Page 72 - A Little Bush Maid

"T haven’t eaten with my fellow-men for more time than T’d care to reckon,"
said the Hermit. "T don’t know--will they let me alone afterwards? Are they

ordinary abominable boys?"

"Tndeed, they’re not!" said Norah indignantly. "They won’t come near you
at all, if you don’t want them--but T know they’d be pleased if you came.
Do!"

"Coo-ee!"

"Jim’s getting impatient, isn’t he?" said the Hermit. "Well, Miss Norah, if
you’ll excuse my attire T’ll come. Shall T bring my damper?"

"Oh, please!" Norah cried. "We’ve never tasted damper."

"T wish I hadn’t," said the Hermit grimly. He picked up the fallen cake. "Let
us away!" he said. "The banquet waits!"

During their walk through the scrub it occurred to Norah once or twice to

wonder if her companion were really a little mad. He said such
extraordinary things, all in the most matter-of-fact tone--but when she
looked up at him his blue eyes twinkled so kindly and merrily that she

knew at once he was all right, and she was quite certain that she liked him
very much.

The boys were getting impatient. Lunch was ready, and when lunch has
been prepared by Mrs. Brown, and supplemented by fresh blackfish, fried

over a camp fire by black Billy, it is not a meal to be kept waiting. They
were grouped round the table-cloth, in attitudes more suggestive of ease

than elegance, when Norah and her escort appeared, and for once their
manners deserted them. They gaped in silent amazement.

"Boys, this is The Hermit," said Norah, rather nervously. "T--T found him.
He has a camp. He’s come to lunch."