er is. He might kick some of the other
horses if you don't keep a sharp look-out," he said, turning to his
jackeroo.

"Ladies before gentlemen," I interposed. I want Mr Archer to take me to
grannie, then he can go and look after old Boxer."

"I'll escort you," said Beecham.

"Thank you, but I have requested Mr Archer to do so."

"In that case, I beg your pardon, and will attend to Boxer while Joe does
as you request."

Raising his hat he walked swiftly away with a curious expression on his
usually pleasant face.

"By Jove, I'm in for it!" ejaculated my escort. "The boss doesn't get
that expression on his face for nothing. You take my tip for it, he felt
inclined to seize me by the scruff of the neck and kick me from here to
Yabtree."

"Go on!"

"It's a fact. He did not believe in me not going to do his bidding
immediately. He has a roaring derry on disobedience. Everyone has to obey
him like winkie or they can take their beds up and trot off quick and
lively."

"Mr Beecham has sufficient sense to see I was the cause of your
disobedience," I replied.

"That's where it is. He would not have cared had it been some other lady,
but he gets mad if any one dares to monopolize you. I don't know how you
are going to manage him. He is a pretty hot member sometimes."

"Mr Archer, you presume! But throwing such empty banter aside, is Mr
Beecham really bad-tempered?"

"Bad-tempered is a tame name for it. You should have seen the dust he
raised the other day with old Benson. He just did perform."

I was always hearing of Harold Beecham's temper, and wished I could see a
little of it. He was always so imperturbably calm, and unfailingly
good-tempered under the most trying circumstances, that I feared he had
no emotions in him, and longed to stir him up.

Grannie greeted me with, "Sybylla, you are such a tiresome girl. I don't
know how you have packed these hampers, and we want to have lunch. Where
on earth have you been?"

Miss Augusta Beecham saluted me warmly with a kiss, and presented me to
her sister Sarah, who also embraced me. I went through an introduction to
several ladies and gentlemen, greeted my acquaintances, and then set to
work in dead earnest to get our provisions laid out--the Five-Bob Downs
party had theirs in readiness. Needless to say, we were combining forces.
I had my work completed when Mr Beecham appeared upon the scene with two
young ladies. One was a bright-faced little brunette, and the ot