14 BUSH DAYS 



ing so, when by flitted a tiny black butterfly, the white edges in 

 his wings gleaming vividly in the sun. I sat quite still and 

 watched him, and he came close to my face, and then settled 

 for a moment on the cushion at my cheek. Just for a second 

 he stayed, as if to say, " See ! here I have waited till the 

 summer is past to wish you joy " ; then off he went across the 

 grass, beyond the fence, and away. 



Very soon afterwards came another tiny visitor to my party. 

 A bee flew from the next-door garden, straight across the lawn, 

 and settled himself on my skirt. There doesn't seem to be 

 much sweetness in a blue serge skirt, but this bee seemed to 

 like it, for there he stayed ever so long, washing his face and 

 smoothing his hair, and generally enjoying himself, and it was 

 only when at last I moved that he flew off lazily. I was sorry 

 to disturb him, but I turned to look at two ravens flying over- 

 head. They were too shy to come to the party, but they passed 

 very slowly, and I could hear the " swish, swish, swish " of 

 their wings quite plainly, as they went across the sky. They 

 were almost out of sight before they greeted me with " more, 

 more," and I knew that was their awkward way of wishing 

 me many more happy days. 



A big grey moth, which had been resting for ever so long 

 on the trunk of a gum tree, where he could scarcely be seen 

 against the grey wood, now flew lazily away, as if he were 

 too shy to stay by himself; and just when I thought no more 

 guests were coming, up flew a kookaburra and settled himself 



