"
"Pardon me — you do see it."
"Then I do not know what it is," said Daisy, laughing.
Absolutely, the sober, sober little face had forgotten its
care, and the eyes were alight with intelligence and
curiosity, and the lips were unbent in good honest laughter.
The doctor raised himself up to a sitting posture.
"What do you call those grey and brown patches of colour that
hide your rock all over?"
"Grey and brown?" said Daisy, wistfully — "those are just the
colours of the rock, aren't they?"
"No. Look close.
"Why, Dr. Sandford, what is it? It is not the rock — some of
it is not — but here is a spot of yellow that is nothing else,
I think."
"You must learn not to trust your eyes, Daisy. That is
something that grows; it is not rock; it is a vegetable. If I
had my pocket lens here I would show you; but I am afraid —
yes, I have left it at home."
"Why, it is!" cried Daisy. "I can see now — it is not rock.
What is it, Dr. Sandford?"
"Lichen."
"What is that, sir?"
"It is one of the lowest forms of vegetable life. It is the
first dress the rocks wear, Daisy."
"But what does it live on?"
"Air and water, I suppose."
"I never knew that was a vegetable," said Daisy, musingly.
Pages:
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501