But the doctor took his hand.
“No,” he said; “your place is here. Keep about the station, except when you take your daily rides round to see to the stock. I leave you in charge, my boy, so take care. I’ll be back at the earliest moment I can.”
The next minute he had embraced Mrs Braydon, touched his horse’s sides, and cantered off after the men, turning twice to wave his hat to the watchers by the door.
Chapter Twenty Six.
“When the Cat’s Away.”
The girls, seeing how pale and depressed Mrs Braydon looked at breakfast next morning, began by way of a diversion to banter their brother by solemnly asking him for orders—whether he was going to be very strict and severe in his rules; whether he intended to put the station in a state of defence, and drill them or train them in the use of their weapons.
Nic took it all in good part, as he made an excellent breakfast, his appetite being sharpened by two hours’ busy work with the men and inspecting some of the stock, ending by finding for the three Englishmen tasks that required performing close about the house, and others for the three blacks, who had promised to be very industrious while the master was away, were also found close at hand.
“They’ll all be here if wanted,” Nic confided to his sister Janet; “for I must go a very long round to drive in some of the cattle on the far run. Father meant to have gone with me to-day.”