Page 114 - A Little Bush Maid

there; it’s bad enough then. Let’s go and explore somewhere to-morrow."

"We can do that all right," said Jim, glad of any turn being given to the
melancholy conversation. "We’ve never taken you chaps to the falls, two

miles up the creek, and they’re worth seeing."

"Tt’s a nice walk, too," added Norah, putting sorrow to flight by deftly

landing a pellet of bread on Harry’s nose. "Think you can struggle so far,
Harry?"

"Yes, and carry you back when you knock up," said that gentleman,
returning the missile, without success, Norah having retreated behind a

vase of roses. "T think it would be a jolly good plan."

"Right oh!" said Jim. "That’s settled. We’ll pack up in the morning, get
Brownie to give us dinner early, and start in good time. Tt doesn’t really
take long to walk there, you know, only we want to be able to loaf on the

way, and when we get to the falls."

"Rather," said Harry. "T never see any fun in a walk when you tear
somewhere, get there, and tear back again. Life’s too short. Come on,
Norah, and play to us."

So they trooped into the drawing-room, and for an hour the boys lay about

on sofas and easy chairs, while Norah played softly. Finally she found that
her entire audience was sound asleep, a state of things she very naturally
resented by gently pouring water from a vase on their peaceful faces. Peace

fled at that, and so did Norah.