"No more do I--no more do I! But when you're staying with people you can't always be your own boss, now can you?"
"Well, that's bully; but I can't with these folks. They're regular terrors for the theatre, the folks I'm staying with now, and I don't know what they'll say if I keep 'em waiting long. Think you can do it?"
"Not by seven; but I think we might get there between five and ten minutes past."
Mr. Teesdale wrinkled his forehead, but said nothing. Evidently it was of the first importance that Missy should not keep her friends waiting. Of these people, however, she had already spoken so lightly that David was pleased to fancy her as not caring very much about them. He was pleased, not only because they took her to the theatre, but because he wanted no rival Australian friends for his old friend's child; the farm, if possible, must be her only home so long as she remained in the Colony. When, therefore, the girl herself confirmed his hopes the very next time she opened her mouth, the old man beamed with satisfaction.
"These folks I'm staying with," said Missy--"I'm not what you call dead nuts on 'em, as I said before."
"I'm glad to hear it," chuckled David, "because we want you all to ourselves, my dear."
"So you think! Some day you'll be sorry you spoke."
"Nonsense, child. What makes you talk such rubbish? You've got to come and make your home with us until you're tired of us, as I've told you already. Where is it they live, these friends of yours?"
"Where do they live?" repeated Missy. "Oh, in Kew."
The name was spoken in a queer, noticeable tone, as of philosophic reflection. Then the farmer smiled and went on driving in silence; they were progressing at a good speed now. But Missy had looked up anxiously.
"Not much," replied David, with a laugh; "only once upon a time I had a chance of buying it--and had the money too!"
"Yes, I had it. There was a man who took me on to a hill and showed me a hollow full of scrub and offered to get me the refusal of it for an old song. I had the money and all, as it happened, but I wasn't going to throw it away. The place looked a howling wilderness; but it is now the suburb of Kew."
"Think of that. Aren't you sorry you didn't buy it?"