Back To Billabong, page 149 by Mary Grant Bruce
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ou really had a shop or two in the principal cities."
"I've often marvelled at the queer collection people seem to bring out," said Mr. Linton. "It's not so bad of late years, but ten years ago a jackeroo would arrive here with about a lorry-load of stuff, most of which he could have bought much more cheaply in Melbourne or Sydney--and he'd certainly never use the greater part of it. Apparently a London shop will sell you the same kind of outfit for a Melbourne suburb as if you were going into the wilds of West Africa. They haven't any conscience."
"They just never learn geography," said Norah. "And 'the Colonies' to them mean exactly the same thing, no matter in what continent the colony may be. If they can sell pioneers tinware to take out to Melbourne, so much the better for them. Well, I must see Brownie, or there may not be early breakfast for pioneers or any one else."
Brownie rose to the occasion--there had never been any known occasion to which Brownie did not rise--and the hospital at Cunjee was still grappling with early morning problems next day when the Billabong motor pulled up at the door, after a flying visit to the new home--which Tommy, regarding with the large eye of faith, had declared to be full of boundless possibilities. Dr. Anderson came out to meet the new-comers, Norah and Tommy, neat and workmanlike; Jim, bearing their luggage; and Mr. Linton and Bob sharing a large humper, into which Brownie had packed everything eatable she could find--and Brownie's capacity for finding things eatable at short notice was one of her most astonishing traits. The little doctor, harassed as he was, greeted them with a twinkle.
"You Lintons generally appear bearing your sheaves with you," he said. "Well, you're very welcome. How many of you do I keep?"
"Tommy and Norah, for certain," said Mr. Linton. "And as many more of us as you please. Want us all, doctor?"
"Well, I really don't; there are a good many men volunteers. But if I might commandeer the car and a driver