could do; and at last when everybody seemed in full tide of merry-making, she stole away that they might have no constraint upon it.  Before she had got far, she was startled by a noise behind her, and looking round saw that all the tableful had risen to their feet.  The next instant there was a great shout.  Daisy could not imagine what they were doing, but she saw that they were all looking at her.  She came back a step or two.  Now there was another shout greater than the other; the women flourished handkerchiefs, the men waved their arms above their heads.  “Long life to ye!” “Good luck to ye forever!” “Blessings on ye for a lady!” “Many thanks to ye, Miss Daisy!” “May ye niver want as good!” “Hurra for the flower of Melbourne!”—­Shouts various and confused at last made Daisy comprehend they were cheering her.  So she gave them a little courtesy or two, and walked off again as fast as she thought it was proper to go.

She went home and to the library, but found nobody there; and sat down to breathe and rest; she was tired.  Presently Ransom came in.

“Hallo, Daisy!—­is nobody here?”

“No.”

“Have you seen your things yet?”

“My things?—­what things?”

“Why your things—­your birthday things.  Of course you haven’t or you’d know.  Never mind, you’ll know what I mean by and by.  I say, Daisy——­”

“What?”

“You know when papa asked you this morning why you didn’t go yesterday to Crum Elbow?——­”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell him?”

Daisy hesitated.  Ransom was cutting a pencil vigorously, but as she was silent he looked up.

“Why didn’t you tell him? did you tell him afterwards?”

“Why no, Ransom!”

“Well why didn’t you?—­that’s what I want to know.  Didn’t you tell anybody?”

“No, of course not.”

“Why didn’t you, then?”

“Ransom——­” said Daisy doubtfully.

“What?  I think you’re turned queer.”

“I don’t know whether you’d understand me.”

“Understand you!  That’s a good one!  I couldn’t understand you!  I should rather like to have you try.”

“Well, I’ll tell you,” said Daisy.

“Just do.”

“Ransom, you know who the Lord Jesus Christ is.”

“I used to; but I have forgotten.”

“Oh Ransom!”

“Come, go ahead, and don’t palaver.”

“I am his servant,” said Daisy; “and he has bid me do to other people what I would like to have them do to me.”

“He has bid you!  What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.  It is in the Bible.”

“What’s in the Bible?”

“That;—­that I must do to other people what I would like to have them do to me.”

“And I suppose you thought I wouldn’t like to have you tell?  Well you’re out, for I don’t care a shot about it—­there! and you may tell just as fast as you’re a mind to.”