"
"Good business!" said Jim, joyfully, while Wally hurrahed below his
breath. "But will they let us play, Dad--Wal. and me?"
"Oh, they've fixed that up with the Mulgoa fellows," said his father.
"It's all right. They're kind enough to ask me to play, but it's out of
the question--even if I weren't approaching senile decay"--he smiled--"I
wouldn't be able to go. Mr. Darrell has a buyer coming to look at his
young stock on Friday, and he writes me that if I want any of them--he
knows I did want some--I can have the first pick if I am over at
Killybeg on Thursday. So that means I'll be away from Wednesday
morning--and I think this match will be as efficacious as anything else
in keeping you out of mischief during my absence!"
"I'm glad we'll have something!" Jim said, his grin belying his meek
voice. "Well, we'll have to see who can play."
"You two boys, of course," said his father. "And Cecil--do you play?"
"Not for worlds, thank you," said Cecil, hastily. "It's not in my
line."
"Oh," said his uncle. "Then you can be Norah's escort--if she wants to
go, that is!"
"Want to go! Well, Daddy!" said Norah in expostulation--whereat
everybody laughed.
"Murty can slog, I believe, and of course, Boone is a cricketer," the
squatter said. "They only want four, so if those two fellows are
willing--of which I'm not very doubtful!--that will be just right.
Pages:
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195