Page 79 - An Australian Lassie

"Eightpence!" said John. "No one seems to want an errand boy to-day."

Betty began to feel very doleful at being one step above John in this the beginning of their career. But she
dared not offer to lend to him, he had been so very insistent upon paying her back her penny, and paying for
his own breakfast and lemonade and buns.

He took her and showed her two houses which bore the words, "Bed and breakfast, 6d.!" and then he led the
way to the Domain, having been through it many times with his grandfather, while to stay-at-home Betty it
was no more than a name. Macquarie Street lay asleep as they travelled through it and past Parliament House
and the Hospital and the Public Library.

Tt never for a moment occurred to Betty that Dot was domiciled in that street of big high houses and hushed
sounds. She knew Dot's school address was "Westmead House, Macquarie Street," but she had not the
remotest idea that she and John were travelling down Macquarie Street past Westmead House.

Just inside the Domain gates they paused to admire Governor Burke's statue, and to count their money again
in its shade.

Then John pointed out to her the tree-shaded path that runs to Woollomooloo Bay and the great sweeping
grass stretch that lay on one side of it.

Many men were there already, full length upon the grass, their hats over their eyes, asleep or callous to
waking.

Betty at once signified her intention of spending her first night out here, also, and pointed to a seat under a
Norfolk Tsland pine tree.

"We could be quite cosy there," she said, "and you could lend me your coat."

"But T'd want it myself," said John.

"John in Girls and Boys Abroad used always to give Virginia his coat," said Betty.

Tt was slightly to the right of Governor Burke's statue that Betty was inspired to sing "Yield not to
temptation," standing with her back to the iron railing.

And it was just as she was being carried out of herself and singing her shrillest in the second verse that Miss
Arnott, the English governess in Westmead House, brought her line of pupils for their daily constitutional
down the Domain.

Pretty Dot, and the judge's daughter, Nellie Harden, were at the head of the line, and were conversing in an
affable manner and low voices upon the newest trimmings for summer hats, when the little couple near the
statue came into view.

Betty's eyes were downcast that she might not be distracted by her audience, but John, who was clinging to
the railing near her, saw the marching school, saw Dot, and knew that she had seen.

"Each victory will help you Some other to win,"

sang Betty shrilly.

Dot's face went white, sheet white. She heard the judge's daughter speak of eau de nil chiffon, and a hat turned