Page 145 - A Little Bush Maid

while the dusky Billy was an attendant sprite on his piebald mare.

"Well, my little girl, it’s good to see you again," Mr. Linton said, putting his
Gladstone bag into the buggy and receiving undismayed a small avalanche

of little daughter upon his neck. "Steady, dear--mind the ponies." He
jumped in, and put his arm round her. "Everything well?"

"Yes, all right, Daddy. T’m so glad to have you back!"

"Not gladder than T am to get back, my little lass," said her father.
"Good-day, Billy. Let ’em go, Norah."

"Did you see Jim?" asked Norah, as the ponies bounded forward.

"No--missed him. T had only an hour in town, and went out to the school, to
find Master Jim had gone down the river--rowing practice. T was sorry to
miss him; but it wasn’t worth waiting another day in town."

"Jim would be sorry," said Norah thoughtfully. She herself was rather glad:

had Jim seen his father, most probably he would have mentioned the
Hermit. Now she had only his letters to fear, and as Jim’s letters were of the
briefest nature and very far apart, it was not an acute danger.

"Yes, T suppose he would," Mr. Linton replied. "T regretted not having sent

a telegram to say T was going to the school--it slipped my memory. T had
rather a rush, you know. T suppose you’ve been pretty dull, my girlie?"

"Oh it was horrid after the boys went," Norah said. "T didn’t know what to
do with myself, and the house was terribly quiet. Tt was hard luck that you

had to go away too."

"Yes, T was very sorry it happened so," her father said; "had we been alone

together T’d have taken you with me, but we’ll have the trip some other
time. Did you have a good day’s fishing on Saturday?"