Page 69 - An Australian Lassie

CHAPTER XVI

THE NOTE ON THE PTNCUSHTON

Every morning there was a skirmish between Betty and Cyril as to who should have the first bath, and Betty
generally won, because as she pointed out, she had Nancy to bath, too, and to make her bed, and set the table,
and cut the lunches, whereas Cyril only had to bring up two loads of wood.

But this morning, to Cyril's delight, he was first and he got right into the room and fastened the door with the
prop (a short thick stick which was wedged between the centre of the door and the bath, and was Mr. Bruce's
patent to replace the handle that "lost itself"), and still Betty came not. And he loitered in the bathroom and
played, and half-dressed, and then undressed, and got back into the bath, and out again, and dressed, and still
no Betty banged at the door.

"Can't make out where Miss Betty's got to," said Mary sulkily, "T'll tell your mother on her. She's not set the
table, and she's not cut the lunches, and she's not done nothing."

Cyril, who had brought up his wood and otherwise and in every way performed his morning's duties, waxed
indignant at Betty and her negligence, and went down the passage to her room, muttering--

"T'll tell mother of you, Betty Bruce, so there!"

But no Betty Bruce was there. Only Nancy in her nightgown still, and playing with poor faded Belinda.

Mary had to set the table, and Mary had to cut the lunches, and Nancy had to miss her bath, and go to Mary
for the buttoning of her clothes. And all because Betty had gone out to make her fortune!

Mrs. Bruce came out of her room late--which was a very usual thing for her to do--and she called:--

"Nancy, come and take baby. Betty, find me a safety pin quickly. T think T saw one on the floor near the
piano."

And Mr. Bruce followed her in his slippers, and called--

"Nancy--Betty--one of you go down to the gate and bring up the paper."

Cyril ran to them breathless with his news--

"Betty's never got up yet. Mary's had to do all her work an' she's not got breakfast ready yet. And Nancy's had
to dress herself an' all."

Mrs. Bruce opened her eyes--just like Dot did when she was very surprised, and said,--

"Then go and make Betty get up at once." But Cyril interrupted with--

"She's not in bed at all. She's out playing somewhere; T daresay she's gone to school so's to be before me and
Nancy. She's always doing that now."

Mrs. Bruce had to hurry to make up for lost time--as she had perpetually to do--and she could not stay to lend
an ear to Cyril's tale. So he was left grumbling on about Betty, and school, and a hundred and one things that
were "not fair."