Page 106 - A Little Bush Maid

followed by Billy, whose eyes were round as he glanced about the strange
place in which he found himself, although otherwise no sign of surprise

appeared on his sable countenance. He carried the bags containing the
picnic expedition’s supply of food, which Norah promptly fell to

unpacking. An ample supply remained from lunch, and when displayed to
advantage on the short grass of the clearing the meal looked very tempting.
The Hermit’s eyes glistened as Norah unpacked a bag of apples and oranges

as a finishing touch.

"Fruit!" he said. "Oh, you lucky people! T wish there were fruit shops in the
scrub. T can dispense with all the others, but one does miss fruit."

"Well, T’m glad we brought such a bagful, because T’m sure we don’t want
it," Norah said. "You must let us leave it with you, Mr. Hermit."

"Water’s plenty boilin’," said Billy

Tea was quickly brewed, and presently they were seated on the ground and
making a hearty meal, as if the lunch of a few hours ago had never been.

"Tf a fellow can’t get hungry in the bush," said Wally, holding out his hand
for his fifth scone, "then he doesn’t deserve ever to get hungry at all!" To

which Jim replied, "Don’t worry, old man--that’s a fate that’s never likely to
overtake you!" Wally, whose hunger was of a generally prevailing kind,

which usually afflicted him most in school hours, subsided meekly into his
tea-cup.

They did not hurry over the meal, for everyone was a little lazy after the
long day, and there was plenty of time to get home--the long summer

evening was before them, and it would merge into the beauty of a moonlit
night. So they "loafed" and chatted aimlessly, and drank huge quantities of
the billy-tea, that is quite the nicest tea in the world, especially when it is

stirred with a stick. And when they were really ashamed to eat any more
they lay about on the grass, yarning, telling bush tales many and strange,

and listening while the Hermit spun them old-world stories that made the
time slip away wonderfully. Tt was with a sigh that Jim roused himself at