Page:The romance of Runnibede (IA romanceofrunnibe00rudd).pdf/80

what got bogged in Curlew Lagoon, yesterd'y, father," Ted, thinking to afford the Governor some cheerful news for which he might draw all the credit, chipped in.

The Governor lifted his head quickly and stared in surprise at him. Mother, pausing near the table, said earnestly, "I did not hear of that, my son."

“Yes they did," I like an idiot, confirmed, so that I wouldn't be quite outdone by Ted in appearing important. "They helped Joe, Eustace and Tom Merton to pull a lot out."

"How many, Jim?" the Governor spoke quietly but gravely.

"Fifty!" from Ted, who rushed the question to get in before me.

"No, not fifty," I reckoned; "there might have been forty-eight." And now, when I reflect upon it, I daresay there were twenty or so bogged that day in a mild sort of way, most of which struggled safely out unaided at sight of the well-meaning black men.

"And Joe Eustace told Tom Merton," Ted, with wide-open eyes and stammering in his enthusiasm gushed innocently—"told him—that you'll lose every hoof on th' station before long, an' they'll all lose their jobs."

A smothered cry came from mother, and before anyone knew what was happening, she fell across the table and lay as if she were dead.

"Heavens!" and springing to his feet, the Governor seized her in his arms.

"Dorrie! Dorrie!" He shook her excitedly.