of subjects and inall manner of tones, grave and gay. And he was at home to them all,but in the midst of it never forgot me. He took careful heed to myluncheon; prepared one thing, and called for another; it reminded meof a time long gone by; but it did not help me to eat. I could noteat. The last thing he did was to call for a fresh raw egg, and breakit into a half glass of milk. With this in his hand we left thedining-room. As soon as we got to Mrs. Sandford's parlour he gave itto me and ordered me to swallow it. I suppose I looked dismayed.
"Poor child!" said Mrs. Sandford. "Let me have it beaten up for her,Grant, with some sugar; she can't take it so."
"Daisy has done harder things," he said.
I saw he expected me to drink it, and so I did, I do not know how.
"Thank you," he said smiling, as he took the glass. "Now sit down andI will talk to you."
"How she is growing tall, Grant!" said Mrs. Sandford.
"Yes," said he. "Did you sleep well, Daisy?"
"No, sir; I couldn't sleep. And then I dreamed."
"Dreaming is not a proper way of resting. So tired you could notsleep?"
"I do not think it was that, Dr. Sandford."
"Do you know what it was?"
"I think I do," I said, a little unwillingly.
"She is getting very much the look of her mother," Mrs. Sandfordremarked again. "Don't you see it, Grant?"
"I see more than that," he answered. "Daisy, do you think thisgoverness of yours has been a good governess?"
I looked wearily out of the window, and cast a weary mental look overthe four years of algebraics and philosophy at the bright little childI saw at the further end of them.
"I think I have grown dull, Dr. Sandford," I said.
He came up behind me, and put his arms round me, taking my hand inhis, and spoke in quite a different tone.
"Daisy, have you found many 'wonderful things' at Magnolia?"
I looked up, I remember, with the eagerness of a heart full ofthoughts, in his face; but I could not speak then.
"Have you looked through a microscope since you have been there, andmade discoveries?"
"Not in natural things, Dr. Sandford."
"Ha!" said the doctor. "Do you want to go and take a dri
ve with me?"
"Oh yes!"
"Go and get ready then, please."
I had a very pleasant, quiet drive; the doctor showing me, as he said,not wonderful things but new things, and taking means to amuse me. Andevery day for several days I had a drive. Sometimes we went to thecountry, sometimes got out and examined something in the city. Therewas a soothing relief in it all, and in the watchful care taken of meat home, and the absence of mathematics and philosophy. All day whennot driving or at meals, I lay on Mrs. Sandford's sofa or curledmyself up in the depth of a great easy-chair, and turned over herbooks; or studied my own blue book which I had picked up in the car,and which was so little I had Margaret to make a big pocket in myfrock to hold it. But this life was not to last. A few days was allMrs. Sandford had to spend in Washington.
The place I liked best to go to was the Capitol. Several times Dr.Sandford took me there, and showed me the various great rooms, andpaintings, and smaller rooms with their beautiful adornments; and Iwatched the workmen at work; for the renewing of the building was notyet finished. As long as he had time to spare, Dr. Sandford let meamuse myself as I would; and often got me into talks which refreshedme more than anything. Still, though I was soothed, my trouble atheart was not gone. One day we were sitting looking at the pictures inthe great vestibule, when Dr. Sandford suddenly started a subjectwhich put the Capitol out of my head.
"Daisy," said he, "was it your wish or Margaret's, that she should goNorth with you?"
"Hers," I said, startled.
"Then it is not yours particularly."
"Yes, it is, Dr. Sandford, _very_ particularly."
"How is that?" said he.
I hesitated. I shrank from the whole subject; it was so extremely soreto me.
"I ought to warn you," he went on, "that if you take her further, shemay, if she likes, leave you, and claim her freedom. That is the law.If her owner takes her into the free States, she may remain in them ifshe will, whether he does or not."
I was silent still, for the whole thing choked me. I was quitewilling she should have her freedom, get it any way she could; butthere was my father, and his pleasure and interest, which might notchoose to lose a piece of his property; and my mother and _her_interest and pleasure; I knew what both would be. I was dumb.
"You had not thought of this before?" the doctor went on.
"No, sir."
"Does it not change your mind about taking her on?"
"No, sir."
"Did it ever occur to you, or rather, does it not occur to you now,that the girl's design in coming may have been this very purpose ofher freedom?"
"I do not think it was," I said.
