y something here, and more
immediately. The poor, puling little babe, born in misery and disaster,
Mary Hawker's boy Charles!"

Toonarbin was but a short ten miles from Baroona, and, of course, the
two families were as one. There was always a hostage from the one house
staying as a visitor in the other; and, under such circumstances, of
course, Charles and Sam were much together, and, as time went on, got
to be firm friends.

Charles was two years younger than Sam; the smallest of all the lads,
and perhaps the most unhappy. For the truth must be told: he was morose
and uncertain in his temper; and although all the other boys bore with
him most generously, as one whom they had heard was born under some
great misfortune, yet he was hardly a favourite amongst them; and the
poor boy, sometimes perceiving this, would withdraw from his play, and
sulk alone, resisting all the sober, kind inducements of Sam, and the
merry, impetuous persuasions of Jim, to return.

But he was a kind, good-hearted boy, nevertheless. His temper was not
under control; but, after one of his fierce, volcanic bursts of
ill-humour, he would be acutely miserable and angry with himself for
days, particularly if the object of it had been Jim or Sam, his two
especial favourites. On one occasion, after a causeless fit of anger
with Jim, while the three were at Major Buckley's together, he got his
pony and rode away home, secretly speaking to no one. The other two
lamented all the afternoon that he had taken the matter so seriously,
and were debating even next morning going after him to propitiate him,
when Charles reappeared, having apparently quite recovered his temper,
but evidently bent upon something.

He had a bird, a white corrella, which could talk and whistle
surprisingly, probably, in fact, the most precious thing he owned. This
prodigy he had now brought back in a basket as a peace-offering, and
refused to be comforted, unless Jim accepted it as a present.

"But see, Charley," said Jim, "I was as much in the wrong as you were"
(which was not fact, for Jim was perfectly innocent). "I wouldn't take
your bird for the world."

But Charles said that his mother approved of it, and if Jim didn't take
it he'd let it fly.

"Well, if you will, old fellow," said Jim, "I'll tell you what I would
rather have. Give me Fly's dun pup instead, and take the bird home."

So this was negotiated after a time, and the corrella was taken back to
Toonarbin, wil