She rode Jim's big favourite,
Garryowen, who, although years had added wisdom to him, was always
impatient when nearly home; he was reefing and pulling, as they swept
up at a hand gallop, but Tommy held him easily, and pulled up near Mr.
Linton, laughing. He looked at them with grave content.
"I began to think you meant me to have tea alone," he said. "Have they
been doing any work, Bob, or couldn't you keep them in hand at all?"
"Oh, they've been working," Bob answered. "I told Sarah not to give them
any afternoon tea if they didn't, and it acted like a charm."
"You to talk!" said Norah, with tilted nose. "They said they'd sample
the new deck chairs, dad, and it took them about an hour to make sure if
they liked them--they just smoked while Tommy and I toiled."
"Well, you'd only have been annoyed with us if we hadn't done the
sampling properly, and had grumbled afterwards," said Wally. "I'm always
trying to teach you to be thorough, Norah. Of course, they say they work
all the time, sir--but when they disappear into Tommy's room there's an
awful lot of talking."
"There would be something wrong with them if there weren't," said the
squatter sagely. "And I have no doubt there yet remains much awaiting
their expert supervision in Tommy's room." Whereat Tommy and Norah
beamed at him, and commended him as a person of understanding, while
Wally remarked feelingly to Bob that there was no chance of justice
where those two females were concerned.
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