So I suppose they had made it up to have a bit of fun with us that evening before we started.

They came down into the parlour where our tea was, dressed out in their best and looking very grand, as I thought, particularly as we hadn't seen the sight of so much as a woman's bonnet and shawl for months and months.
'Well, Mr.Marston,' says the eldest girl, Bella, to Jim, 'we didn't expect you'd travel this way with friends so soon.

Why didn't you tell us, and we'd have had everything comfortable ?' 'Wasn't sure about it,' says Jim, 'and when you ain't it's safest to hold your tongue.

There's a good many things we all do that don't want talking about.' 'I feel certain, Jim,' says Starlight, with his soft voice and pleasant smile, which no woman as I ever saw could fight against long, 'that any man's secret would be safe with Miss Bella.

I would trust her with my life freely--not that it's worth a great deal.' 'Oh! Captain,' says poor Bella, and she began to blush quite innocent like, 'you needn't fear; there ain't a girl from Shoalhaven to Albury that would let on which way you were heading, if they were to offer her all the money in the country.' 'Not even a diamond necklace and earrings?
Think of a lovely pendant, a cross all brilliants, and a brooch to match, my dear girl.' 'I wouldn't "come it", unless I could get that lovely horse of yours,' says the youngest one, Maddie; 'but I'd do anything in the world to have him.