TOMMY AND HIS FATHER AFIELD 169 



It seemed as though Tommy had told us all he 

 had to say about Spreading Dogbane, yet he sat 

 still in his chair and said he hoped tea wasn't 

 ready. His father was smoking outside. I asked 

 him if he knew anything else about Dogbane and 

 he answered: 



" It's called Honey Bloom by some people and 

 Bitter Bloom by others who believe it's poisonous 

 to dogs. I rather think though Peter '11 know 

 enough to leave it alone. He's not getting his 

 tongue caught in a trap like stupid flies." 



We thought surely he was through then, and 

 were just going out on the veranda when Tommy 

 said : " Something else happened to-day," and 

 before anybody could ask him what — " I've seen 

 the girl from Secret Valley. Father saw her 

 too." 



Grandmother sat down again. " Tommy," 

 she said, " you have saved the best until the last. 

 Next you will be telling us you know her name and 

 whether she has brothers and sisters." 



" We thought the rain was getting nearer," 

 Tommy began, " and were walking quickly by 

 the side of the meadow to take a short cut here. 

 It's there that the Wild Yellow Lilies, or Meadow 

 Lilies are in bloom. I showed them to Philip the 

 first day a bud opened. They're those Yellow 

 Lilies, spotted with brown, and which nod over 

 from the ends of high stalks. They're just as 

 beautiful as garden Lilies, I think, and it's fine 