"Even if not, it will be surely put in her head by other people beforeshe has been at the North long; and she will know that she is her ownmistress."
I was silent still. I knew that I wished she might.
"Do you think," Dr. Sandford went on, "that in this view of the casewe had better send her back to Magnolia when you leave Washington?"
"No," I said.
"I think it would be better," he repeated.
"Oh, no!" I said. "Oh, no, Dr. Sandford. I can't send her back. Youwill not send her back, will you?"
"Be quiet," he said, holding fast the hand which in my earnestness Ihad put in his; "she is not my servant; she is yours; it is for you tosay what you will do."
"I will not send her back," I said.
"But it may be right to consider what would be Mr. Randolph's wish onthe subject. If you take her, he may lose several hundred dollars'worth of property: it is right for me to warn you. Would he choose torun the risk?"
I remember now what a fire at my heart sent the blood to my face. Butwith my hand in Dr. Sandford's, and those blue eyes of his reading me,I could not keep back my thought.
"She ought to be her own mistress," I said.
A brilliant flash of expression filled the blue eyes and crossedhis face--I could hardly tell what, before it was gone. Quicksurprise--pleasure--amusement--agreement; the first and the two lastcertainly; and the pleasure I could not help fancying had lent its colourto that ray of light which had shot for one instant from thoseimpenetrable eyes. He spoke just as usual.
"But, Daisy, have you studied this question?"
"I think I have studied nothing else, Dr. Sandford."
"You know the girl is not yours, but your father's."
"She isn't anybody's," I said slowly, and with slow tears gathering inmy heart.
"How do you mean?" said he, with again the quiver of a smile upon hislips.
"I mean," I said, struggling with my thoughts and myself, "I mean thatnobody could have a right to her."
"Did not her parents belong to your father?"
"To my mother."
"Then she does."
"But, Dr. Sandford," I said, "nobody _can_ belong to anybody--in thatway."
"How do you make it out, Daisy?"
"Because nobody can give anybody a _right_ to anybody else in thatway."
"Does it not give your mother a right, that the mother of this girland her grandmother were the property of your ancestors?"
"They could not be their property justly," I said, glad to get back tomy ancestors.
"The law made it so."
"Not God's law, Dr. Sandford," I said, looking up at him.
"No? Does not that law give a man a right to what he has honestlybought?"
"No," I said, "it _can't_--not if it has been dishonestly sold."
"Explain, Daisy," said Dr. Sandford, very quietly; but I saw the gleamof that light in his eye again. I had gone too far to stop. I went on,ready to break my heart over the right and wrong I was separating.
"I mean, the _first_ people that sold the first of these colouredpeople," I said.
"Well?" said the doctor.
"They could not have a right to sell them."
"Yes. Well?"
"Then the people that bought them could not have a right, any more," Isaid.
"But, Daisy," said Dr. Sandford, "do you know that there are differentopinions on this very point?"
I was silent. It made no difference to me.
"Suppose for the moment that the first people, as you say, had noprecise right to sell the men and women they brought to this country;yet those who bought them and paid honest money for them, andpossessed them from generation to generation--had not _they_ a rightto pass them off upon other hands, receiving their money back again?"
"I don't know how to explain it," I said. "I mean--if at first--Dr.Sandford, hadn't the people that were sold, hadn't they rights too?"
"Rights of what sort?"
"A right to do what they liked with themselves, and to earn money, andto keep their wives?"
"But those rights were lost, you know, Daisy."
"But _could_ they be?" I said. "I mean--Dr. Sandford, for instance,suppose somebody stole your watch from you; would you lose the rightto it?"
"It _seems_ to me that I should not, Daisy."
"That is what I mean," I said.
"But there is another view of the case, Daisy. Take Margaret, forinstance. From the time she was a child, your father's, or yourmother's money has gone to support her; her food and clothing andliving have been wholly at their expense. Does not that give them aright to her services? ought they not to be repaid?"
I did not want to speak of my father and mother and Margaret. It wascoming too near home. I knew the food and clothing Dr. Sandford spokeof; I knew a very few months of a Northern servant's wages would havepaid for it all; was this girl's whole life to be taken from her, andby my father and mother, and for such a cause? The feeling of griefand wrong and shame got possession of me. I was ready to break myheart in tears; but I could not show Dr. Sandford what I felt, norconfess to what I thought of my father's action. I had the greateststruggle with myself not to give way and cry. I was very weak bodily,but I know I stood still and did not shed a tear; till I felt Dr.Sandford's hands take hold of me. They put me gently back in the ch
airfrom which I had risen.
