An Australian Lassie

Seated on a partly submerged post ... was John Brown. (Page 25.)
AN AUSTRALIAN LASSIE BY LILIAN TURNER author of the perry girls, etc. ILLUSTRATIONS BY A. J. JOHNSON WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED LONDON AND MELBOURNE
TO MY STEPFATHER CHARLES COPE
Emily Underwood, 19; Stanley Smith, 20; Cyril Bruce, 21; Nellie Underwood, 22; Elizabeth Bruce, 23—bottom of the class!
Mr. Sharman took off his eyeglasses, rubbed them, and put them on again. Then he looked very hard at the little girl at the end of the furthest form, who was hanging her head and industriously biting a slate pencil.
Stand up, Elizabeth Bruce. Put down your pencil and fold your hands behind you.
Elizabeth did as she was told instantly. Her rosy face looked anxiously into the master's stern one.
Yesterday morning, the master said, you were head of the class. This morning I find your name at the end of the list. How was that?
Elizabeth hung her head again, and her dimpled chin hid itself behind the needlework of her pinafore.
A small girl, a few seats higher, held up her hand and waved it impatiently.
Well? asked the master.
Please sir, she was promptin' Cyril Bruce.