"Cheer up, Daisy," said Preston; "I'll bring you books to-morrow--and read to you too, if you like it. What shall I bring?" "O Preston, I want to know about trilobites!" "Daisy, you might as well want to know about the centre of the earth! That's where they belong." "I should like to know about the centre of the earth," said Daisy. "Is there anything there?" "Anything at the centre of the earth? I suppose so." "But I mean, anything _but_ earth," said Daisy. Preston burst out laughing. "O Daisy, Daisy!--Hadn't you better learn about what is on the outside of the earth, before we dig down so deep into it?" "Well, Preston, my trilobite was on the outside." "Daisy, it wouldn't interest you," said Preston seriously; "you would have to go deep into something else besides the earth--so deep that you would get tired. Let the trilobite alone, and let's have Grimm's Tales to-morrow--shall we? or what will you have?" Daisy was patiently silent a minute; and then in came Dr. Sandford. In his presence Preston was mute; attending to the doctor's manipulations as gravely as the doctor himself performed them. In the midst of the general stillness, Dr. Sandford asked, "Who was speaking about trilobites as I came up?" "Preston was speaking," said Daisy, as nobody else seemed ready to answer. "What about them?" "He thinks they would not interest me," said Daisy. "What do you know about trilobites?" said Dr. Sandford, now raising his blue eyes for a good look into the child's face. He saw it looked weary. "I have got a beautiful one. Juanita, will you bring it here, please?" The doctor took it up and handled it with an eye that said, Daisy knew, that it was a fine specimen. The way he handled it gratified her. "So this is one of your playthings, is it, Daisy?" "No, sir; it is not a plaything, but I like to look at it." "Why?" "It is so wonderful, and beautiful, I think." "But do tell Daisy, will you, doctor," said Preston, "that it is a subject she cannot understand yet. She wants me to bring her books about trilobites." "Time hangs heavy, Daisy?" said the doctor. "No, sir--only when I have nothing to do." "What have you done to-day?" "Nothing, sir; except talking to papa and mamma,--and some business about a little girl." The sedateness of this announcement was inexpressible, coming as it did after a little thoughtful pause. Preston burst out laughing. Dr. Sandford did not so far forget himself. He only gave Daisy a rapid look of his grave blue eyes. "It would be a charity to give you more employment than that," he said. "You like wonderful things, Daisy?" "Very much, when I understand about them." "I will agree to tell you anything you please--that I know--about any wonderful things you can see to-morrow, looking from your window."