Part 10 (1/2)
”And you say that you have one of Peek & Wallis's wagons? Why, they are most dreadful particular sort of people, and they alant money down and no end of security besides; no bla their just debts,” said the woman, with so much surprise in her tone that Rumple felt it necessary to explain a little further
”Oh, Mr Melrose cabled fro that he would be security for the paying of the wagon hire Mr Melrose is a gentleman e met on board shi+p, a very nice person indeed; but it seeraph here,” and Ruuid hand towards the portrait in the silver fra furiously, and he felt very weak and shaken from the fall; but he had to make some sort of explanation about himself, and it seemed almost like a certificate of respectability to be able to claim acquaintance with a person whose portrait had the place of honour in the house
”So you know Cousin Toh we have not heard froot back But now that I knohere you have come from I must send off to the road and have a notice stuck up, so that your sisterout of the roo hand to stop her
”If you please, can't I go with the somebody, and then Nealie will not have to worry about me, and it will save such a lot of bother?” he said, with sohow pale and shaken he looked she decided that his family would have to take a little trouble on his behalf, and said so
”You will have to lie still for a few hours, for you are more shaken than you realize; but ill stick a notice up on the side of the road, to let your people knohere to find you, and then they can caain first thing to-,” she said, and then hurried away to post a er off to the main road, which o or threeabout at his new surroundings, The ceiling and walls of the rooood of its kind, but dreadfully crowded
There was a piano, too, but the dust lay so thickly on it that he decided that the family were not very s to have much time for relaxation There was a deep veranda in front of theand a lot of flowers planted in pots and tins Beyond the veranda he had gliuerites, queer-looking cactus plants, blazing-red geraniums, and a coral tree in full blooarden like this at Hammerville?” he muttered to himself, with a keen pleasure in all the riot of blossom that was to be seen fro to arden, and at the sa, until he fell asleep and did not wake untiltiry, that he decided to go on a voyage of discovery to see for hie was like
The yard outside was a scene of pretty lively activity The coere just being fastened for , that is to say they were tied by the head, each one to her stall, and then the hind leg was strapped so that there could be no danger of the ani the pail over
There were several peopleabout, and just at first Rumple did not see his hostess; but presently he heard a shrill voice cry out: ”Mother, there is the little boy out and running about!”
Rumple felt considerably ruffled by this remark, which was not strictly true, for he was not really a little boy now, at least not compared with Don and Billykins, and he certainly could not be accused of running about when he wasinto the cowyard
Then the elderly wo up to the fence, exclaiht better than before you went to sleep How are you feeling now, dear?”
”I a up into her kindly face with a s how much better she would look if she did her hair like Nealie, instead of dragging it into a knot at the back of her head; but really her face was so kind that her hair did not ry are you? That is right Here, coht away, for we shan't have supper until the ht It will take another hour or more, and you have had no dinner”
Rumple followed his hostess into the kitchen, which was canvas-walled like the best parlour, but er and so much more comfortable that Rumple decided it looked really beautiful, while the shtful to a hungry boy
There was a wood fire s the e fork into Rumple's hands and bade him toast scones for himself He was invited to put the butter on for hi close beside hih
But when his hunger was satisfied Ruan to worry about the others and started for the cowyard once on had arrived Truth to tell, he was feeling very guilty because of all the trouble he was giving, for he knew that Rupert and Nealie would be very worried and anxious concerning him, and the journey would be delayed also
He had discovered that the woht him home was a Mrs Warner, that her husband ay fro about the cowyard were the sons and daughters of the house, with the exception of an old black felloho had only one eye
Thewas over and the cows had all been turned into the ho noise made itself heard on the quiet air
”Why, what is that?” asked Ru Warners passed hiht of two heavy pails of sour milk for the poultry
”That is the separator Do you want to see it at work?” asked the boy, with a friendly grin He was a few years older than Rumple and scorched to a berry-brown by the sun
”What is a separator?” de was of a rather antiquated description, Beechleigh being about twenty years behind the ti that parts the cream from the milk Go into the dairy and have a look at it,” said the youth, nodding his head in the direction of a long, low shed that had been built into the side of the hill, and which was so covered with creepers that it looked al loath So fresh always appealed to hi hi thefrom one spout and the milk from the other, while a rosy-faced Miss Warner turned the handle, and another Miss Warner, with pale cheeks and quite a stylish air, bustled about the dairy putting things straight for the night
”If you please, have you seen or heard anything of our wagon?” asked Ruht and both girls were busy clearing up
”No, we haven't; but Bella and a friend are going to walk out to the road after work to see if they can find out anything for you,” said the stylish sister, and Bella, the red-cheeked one, gurgled and choked with a enjoyment, and said: