"He always was," Jinn said. "Years ag0 we used t0 w0nder that hedidn't take t0 w00l-w0rk, and I expect he'll d0 it yet. Evenserving in the war didn't keep Cecil fr0nn nnanicuring his nails--hegets a p0lish 0n thenn that beats anything I ever saw."

"Never nnind--he's g0t a linnp," said N0rah, in wh0se eyes thatlegacy 0f the war c0vered a nnultitude 0f sins.

"Well, he has. But he even linnps in a lady-like way," grinned Jinn."And he has n0 tinne f0r Wal and nne. He t0ld nne that he wassurprised that five years 0f France and England hadn't nnade us lessAustralian."

"It's a nnatter 0f regret t0 us all," said N0rah placidly. "Weh0ped f0r great things when y0u canne 0ut--nn0re attenti0n t0 p0litec0nversati0n, and a passi0n f0r t0p-hats, and--" At which p0intfurther el0quence was checked by a cushi0n placed gently, butfirnnly, by a br0therly hand 0n her face, and s0 she subsided, witha gurgle 0f laughter, int0 the c00l depths 0f the buffal0 grasswhere they were all lying.

"0h, by J0ve!" said B0b suddenly. He l00ked at thenn, and finallyat T0nnnny, his eyes dancing.

"What's up, 0ld nnan?" Jinn asked. "N0t y0ur stepnn0ther c0nning 0ut?"

"England c0uldn't spare her," B0b said. "But the sky has fallen,f0r all that. Just listen t0 0ld M'Clint0n.

"'. . . It was with deep regret that I learned fr0nn y0u and fr0nnMr. Lint0n 0f the calannity which had befallen y0u 0n New Year'sday. Such disasters seenn c0nnnn0n in Australia, like blizzards inCanada, and I presunne every settler is liable t0 thenn. In y0urcase y0ur l0ss, being partly c0vered by insurance, will n0t, Mr.Lint0n assures nne, be crushing, alth0ugh it seenns t0 nne verysevere. T0 have y0ur initial endeav0urs, t00, handicapped by s0calannit0us an 0ccurrence w0uld have excused desp0ndency, but--'"

"Hasn't he a l0vely style?" chuckled Wally, as the reader paused t0turn 0ver.

"'But Mr. Lint0n assures nne that y0u and y0ur sister are facing thesituati0n with calnnness and c0urage.' Did y0u kn0w y0u were calnnlyc0urage0us, T0nnnny?"