it--and he knows--and he is my dear Saviour." It brought the tears into Daisy's eyes at length; the song of the kildeer came so close home into her heart. Juanita had gone to make the tea. While the kettle had been coming to a boil, she had put her little cottage into the nicest of order; and even filled a glass with some roses and set it on the little table. For, as she said to Daisy, they would have company enough that day, and must be in trim. She had gone now to make the tea, and Daisy lay contentedly looking out of the window, when she heard the swift tread of horses' feet again. Could her father be back from Melbourne already? Daisy could not raise herself up to look. She heard the feet stop in the road before the cottage; then listened for somebody's step coming up to it. She heard the step, but it was none of Mr. Randolph's; it was brisk and firm and measured. She guessed it was somebody's step whose feet had been trained. Juanita came to open the door at the knock, and Daisy heard her saying something about the doctor's orders, and keeping quiet, and no excitement. Daisy could not stand that. "O Capt. Drummond--come in! come in!" she cried. And in came the Captain. He looked wonderfully sober at his poor little playfellow. But Daisy looked all smiles at him. "Is your furlough over? Are you going, Capt. Drummond?" "I am off, Daisy." "I am so glad you came to see me!" she said, putting out her little hand to him. The Captain took it and held it and seemed almost unable to speak. "Daisy, I would have run the risk of being cashiered, rather than not have done it." "What is that?" "Cashiered? Having my epaulettes pulled off." "Do you care a great deal for your epaulettes?" said Daisy. The Captain laughed, with the water standing in his eyes. Yes, absolutely, his bright sparkling eyes had drops in them. "Daisy, I have brought you our land fish--that we had such trouble for." "The trilobite! O did you?" exclaimed Daisy as he placed it before her. "I wanted to see it again, but I was afraid you wouldn't have time before you went." She looked at it eagerly. "Keep it Daisy; and keep a little bit of friendship for me with it--will you? in case we meet again some day." "O Capt. Drummond--don't you want it?" "No; but I want you to remember the conditions." "When will you come to Melbourne again?" "Can't say, Daisy; I am afraid, not till you will have got the kingdom of England quite out of all its difficulties. We were just going into the battle of Hastings, you know; don't you recollect?" "How nice that was!" said Daisy regretfully. "I don't think I shall ever forget about the Saxon Heptarchy, and Egbert, and Alfred." "How about forgetting _me_?" "You know I couldn't," said Daisy with a most genial smile. "O Capt. Drummond!"--she added, as a flash of sudden thought crossed her face. "What now, Daisy?" The child looked at him with a most earnest, inquisitive wistful gaze. The Captain had some difficulty to stand it.