" Then they wandered down to the big lagoon, where the old boat
yet lay at the edge of the reed-fringed water; and on through the home
paddock to look at the little herd of Jerseys that were kept for the
use of the house, and some great bullocks almost ready for the Melbourne
market. So they came back to the homestead, wandering up from the creek
through Lee Wing's rows of vegetables, and came to rest naturally in the
kitchen, where they had afternoon tea with Brownie, who beamed from ear
to ear at the sight of Jim and Wally again sitting on her table.
"I used to think of you in them 'orrible trenches, an' wonder wot you
got to eat, an' if it was anything at all," she said tremulously.
"We got something, but it was apt to be queer," said Jim, laughing.
"We used to think of sitting on the table here, Brownie, and eating hot
scones--like this. May I have another?"
"My pore dears!" said Brownie, hastily supplying him with the largest
scone in sight. "Now, Master Wally, my love, ain't you ready for
another? Your appetite's not 'alf wot it used to be. A pikelet, now?"
"I believe I've had six!" said Wally, defending himself.
"An' wot used six pikelets to be to you? A mere fly in the ointment,"
said Brownie, whose similes were always apt to be peculiar. "Just
another, then, my dear. An' I've got your fav'rite sponge cake, Miss
Norah--ten aigs in it!"
"Ten!" said Norah faintly.
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