Page 166 - A Little Bush Maid

"T have seen many fishing parties go out, Miss Norah, my dear," said Mrs.
Brown impassively, "and on the ’ole more came ’ome hempty ’anded than

bringing loads--fish bein’ curious things, an’ very unreliable on the bite.
Still, we’ll ’ope for the best--an’ meanwhile to prepare for the worst. T’ll just

cook a few extry little things--another tongue, now, an’ a nice piece of
corned beef, an’ per’aps a ’am. An’ do you think you could manage a pie or
two, Miss Norah?"

"Try her!" said Mr. Linton, laughing.

"Let’s tell Billy!"--and off went Norah at a gallop.

She returned a few minutes later, slightly crestfallen.

"Billy must be asleep," she said. "T couldn’t get an answer. Lazy young
nigger--and it’s still twilight!"

"Billy has no use for the day after the sun goes down, unless he’s going
’possuming," her father said. "Never mind--the news will keep until the

morning."

"Oh, T know," said Norah, smiling. "But T wanted to tell him to-night."

"T sympathise with you," said her father, "and, meanwhile, to console

yourself, suppose you bend your mighty mind to the problem of getting
away. Do you see any objection to our leaving for parts unknown the day
after to-morrow?"

"Depends on Brownie and the tucker," said Norah practically.

"That part’s all right; Brownie guarantees to have everything ready
to-morrow night if you help her."

"Why, of course T will, Daddy."

"And you have to get your own preparations made."