Page 112 - A Little Bush Maid

The boys raced after her. Tn the kitchen doorway Mrs. Brown stood, her
broad face resplendent with smiles.

"T was just beginning to wonder if any of you had fallen into the creek," she

said. "You must be hungry, poor dears. Supper’s ready."

"Where’s Dad?" asked Norah.

"Your Pa’s gone to Sydney."

"Sydney!"

"Yes, my dears. A tallygrum came for him--something about some valuable
cattle to be sold, as he wants."

"Oh," said Jim, "those shorthorns he was talking about?"

"Very like, Master Jim. Very sorry, your Pa were, he said, to go so suddint,
and not to see you again, and the other young gentlemen likewise, seein’

you go away on Monday. He left his love to Miss Norah, and a letter for
you; and Miss Norah, you was to try not to be dull, and he would be back
by Thursday, so he ’oped."

"Oh," said Norah, blankly. "Tt’s hardly a homecoming without Dad."

Supper was over at last, and it had been a monumental meal. To behold the
onslaughts made by the four upon Mrs. Brown’s extensive preparations one

might have supposed that they had previously been starving for time
uncounted.

"Heigho!" said Jim. "Our last day to-morrow."

Groans followed from Harry and Wally.

"What do you want to remind a fellow for?"