Page 16 - A Little Bush Maid

"Mind, they’re in your care," Jim had said sternly, on the evening before his
departure for school. They were making a tour of the place--Jim outwardly

very cheerful and unconcerned; Norah plunged in woe. She did not attempt
to conceal it. She had taken Jim’s arm, and it was sufficient proof of his

state of mind that he did not shake it off. Tndeed, the indications were that
he was glad of the loving little hand tucked into the bend of his arm.

"Yes, Jim; T’ll look after them."

"T don’t want you to bother feeding them yourself," Jim said
magnanimously; "that ’ud be rather too much of a contract for a kid,
wouldn’t it? Only keep an eye on ’em, and round up Billy if he doesn’t do

his work. He’s a terror if he shirks, and unless you watch him like a cat he’ll
never change the water in the tins every morning. Lots of times T’ve had to

do it myself!"

"T’d do it myself sooner’n let them go without, Jim, dear," said the small

voice, with a suspicion of a choke.

"Don’t you do it," said Jim; "slang Billy. What’s he here for, T’d like to
know! T only want you to go round ’em every day, and see that they’re all
right."

So daily Norah used to make her pilgrimage round Jim’s pets. There were

the guinea pigs-- a rapidly increasing band, in an enclosure specially built
for them by Jim-- a light frame, netted carefully everywhere, and so
constructed that it could be moved from place to place, giving them a fresh

grass run continually. Then there were two young wallabies and a little
brush kangaroo, which lived in a little paddock all their own, and were as

tame as kittens. Norah loved this trio especially, and always had a game
with them on her daily visit. There was a shy gentleman which Norah
called a turloise, because she never could remember if he were a turtle or a

tortoise. He lived in a small enclosure, with a tiny water hole, and his
disposition was extremely retiring. Tn private Norah did not feel drawn to

this member of her charge, but she paid him double attention, from an
inward feeling of guilt, and because Jim set a high value upon him.