Page 136 - A Little Bush Maid

THE WTNFTELD MURDER

The next few days went by slowly enough.

Norah followed faithfully all Jim’s plans for her amusement. She practised,

did some cooking, and helped Mrs. Brown preserve apricots; then there
were the pets to look to and, best of all, the bullocks to move from one
paddock to another. Tt was an easy job, and Evans was quite willing to

leave it to Norah, Billy and a dog. The trio made a great business of it, and
managed almost to forget loneliness in the work of hunting through the

scrub and chasing the big, sleepy half-fat beasts out upon the clear plain.
There were supposed to be forty-four in the paddock, but Norah and Billy
mustered forty-five, and were exceedingly proud of themselves in

consequence.

Next day Norah persuaded Mrs. Brown to allow herself to be driven into
Cunjee. There was nothing particular to go for, except that, as Norah said,
they would get the mail a day earlier; but Mrs. Brown was not likely to

refuse anything that would chase the look of loneliness from her charge’s
face. Accordingly they set off after an early lunch, Norah driving the pair of

brown ponies in a light single buggy that barely held her and her by no
means fairy-like companion.

The road was good and they made the distance in excellent time, arriving in
Cunjee to see the daily train puff its way out of the station. Then they

separated, as Norah had no opinion whatever of Mrs. Brown’s
shopping--principally in drapers’ establishments, which this bush maiden
hated cordially. So Mrs. Brown, unhampered, plunged into mysteries of

flannel and sheeting, while Norah strolled up the principal street and
exchanged greetings with those she knew.

She paused by the door of a blacksmith’s shop, for the smith and she were
old friends, and Norah regarded Blake as quite the principal person of

Cunjee. Generally there were horses to be looked at, but just now the shop