The
Rainhams found themselves adopted by this new and cheery band of
people--at least half of whose names they never learned; not that this
seemed to matter in the least. It was something new to them, and very
un-English; but there was no doubt that it made landing in a new country
a very different thing from their half-fearful anticipations.
"And you really came out all alone--not knowing anyone!" said an aunt.
"Aren't you English people plucky! And I believe that most of you think
we're all black fellows--or did until our diggers went home, and proved
unexpectedly white!"
"I don't think we're quite so bad as that!" Bob said, laughing. "But
certainly we never expected quite so kind a welcome."
"Oh, we're all immensely interested in people who take the trouble to
come across the world to see us," said Mrs. Geoffrey Linton. "That is,
if they don't put on 'side'; we don't take kindly to being patronized.
And you have no idea how many new chums do patronize us. Did you know,
by the way, that you're new chums now?"
"It has been carefully drilled into us on the ship," Bob said gravely.
"I think we know pretty well all we have to face--the snakes that creep
into new chums' boots and sleep under their pillows, the goannas that
bite our toes if we aren't watchful, and the mosquitoes that sit on the
trees and bark!"
"Also the tarantulas that drop from everywhere, especially into food,"
added Tommy, dimpling.
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