"Ah, no, Septima; Daisy is only a child. Why, it seems as though it were but yesterday I used to take her with me through the cotton-fields, and laugh to see her stretch her chubby hands up, crying for the bursting blossoms, growing high above her curly golden head. Pshaw! Septima, Daisy is only a merry, frolicsome, romantic child yet." Daisy nestled her tell-tale face closer on his broad shoulder to hide the swift blushes that crept up to cheek and brow. "Look up, pet," he said, coaxingly, "I have news for you." "What--what is it?" gasped Daisy, wondering if he could possibly have heard of her romantic marriage with Rex, turning white to the very lips, her blue eyes darkening with suspense. "Come, come, now," laughed, John, good-humoredly, "don't get excited, pet, it will take me just as long to tell it anyhow; it is something that will please you immensely." He drew from his breast pocket as he spoke a thick, yellow envelope, which contained several printed forms with blank spaces which were to be filled up. There was something in his voice which made Daisy look at him, but her eyes fell and her cheeks flushed hotly as she met his glance. Daisy was not used to keeping a secret locked up in her truthful little heart. She longed to throw her arms around his neck and whisper to him of her mad, romantic marriage, and of the handsome young husband who loved her so fondly. Daisy knew so little of real life, and less of love and marriage, up to the time she had met Rex! Her heroes had been imaginary ones, her ideas of love only girlish, romantic fancies. It was all very exciting and charming. She was very fond of handsome Rex, but she had yet to learn the depths of love which, sooner or later, brightens the lives of lovable women. Daisy looked at the envelope with a wistful glance. "I am going to make a lady of you, my little sunbeam. I am going to send you off to boarding-school. That's what you have always wanted; now I am going to humor your whim." "But I--I do not want to go now, Uncle John. I--I have changed my mind." "What!" "I--I don't want to go off to boarding-school now. I had rather stay here with you." John Brooks laid down the pipe he was just lighting in genuine surprise. "Why, it's only last week you were crying those pretty eyes of yours out, teasing to be sent to school. I--well, confound it--I don't understand the ways of women. I always thought you were different from the rest, little Daisy, but I see you are all the same. Never two days of the same mind. What is the reason you've changed your mind, pet?" "Indeed, I don't want to go now, Uncle John. Please don't talk about it any more. I--I am happier here than I can tell you." John Brooks laughed cheerily.