A Little Bush Maid, page 109 by Mary Grant Bruce
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g aloft glittering white tiers. There were scones and tarts and wee cakes, and dishes of fresh fruit, and altogether the boys whistled long and softly, and declared that "Brownie was no end of a brick!"
Whereat Mrs. Brown, hovering about to see that her charges wanted nothing, smiled and blushed, and said, "Get on, now, do!"
Jim carved, and Jim's carving was something to marvel at. No method came amiss to him. When he could cut straight he did; at other times he sawed; and, when it seemed necessary, he dug. After he had finished helping every one, Wally said that the turkey looked as if a dog had been at it, and the ham was worse, which remarks Jim meekly accepted as his due. Nor did the inartistic appearance of the turkey prevent the critic from coming back for more!
Everyone was hungry, and did full justice to "Brownie's" forethought; while Norah, behind the tall teapot, declared that it was a job for two men and a boy to pour out for such a thirsty trio. Harry helped the fruit salad, and Harry's helpings were based on his own hunger, and would have suited Goliath. Finally, Norah cut the cake with great ceremony, and Wally's proposal that everyone should retire to the lawn with a "chunk" was carried unanimously.
Out on the grass they lay and chattered, while the dusk came down, and slowly a pale moon climbed up into the sky. Norah alone was silent. After a while Harry and Wally declared they must go and pack, and Jim and his sister were left alone.
Wally and Harry scurried down the hail. The sound of their merry voices died away, and there was silence on the lawn.
Jim rolled nearer to Norah.
"Blue, old girl?"
"'M," said a muffled voice.
Jim felt for her hand in the darkness--and found it. The small, brown fingers closed tightly round his rough paw.
"I know," he said comprehendingly. "I'm awfully sorry, old woman. I do wish we hadn't to go."
There was no answer. Jim knew why--and also knowing perfectly well that tears would m