l philosophy, and physical
geography and mathematics; and then we have generally done."

"And then what is left of you goes to walk," said the doctor.

"No, not very often now," I said. "I don't know why--Miss Pinshon has
very much given up walking of late."

"Then what becomes of you?"

"I do not often want to do much of anything," I said. "To-day I came
here."

"With a book," said the doctor. "Is it work or play?"

"My history lesson," I said, showing the book. "I had not quite time
enough at home."

"How much of a lesson, for instance?" said the doctor, taking the book
and turning over the leaves.

"I had to make a synopsis of the state of Europe from the third
century to the tenth--synchronising the events and the names."

"In writing?"

"I might write it if I chose, I often do, but I had to give the
synopsis from memory."

"Does it take long to prepare, Daisy?" said the doctor, still turning
over the leaves.

"Pretty long," I said, "when I am stupid. Sometimes I _cannot_ do the
synchronising, my head gets so thick; and I have to take two or three
days for it."

"Don't you get punished for letting your head get thick?"

"Sometimes I do."

"And what is the system of punishment at Magnolia for such deeds?"

"I am kept in the house for the rest of the afternoon sometimes," I
said; "or I have an extra problem in mathematics to get out for the
next morning."

"And _that_ keeps you in, if the governess don't."

"Oh no," I said; "I never can work at it then. I get up earlier the
next morning."

"Do you do nothing for exercise but those walks, which you do not
take?"

"I used to ride last year," I said; "and this year I was stronger, and
Miss Pinshon gave me more studies; and somehow I have not cared to
ride so much. I have felt more like being still."

"You must have grown tremendously wise, Daisy," said the doctor,
looking round at me now with his old pleasant smile. I cannot tell the
pleasure and comfort it was to me to see him; but I think I said
nothing.

"It is near the time now when you always leave Magnolia, is it not?"

"Very near now."

"Would it trouble you to have the time a little anticipated?"

I looked at him, in much doubt what this might mean. The doctor
fumbled in his breast pocket and fetched out a letter.

"Just before your father sailed for China, he sent me this. It was
some time before it reached me; and it was some time longer before I
could act upon it."

He pu