Part 42 (1/2)
”You two ladies were the new chums!” said Reg, not quite sure if he heard aright.
”Yes. How did we look?”
”Splendid.”
”Oh, you traitors, but we'll forgive you,” said Hil, ringing for refreshments.
The girls then told their adventures and were equally amused to find they had all been at cross-purposes the whole time. It took the boys some considerable time to get over their astonishment.
”We went for a man, and returned with a horse,” said Hil.
”And we went for a man, and returned with a stick,” added Hal.
”Which stick? Not the famous one with all the notches cut on it?” asked May.
”The very same. There are several fresh notches added, and one of them may refer to you.”
”Oh, let us see it. Where is it?” said Hil, excitedly.
”I have it safe under lock and key,” answered Reg.
”You can scratch out my notch,” said May, ”for though I had a narrow squeak, my heart is not quite broken, thanks to you two.”
”For one thing, I am glad it occurred,” answered Hal. ”It has given us the pleasure of making your acquaintance.”
”New chums, eh?”
”Now, that's not fair. But did that old fellow really recognise us?”
”No, I don't know that he did. Certainly we did not. I only said so because you were rather hard on us,” answered Hil.
”What are you gentlemen going to do now?” asked May.
”We are going to have a holiday. I have done my duty, and my dear old friend here has sacrificed all his time for me. We propose staying in Sydney for a short while, and then taking another trip to Tasmania, as the people there were so nice,” answered Reg.
”All Tasmanians are nice,” put in May.
”Don't fish, May,” said Hil, chaffingly.
”Present company always excepted,” said May, unwarily.
”Oh, that's worse than ever,” retorted Hil, and all joined in the laughter which followed.
”Now, if you gentlemen are doing nothing to-day, we shall be very glad of your company on our drive,” said Hil.
”We shall be delighted,” said both together.
”Then that's settled. Now let us go to lunch. Quite impromptu, you know, billy and pannikins,” she added, with a light laugh, as she led the way.
And a happy quartette they made, these four young people, sensible to the full of the enjoyments of life. Joke and anecdote were interchanged with good-humoured _camaraderie_ and, if Mrs. Grundy was not present, she ought to have been, only in the capacity of spectator, that she might but learn how possible it is for youth of both s.e.xes to meet together in wholesome social enjoyment without the watchful eye of a chaperon. After luncheon, the boys were invited to light their cigars, the girls apologising for not joining in, because they had given up male vices with male habiliments.