Page 71 - A Little Bush Maid

"T’m Norah. Please who are you?"

"That’s a different matter," said the other, looking nonplussed. "T certainly
had a name once, but T’ve quite forgotten it. T have an excellent memory for

forgetting. Would you think T was a bunyip? T’d be delighted if you could!"

"T couldn’t." Norah shook her head. "But T’ll tell you what T think you are."

"Do."

"A hermit!"

The old man’s face cleared.

"My dear Miss Norah," he said, "you’ve made a profound discovery. T am--T
am-- a hermit! Thank you very much. Being a hermit my resources are
scanty, but may T hope that you will have lunch with me?

"T can’t, T’m afraid," said Norah, looking affectionately at the damper. "The

boys will be looking for me, if T don’t go back. Listen--there’s Jim
coo-eeing now!"

"And who may Jim be?" queried the Hermit, a trifle uneasily.

"Jim’s my brother," Norah said. "He’s fifteen, and he’s just splendid. Harry
and Wally are his two chums."

"Coo-ee! Coo-ee!"

Norah answered the call quickly and turned to the Hermit, feeling a little
apologetic.

"T had to call," she explained--"Jim would be anxious. They want me for
lunch." She hesitated. "Won’t you come too?" she asked timidly.