Page 134 - A Little Bush Maid

"Yes, old girl, you eat some breakfast," commanded Jim.

Norah flashed a smile at him over the cosy.

"Lots of time afterwards," she said, a little sadly.

"No time like the present." Wally took a huge bite out of a scone, and

surveyed the relic with interest. Someone put a smoking plateful before
him, and his further utterances were lost in eggs and bacon.

Mrs. Brown flitted about like a stout guardian angel, keeping an especially
watchful eye on Jim. Tf the supply on his plate lessened perceptibly, it was

replenished with more, like manna from above. To his laughing protests she
merely murmured, "Poor dear lamb!" whereat Wally and Harry laughed

consumedly, and Jim blushed.

"Well, you’ve beaten me at last, Brownie," Jim declared finally. He waved

away a chop which was about to descend upon his plate. "No truly,
Brownie dear; there are limits! Tea? No thanks, Norah, T’ve had about a

dozen cups already, T believe! You fellows ready?"

They were, and the table was briskly deserted.

There was a final survey of the boys’ room, which resembled a rubbish

heap, owing to vigorous packing.

Everybody ran wildly about looking for something.

Wally was found searching frantically for his cap, which Norah

discovered--on his head. There was a hurried journey to the kitchen, to bid
the servants "Good-bye."

The buggy wheels scrunched the gravel before the hall door. The overseer
coo-ee’d softly.

"All aboard!"