Melbourne House, Volume 2

nook that could be found. Nothing was fresh; and if the trees did hinder the sunshine from falling on some parts of the ground, they kept off none of it from the wa

remarked. Fish never were supposed to be very wise creatures, Mr. Sandford informed her; but nevertheless, it was resolved not to reckon upon their want of wisdom at this time, but to put up and go back to shore, and try what cold chi

he weather than the doctor's temper. Mrs. Gary and Mrs. Fish he found sunk in somnolency at the foot of the tree where they had been talking. The young ladies were sitting by the emptied hamp

your siste

The tone meant

see her

om, without raising his e

e is

ou, I don

with the fis

e when we came," Ale

I remember seeing her. She cannot be far off. I

ch was not moss nor stone. In two minutes the doctor came up with it. It was Daisy, fast asleep on her moss bed behind the rock. Her head lay on her arm which was curled up under it; and profound slumber had left the little pale face as serene as usual. The doctor was warm by this time. He sat dow

I got asleep," she said i

ou get her

e here

did you

d at the doctors face, and th

ing you now?" sai

Daisy in the gentlest

ir

k I am

sy!-has not some on

ave been vexed,"

there, and that you ought to ha

Dr. Sandford! It is n

the doctor's as she spoke and looked

picious of everybody, Daisy. Come-you and I must go

the tablecloth, before anybody knew that two of their number were wanting. The cry was just raised, "Where is the doctor?"-when the doctor hove in sight with Daisy by his side. Everybody was placed already; and it was very natural that the doctor keeping hold of Daisy's hand, led her with him to th

as now at the parched lips, and boned turkey and jellied ham were waiting attention, and a good time had come. It was some while, of course, before Daisy could be served. She waited, feeling very happy and amused; for

ttle distance, and across several peo

id Daisy. "

ou a he

o, m

t up your hand t

or manner had acted to stop the voices of all the company in her neighbourhood; and everybody was waiting and looking to see what the subject of interest might be. Mrs. Randolph'

sat with your eyes cover

now; the rosy flush that had spread itself all over

so before every meal

, ma

ht breath. He did not look, exce

s that me

d the child

t that means? w

e round there an

it still in your

as silent,

what does that action

ak to you in priv

of it? are you as

mam

o it at

in vain to hear the a

t ask you a

w and modestly, but with s

u choose that particular time

d in Daisy's eyes; but presently she ans

very silly practice of yours, Daisy, and very unbe

guests returned to their ordinary conversation. Except the doct

ession of love, and pledge of obedience, and prayer for help? It was something better than the meal often

; not caring herself, and indeed in too much confusion of mind yet to know or think about the business. And her appetite was gone. Dr. Sandford provided for her with kind care, what she

" Ransom said to her after the meal wa

om, I thought eve

r-not a berry; and Nora and Ella Sta

, "didn't you have a

Nora. "I like peaches

at shall

sit down and

we have a game of hide and s

lla. "It is too hot t

hot," said Nora. "The

aid Preston coming up. "We'll get in the shade, and see

" said Daisy eagerly.

e wanted to make her

e go too?"

. We will go round to the other side of the island, Daisy; it is pretty there, I know.

nd the brilliant hot beams fell with what seemed renewed brill

," said Preston. "We do

is

looking round. He was just moving away to

reston; "but I never heard he had a right to command p

ekly. "But you can go wi

d has no more business to say what you shall do than what I shall do. I will not let him rule you so. Come!

ston, I

stupid man says? or

go very much, tha

you

I can

as well obey me

not th

re going. You wi

tch some pickerel,"

boys, and men, for the most part, he was fond of having his own way even in little things; though he sought it in a polite fashion. And Daisy was very fond of him, and alway

ly fell to considering what she should do; and then remembered her old refuge, prayer; and then concluded that she was a very happy little girl after all. And instead of being hurt that Nora had been with her so little that day, it was very natural, Daisy said to herself. Of course, Nora wanted to go in the boat with Preston after fish; it was too good an opportunity to be lost; and of course she had liked to walk in the morning with the larger and gayer party. It was all right, Daisy dec

d all your ple

, s

angry w

an affectionate bright smile that the d

ow," said he; "would you like to take a little walk w

the pic-nic ground. Firs and oaks stood thick all along, with many other trees also; the ground was carpeted with layers of moss; great rocks rose up by the water's edge, grey and brown with lichens. It was not so ho

upon the moss with his hands under his head. His cap fell off; his blue eyes look

