But he was a lone old bachelor,
and when he heard I had a sister he shied off in terror. I think he's
running yet."
Jim shouted with laughter.
"Poor old Tommy!" he said.
"Yes, is it not unfair?" said Tommy. "I told Bob I was a mere
encumbrance, but he would bring me."
"You wait until you've settled, and Bob wants some one to run his house,
and then see how much of an encumbrance you are," rejoined Jim. "Then
you'll suddenly stop being meek and get swelled head."
"And not be half so nice," interjected Bob.
"But so useful!" said Tommy demurely. "Only sometimes I become
afraid--for you seem always to kill a whole sheep or bullock up in the
bush, and how I am to deal with it I do not know!"
"It sounds as if you preferred some one to detach an occasional limb
from the sheep as it walked about!" said Jim, laughing.
"Much easier for me--if not for the sheep," said Tommy.
"Well, don't you worry--the meat problem will get settled somehow," Jim
told her cheerfully. "All problems straighten out, if you give 'em time.
Now we're nearly home--that's the fence of our home-paddock. And there
are Norah and Wally coming to meet you."
"Oh--where?" Tommy started up, looking excitedly round the landscape.
"Oh--there she is--the dear! And isn't that a beautiful horse!"
"That's Norah's special old pony, Bosun," said Jim. "We're making her
very unhappy by telling her she's grown too big for him, but he really
carries her like a bird.
Pages:
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184