Page 204 - A Little Bush Maid

had, isn’t it, Norah? We aren’t going to let it--or you--slip through our
hands."

"Tt’s--it’s all very well, Davy, old man-- "

"T know it is. Now, can’t you let well alone, Jim? Talk of it again in five
years’ time--you may have better luck then. T don’t say you will--but you

may! Hang it all, man, you’re not going to thwart me when T’ve just got my
family together!"

"Well, T won’t for a while," the Hermit said-and immediately received a kiss
on the top of his head.

"Thank you, Norah," he said meekly.

"Don’t mention it," Norah answered politely. "Oh, T’m so glad you’re going
to stay with us, Mr. Hermit!"

Norah had flatly declined to call her friend anything but the name she had

given him in the bush. As for the Hermit, he was perfectly content with
anything Norah did and had no idea of objecting.

"You heard, didn’t you, Norah, that they’d found your friend, the Winfield
murderer?" Mr. Linton asked.

"Daddy!--no!"

"Found his body in an old shaft--not far from Winfield. He had the stolen
property on him, so there’s no doubt of his guilt. So that clears your Hermit,

even in your suspicious mind!"

"Ah, don’t, Daddy," Norah said, flushing. "T wasn’t suspicious. T was a

duffer."

"T don’t think you were," the Hermit said decidedly. "A very sensible
duffer, anyhow."