," sh

hat have y

erything is

ctor; "but you are very young t

nt to go to

't. I want to have a talk with

aw keenly enough the start of pleasure into hers. And they had seen the pale, subdued look of the face that

hile I am enjoying myself in

said Daisy; "but you look a grea

ything about the sun, now that it has gone unde

all I ta

Something green

k on every hand. No doubt those beautiful structures had uses and characters of wonder; she had a great mind to ask the doctor to tell her about them. But the great boulder beside which they were hid from view, divided her attention;

atching how Daisy's countenance w

these things grow on the

green

t, of different kinds; and there is beautiful brake at th

y n

hing wanted some

they

ht not. They must have

dfo

e will do,

t there," said Daisy. "It was only

suppose it was no more. But there is something

Daisy. "I do not

me-you d

ce had forgotten its care, and the eyes were alight with intelligence and curiosity, and the

and brown patches of colour t

stfully-"those are just the col

Look

he rock-some of it is not-but here is a spo

t grows; it is not rock; it is a vegetable. If I had my pocket lens

sy. "I can see now-it

Sand

che

is tha

of vegetable life. It is the fi

does it

water, I

e," said Daisy musingly. "I thoug

epare soil for t

Dr. Sa

In favourable situations a stray oak leaf or two falls and lies there, and also decays, and by and by there is a little coating

decays and makes

ppose

tive and witness of natural processes she had had no knowledge of before. The mosses, the brakes, the lichen, had all ga

and shewing her where tufts of a delicate little green plant clus

that Dr.

ing won

pretty. What

ustr

racter-it is one of the liverworts, and they are some of the first pla

onderful, Dr

. Look here, Daisy-on the surface of this leaf

I see

they are finished

delightedly. "I can't see a

and such baskets as you never dreamed of. The shape is elegant, and round the edge, Daisy, they are cu

uld see it,"

, and lived with me, I could shew

ful and somewhat wistful smile, but immed

baskets hold anyt

e always made to

do the

ittle bits of things which, whenever they get

?" sai

r the purpo

of the basket? do the

in the basket, they will take root there, and then t

ful it is!"

ground or in the basket; but the side that happens to be exposed to the light, after a time, pr

matter which side

in the be

frond, Dr

eed-bearing lea

aisy. "What are these litt

real seed vesse

Sandford, is eve

you think

sy; "but I never should have thought this l

Its name is

s anything but pretty, and of course good for somet

sun?" said Dr.

prising, I thin

so securely that this little Ma

ctor was getting a very good amusement himself, and quite entered i

ing good for s

the doctor. "My enquiry was for t

do not think I am old en

as it,

ning carelessly whatever he found there. Daisy looked at him and

t baskets were made

k was an infer

, s

n, Da

sir, because I

he extreme modesty of Daisy's manne

aisy; but what I want to know is how you, not be

s usual before the searching blue eyes

the beginning-when God had made everything-

ou to be such a lo

, and when she did it was a

felt a drop of

his is what I have expected all day. Come, Daisy-you

nd the boys!-they are

e doctor, "but I have nothing to do w

e was need enough for haste. The light veil of haze that had seemed to curtain off the sunlight so happily from the lake and the party, proved now to have been only the advancing soft border of an immense thick cloud coming up from the west. No light veil now; a deep, dark cov

flight through the woods to the shore, those who were nearest or first ready not stopping to wait for the others. Quickly the luncheon ground was deserted; fast the blue and white flutter of m

doctor. "If you will go forward with Daisy at once, I will stay to look

u carry

that office, if you will stay be

her way. The storm will be upon us befo

better take t

t off to reach shelter. It grew very dark; and it was sultrily still in the woods. Not a leaf trembled on its stem. The steps of the two chair-bearers sounded ominously in the entire hush of everything. The gloom still deepened. The doctor and Lo

erned, Daisy, in the

again, "it is nice. I am only sorry f

nice? get

Maybe I shall not get

der, and the leaves in the tops of the trees rustled

ur pace, Logan?"

deep, cheery utterance

ng from the side of the path were left behind one after another; they reached the sharp bend in the road; and keeping up the swinging trot with a steadiness which shewed good wind on the part of both the chair-bearers, at last the little house where Sam had been left hove in view. Time it was; full time. One and another sough of the

ir in under shelter if you can; and come in yourself.

ll in the middle of the floor, not seeing any place to sit down, that she could make up her mind to take. The doctor went to the window. Logan took a chair. Sam was sitting disconsolately in a corner. It was hard to say to what class of people the house belonged; poor people they were of course; and things looked

g to stand there til

ned the door and lifted in the chair with its long poles, which indeed half fi

e?" she asked at le

n-" he a

be that

ing up and do

as obliged to explain. Meanwhile the darkness continued and the rain did not yet fall. A breath

s if they get here bef

will come wh

e comin'?" sa

We are only t

ail of water was lifted on the table; and divers knives and forks and platters hustled into a chimney cupboard. Little room enough when all was done. At last the woman caught up the sprawling baby and sat d