"I must—apart from the painful nature of your conversation," Fraser said, laughing. "I'm taking this young mother of mine to the theatre to-night, and she must have a rest first."
They said good-bye, and disappeared through the long window. Teddy Raine rose.
"Come on, you fellows," he said. "I must take 'em back, Mrs. Lester, or poor old Melville'll be throwing fits. Cricket practice has slumped since you people came here." He patted Dick's head, his merry face gentle. "Going to have a mighty supper in the dormer to-night, old thing!" he said. "Wish you were going to be there."
"I wish I was!" said Dick ruefully. "Never mind, there'll be lots next term!"
"And we'll drink more power to your old back," said Teddy, "in raspberry vinegar!"
"Out of a soap-dish lid?" queried Mrs. Lester demurely.
"Now, you know too much, Mrs. Lester," Teddy reproached her. "'Spose this fellow revealed all our black secrets when he was delirious. You ought to be ashamed, anyhow, Lester. No chap in our form was ever delirious before!"
"Why, I thought it was your normal condition!" said Mr. Lester.
"That's one below the belt!" murmured Bottles, amidst the laughter. "Come on, chaps, we're not appreciated here—or anywhere else! It doesn't matter!" They clattered downstairs, to the profound wrath of the bad-tempered old gentleman. Dick propped himself on one elbow to wave to them as they raced down to the gate.
"Want to be going with them, old son?" his father asked.
Dick shook his head contentedly.
"No," he said. "Next term I will, I s'pose—when my silly old back is in going order again. But just now"—his eyes lingered on his father and mother—"between you two and old 'Legs,' and learning to walk—well, I've just got jolly well all I want."
THE END.
********
STORIES BY
MARY GRANT BRUCE
Published byWARD, LOCK & CO., LTD.
OF WHICH MORE THAN 320,000COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL EDITIONSHAVE BEEN SOLD
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A LITTLE BUSH MAIDMATES AT BILLABONGTIMOTHY IN BUSHLANDGLEN EYRENORAH OF BILLABONGGRAY'S HOLLOWFROM BILLABONG TO LONDONJIM AND WALLY'POSSUMDICKCAPTAIN JIMDICK LESTER OF KURRAJONGBACK TO BILLABONGTHE STONE AXE OF BURKAMUKKTHE TWINS OF EMU PLAINSBILLABONG'S DAUGHTERTHE HOUSES OF THE EAGLETHE TOWER ROOMSBILLABONG ADVENTURERSGOLDEN FIDDLESTHE HAPPY TRAVELLERS