Page 91 - An Australian Lassie

Mr. Bruce wore his best suit--well brushed--because he was going to accompany his eldest daughter as far as
Redfern station. As the others were saying good-bye to her, he occupied himself by counting his money, to
make sure he had enough for a first-class return ticket for her, and the three half-sovereigns he had decided to
slip into her purse before they reached the station.

Mrs. Bruce, slight and small almost as Dot herself, put Baby down on the brown-green grass at the gate, while
she put a few quite unnecessary finishing touches to her eldest daughter.

"T went away from my home for a visit when T was sixteen," she said--"to Katoomba, too!" Then she took Dot
into her arms and held her closely for a minute. "Come back to us the same little girl we are sending away,"
she said as she let her go.

Cyril was waiting on the bush track, with the home-made "go-cart" piled up with Dot's luggage. He had to
push it to the corner of the road and help it on the coach.

He was very anxious to get home again, for he had heard a few words whispered pleadingly by Dot, then a
whispered consultation between Mr. and Mrs. Bruce. He knew what it was about. Even before his father
patted Betty's head and told her to start afresh from that minute, and his mother kissed her and said, "Be a
good madcap Betty, and we'll commence now instead of to-morrow morning."

Whereat Cyril became anxious to get home again to discover his sister's plans for the day.

Nancy was crying and clinging to Dot's skirt.

"Be quick and come home again," she said. "You look so nice in that hat!"

Betty climbed over the gate instead of going through it.

"T'm going down to the road to wave my handkerchief to you," she said. "Oh, mother, will you lend me yours.
Mine's gone."

When she reached the road corner, a dog-cart flashed by, almost upsetting Cyril's equilibrium as he laboured
along the road.

Tn the dog-cart were Captain Carew and big John Brown. John looked steadily at the horse's head, fearing an
explosion of wrath from his grandsire if he smiled at his fellow fortune-seeker. He, too, was going to the
mountains for his holidays, preparation to commencing life at a Sydney Grammar School.

But the Captain himself looked at Betty, and his grim face smiled. And there are not many who can translate a
smile, so that we may take it that he was not altogether displeased with the little singer.

Down the road went Dot, after her father and Cyril-- a little maid fresh from school--dainty and fresh and
crying gentle tears that would not hurt her eyes, and yet must come because of all these partings.

Perhaps we shall see her again some day when she comes back again to try to be an elder sister. Perhaps we
shall see Betty, too, in her new position as one of the "young ladies" of Westmead House.

But just now she has climbed an old tree-stump, and is standing there bare-headed and waving her
handkerchief to cry--"Good-bye, good-bye."

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