Page 65 - An Australian Lassie

CHAPTER XV

ON THE ROAD

Needless to say Betty did not "waste" any time that night over home-lessons. How can the beginner of a great
singer be expected to care whether the pronoun "that" in "T dare do all 'that' may become a man," is relative or
possessive? or whether Smyrna is the capital of Turkey or Japan? or even whether the Red Sea has to do with
Africa or China.

Betty did not even open her school satchel, or peep at the cover of her books. Tnstead, she copied out the
words of her song and learnt them sitting there at the table with Cyril.

Neither was Cyril doing home-lessons. He certainly had his books spread out before him, but the contents of
his pockets were strewn upon his open books, and he was examining them and grumbling now and again at
the rapacity of certain school-mates who had caused him to lose certain treasures, or accept less valuable ones,
on the school system of "T'll give you this for that."

He turned over three coloured marbles in disgust. For them he had bartered away a catapult, and now his heart
was heavy over the exchange.

"Artie Jones is a sneak," he grumbled. "He ought to have given me six marbles for that catapult. Eh? What do
you say?"

The question was directed to Betty, whose lips were moving.

She shook her head, and sighed drearily, for she had entered into the very being of the little beggar girl who
sang for a penny.

"Nothing," she said. "Nothing you'd understand. Don't chatter."

"Don't be so silly," said Cyril. "T'm as old as you, any way."

"Mother says T'm an hour older than you," said Betty.

"That's nothing," said Cyril.

"You can learn a lot in an hour," quoth Betty, and bent her attention to her strip of paper.

"T told mother about the dirty plates, so there," said the boy. "And----"

"Bah!" said Betty, and pushed her fingers into her ears.

Betty had several plans for waking early, amongst which may be named--putting marbles in her bed that in
rolling unconsciously about for comfort she might be awakened by the discomfort. That had answered very
well once or twice. Another was to place her pillow half-way down the bed, that she might be within reach of
the foot of it--and then to rest her own foot on a lower rail and tie it there. Another was to prop herself into a
sitting position and fold her hands across her chest, that by sleeping badly she might not sleep long.

Many a night had her father and mother laughed at the attitude chosen by their second daughter, and arranged
her that her sleep might be easier.