vine of leaves and flowers running round it, in a light red brown colour.  The plate was not to match; it was a common little white plate; but that did not matter.  The tea was in the little brown cup, and Daisy’s lips closed upon it with entire satisfaction.  Juanita had some excellent tea too; and if she had not, there was a sufficient supply sent from Melbourne; as well as of everything else.  So to-day there was not only the brown toast in strips, which Daisy fancied; but there were great red Antwerp raspberries for her; and that made, Daisy thought, the very best breakfast that could be eaten.  She was very bright this morning.

“Juanita,” she said, “I have found something for Dr Sandford already.”

“What does Miss Daisy mean?”

“Don’t you know?  Didn’t you hear him yesterday?  He gave me something to do.  He said he would tell me about anything wonderful I could see in the course of the day; and I have found something already.”

“’Seems to me as all the Lord has made is wonderful,” said the black woman.  “Does Miss Daisy think Dr. Sandford can tell her all about it?”

“Why I suppose he knows a great deal, Juanita.”

“If he knowed one thing more,”—­said the black woman.  “Here he is, Miss Daisy.  He’s early.”

Certainly he was; but Dr. Sandford had a long ride to take that morning, and could only see Daisy then on his way.  In silence he attended to her, and with no delay; smiled at her; put the tips of his fingers to her raspberry dish and took out one for his own lips; then went quick away.  Daisy smiled curiously.  She was very much amused at him.  She did not ask Juanita what she meant by the “one thing more.”  Daisy knew quite well; or thought she did.

All that day she was in an amused state, watching to see wonderful things.  Her father’s and mother’s visits came as usual.  Preston came and brought her some books.  Hephzibah came too and had a bit of a lesson.  But Hephzibah’s wits were like her hair, straying all manner of ways.  It was very difficult to make her understand the difference between a, b, ab,—­and b, a, ba; and that was discouraging.  Daisy toiled with her till she was tired; and then was glad to lie still and rest without even thinking of wonderful things, till Juanita brought her her dinner.

As the doctor had been early, so he was late to-day.  It was near sunset when he came, and Daisy was a little disappointed, fancying that he was tired.  He said nothing at first; attended to Daisy’s foot in the profoundest gravity; but in the midst of it, without looking up, he asked,

“What wonderful things have you seen to-day?”

“I am afraid you are tired, Dr. Sandford,” said Daisy very gently.

“What then?”

“Then it might tire you more to talk to me.”

“You have seen something wonderful, have you?” said the doctor glancing at her.

“Two or three things, sir.”