"What is the matter, Daisy?" he said.
I would not speak, and he did not urge it; but I saw that he watchedme till I gained command of myself again.
"Shall we go home now?" he asked.
"In a minute. Dr. Sandford, I do not think papa knows about allthis--I do not think he knows about it as I do. I am sure he does not;and when he knows he will think as I do."
"Or perhaps you will think as he does."
I was silent. I wondered if that could be possible--if I too couldhave my eyes blinded as I saw other people's were.
"Little Daisy," said my friend the doctor, "but you are getting to benot _little_ Daisy. How old are you?"
"I shall be fourteen in June."
"Fourteen. Well, it is no wonder that my friend whom I left aphilosopher at ten years old, I should find a woman at fourteen; butDaisy, you must not take it on your heart that you have to teach allthe ignorant and help all the distressed that come in your way;because simply you cannot do it."
I looked up at him. I could not tell him what I thought, because hewould not, I feared, understand it. Christ came to do just such work,and His servants must have it on their hearts to do the same. I cannottell what was in my look, but I thought the doctor's face changed.
"One Molly Skelton will do for one four years," he said as he rose up."Come, Daisy."
"But, Dr. Sandford," I said, as I followed him, "you will not doanything about sending Margaret back?"
"Nothing, till you do, Daisy."
Arrived at home, the doctor made me drink a raw egg, and lie down onMrs. Sandford's sofa; and he sat down and looked at me.
"You are the most troublesome patient that ever I had," said he.
"I am?" I exclaimed.
"Yes. Quite innocently. You cannot help it, Daisy; and you need not betroubled about it. It is all in the way of my profession. It is as ifa delicate vessel of Egyptian glass were put to do the work of an ironsmelting furnace; and I have to think of all the possible bands andhardening appliances that can be brought into use for the occasion."
"I do not understand," I said.
"No; I suppose not. That is the worst of it."
"But why am I an _Egyptian_ glass?" I asked. "I am not very old."
The doctor gave me one of those quick, bright glances and smiles thatwere very pleasant to get from him and not very common. There came asort of glow and sparkle in his blue eye then, and a wonderful winsomeand gracious trick of the lips.
"It is a very doubtful sort of a compliment," said Mrs. Sandford.
"I did not mean it for a compliment at all," said the doctor.
"I don't believe you did," said his sister; "but what _did_ you mean?Grant, I should like to hear you pay a compliment for once."
"You do not know Egyptian glass," said the doctor.
"No. What was it?"
"Very curious."
"Didn't I say that you couldn't pay compliments?" said Mrs. Sandford.
"And unlike any that is made nowadays. There were curious patternswrought in the glass, made, it is supposed, by the fusing together ofrods of glass, extremely minute, of different colours; so that thepattern once formed was ineffaceable and indestructible, unless by thedestruction of the vessel which contained it. Sometimes a layer ofgold was introduced between the layers of glass."
"How very curious!" said Mrs. Sandford.
"I think I must take you into consultation, Daisy," the doctor wenton, turning to me. "It is found that there must be a little delaybefore you can go up to take a look at Melbourne. Mrs. Sandford isobliged to stop in New York with a sick sister; how long she may bekept there it is impossible to say. Now you would have a dull time, Iam afraid; and I am in doubt whether it would not be pleasanter foryou to enter school at once. In about three months the school termwill end and the summer vacation begin; by that time Mrs. Sandfordwill be at home and the country ready to receive you. But you shall dowhichever you like best."
"Mrs. Sandford will be in New York," I said.
"Yes."
"And I would see you constantly, dear, and have you with me all theSaturdays and Sundays and holidays. And if you like it better, youshall be with me all the time; only I should be obliged to leave youalone too much."
"How long does the summer vacation last?" I inquired.
"Till some time in September. You can enter school now or then, as youchoose."
I thought and hesitated, and said I would enter at once. Dr. Sandfordsaid I was not fit for it, but it was on the whole the best plan. Soit was arranged, that I should just wait a day or two in New York toget my wardrobe in order and then begin my school experience.
But my thoughts went back afterwards, more than once, to the formerconversation; and I wondered what it was about me that made Dr.Sandford liken me to Egyptian glass.