12 BUSH DAYS 



had all right-minded beings. And then, as if to support him, 

 just at that moment the second visitor arrived, a spine-bill 

 who came flying into the garden in hot haste, calling, " Hurry- 

 up, hurry-up, quick, quick, quick !" He, too, seemed to think it 

 was quite late to be beginning a party, and was more insistent 

 even than the Jacky that I should hurry up. 



" There's evidently to be no peace for me this morning," 

 said I to myself but loud enough for them to hear me and 

 so I took their advice, and got up. 



Apparently the two gossips went round and spread the 

 news that I was really up, for when I came out on the verandah 

 again there was quite a crow r d of visitors to wish me " many 

 happy returns." A wagtail greeted me straight away with the 

 embarrassing remark that I was a " sweet, pretty creature," 

 and a pee-wee shouted loudly his opinion, " You-are, you-are." 



"Dear me," said I, "this is quite overwhelming"; and I 

 ran inside to breakfast, leaving them all behind. Incidentally 

 I looked in the glass as I passed, and but never mind that. 



Although I had treated them with such scant ceremony 

 my visitors were not in the least offended ; while I ate my 

 eggs and toast they enjoyed a second breakfast among the 

 bouvardias and in the gum leaves. And when after breakfast 

 I took my book and cushion out on to the grass which pre- 

 tends it's a lawn I never do any work on my birthday 

 the reception really began. 



All the morning I sat out in the warm sun, and welcomed 



