"Walter will never consent to your remaining out here."
Clarissa smiled a little sadly. "He may protest a little, but in his inmost heart he'll not be sorry to leave things as they are. We shall get on quite nicely fifteen thousand miles apart."
A little head peeped round the corner, and a piteous voice made piteous appeal.
"Mummy, I'm not naughty. Mayn't I have my dinner, please? Bush brother can stay if he wants to."
CHAPTER V
A CHURCH OFFICIAL
Neither game nor story was needed for the children's amusement that afternoon. They sat side by side on the grass with their heads very close together discussing the exciting event of the morning, the strange man's visit and his puzzling profession; at least Jack was extremely puzzled and not at all satisfied by Eva's explanation.
"He's mummy's brother, don't you see? and my uncle. That's what he means when he says he's a bush brother."
Jack shook his head incredulously. "Mummy's brother and bush brother can't mean the same," he said.
"Pr'aps he calls himself 'bush' 'cause he's got a beard," Eva suggested.