Part 16 (2/2)
”Why didn't you tellhis arm into dick's affectionately
dick answered by a friendly punch on the head ”Who is Mr Fraser?”
he asked Hugh, settling himself in his place on the rail
”He is a uely ”He owns all this part and is as rich as a nabob, but he isn't married, so he lives up here all alone, with two or three Chinese servants in the house He once lived in China He's awfully fond of gardening, and pictures, and that sort of thing, like reat friend of the pater's, and he co, and they yarn away about home and spout poetry But he is quite a jolly sort of chap when you get him alone His house is called Drink Between, which wouldn't be a bad naood name for a pub, if you wanted to keep one,” Jerry reot it froh, of course, we are in the olden times already, if it coot it from a place at hoirls are here he gets in a couple of women to look after theood they are! That is, of course, if you like stewed puppy and bird's nest,” Hugh added solemnly; ”I love 'e his lips ”Never lose a chance of having puppy-tail hash e can get it, do we, old son?”
”Rather not,” dick replied ”Remember those bird's-nest tarts our old woot so scarce?
Scruirls interrupted these flights of masculine fancy Grizzel still looked subdued, but the tears were dried, and she was listening politely to Mollie's tuneful advice to ”Pack your troubles in your own kit-bag, and sh shouted to them to hurry up or they would be late for tea, and soon the little party was under way again, as cheerful as if diaht of Drink Between; a square, solidly built house, with a wide veranda and balcony on three sides of it, completely hidden at present under a pale-purple drapery of wistaria
”It looks like an aly, as they drew near ”I never saw such a purple house as that before”
The inside of Drink Betas entirely different from any of the other Australian houses which Mollie had been in They entered by a side door which opened straight on to a narrow stairway The girls cli on to the balcony
”Where are your father and mother and Baby?” Mollie asked, as they washed away the re
”Papa and Marant shi+p to- up till afterwards And Baby and Bridget are with therant shi+p?” asked Mollie
”A shi+p full of i out her curls with conscientious care ”I, or for very little, and then they go to work here Ma to be rants and say welcorant, but she says she will soon be Australian”
”I see,” said Mollie thoughtfully ”Are they ever married? I mean-- do children come with their parents?”
”Yes, lots of the i very fresh and clean in white irls descended by a different and one up by They stepped off the stairs straight into a large hall, or living-room, which apparently occupied half the floor of the house, for on two sides it opened on to the veranda, and on the third side into a large bamboo house; the fourth as unbroken but for one door The room was painted white, and the floor covered with fine white Chinese s, their once rich and glowing colours now dih the wide-open French s could be seen the long, graceful streahs round the veranda like a lace veil Against this background grew eas, with their flat fragile flowers and broad leaves The baiven wholly to ferns, over which a fountain was playing, and under the fine spray the green fronds glistened as freshly as though they grew in the heart of an English wood
The sun was now setting, and its cri the rooht which made Mollie think of fairyland It fell with a peculiarly pleasant effect upon a round tea-table spread for tea She had never seen such fine and snowy da silver, or such delicately transparent china cups and saucers Even Grannie's well-kept table paled before the exquisite freshness of this one As for the food part--there was a crystal bowl of yellow clotted creaossamer balls which were probably intended to pass for scones, a twist of gold which was most likely lish children--tiny green oranges in syrup, scarlet rose-berries, and jellies like ah's precious stones had been cooked for his tea
They were about half-way through this beautiful , and a Chinese servant appeared, bearing a large iced birthday cake set on a silver tray
”Hullo, Ah Kew! What you gottee there?” called Hugh, under the ilish to perfection
”Master talkee to-day b'long he burfday,” Ah Kew replied ”He talkee my, wanchee cook makee one piecee burfday-cake” He set the cake down in front of Prudence as he spoke
”Welly good, Ah Kew, Master b'long quitey righty,” said Hugh approvingly ”Cook ood cakee
Cook pleased, me pleased, cakee pleased, all jolly-welly pleased”
Ah Kew s up under his slanting eyebrows, and his blue-capped head nodding He glanced over the tea-table
”Tea b'long all plopper?” he asked anxiously ”S'pose you wanchee more can have plenty more”
”No, thank you, Ah Kew, h replied politely Ah Kew nodded his head again and departed, his pigtail flapping against the long skirts of his blue cotton coat