oncerning it before leaving Caddagat.

The house was of slabs, unlimed, and with very low iron roof, and having
no sign of a tree near it, the heat was unendurable. It was reflected
from the rocks on either side, and concentrated in this spot like an
oven, being 122 degrees in the veranda now. I wondered why M'Swat had
built in such a hole, but it appears it was the nearness of the point to
water which recommended it to his judgment.

With the comforting idea that I would not have long to bear this, I
bathed my eyes, and walked away from the house to try and find a cooler
spot. The children saw me depart but not return, to judge from a
discussion of myself which I heard in the dining-room, which adjoined my
bed-chamber.

Peter came home, and the children clustered around to tell the news.

"Did she come?"

"Yes."

"Wot's she like?"

"Oh, a rale little bit of a thing, not as big as Lizer!

"And, Peter, she hes teeny little hands, as wite as snow, like that woman
in the picter ma got off of the tea."

"Yes, Peter," chimed in another voice; "and her feet are that little that
she don't make no nise wen she walks."

"It ain't only becos her feet are little, but cos she's got them beautiful
shoes like wot's in picters," said another.

"Her hair is tied with two great junks of ribbing, one up on her head an'
another near the bottom; better than that bit er red ribbing wot Lizer
keeps in the box agin the time she might go to town some day."

"Yes," said the voice of Mrs M'Swat, "her hair is near to her knees, and
a plait as thick as yer arm; and wen she writ a couple of letters in a
minute, you could scarce see her hand move it was that wonderful quick;
and she uses them big words wot you couldn't understand without
bein' eddicated."

"She has tree brooches, and a necktie better than your best one wots you
keeps to go seeing Susie Duffy in," and Lizer giggled slyly.

"You shut up about Susie Duffy, or I'll whack yuz up aside of the ear,"
said Peter angrily.

"She ain't like ma. She's fat up here, and goes in like she'd break in
the middle, Peter."

"Great scissors! she must be a flyer," said Peter. I'll bet she'll make
you sit up, Jimmy."

"I'll make her sit up," retorted Jimmy, who came next to Lizer.--She
thinks she's a toff, but she's only old Melvyn's darter, that pa has
to give money to."

"Peter," said another, "her face ain't got them freckles on like yours,
and it ain't dark like Lizer's. It's re