"Jeff, old fellow, of course you will go on with them, and stay until they are settled?"
"Jim, old fellow," I replied, "of course you will go on with them, and stay till they are settled?"
He pondered a few moments, and then said, "Well, why not? I suppose she can be to me still what she always was? Yes, I will go with them."
When we returned to the dray we found them all astir, preparing for a start. Mrs. Buckley, with her gown tucked up, was preparing breakfast, as if she had been used to the thing all her life. She had an imperial sort of way of manoeuvring a frying-pan, which did one good to see. It is my belief, that if that woman had been called upon to groom a horse, she'd have done it in a ladylike way.
While James went among the party to announce his intention of going on with them, I had an opportunity of looking at the son and heir of all the Buckleys. He was a sturdy, handsome child about five years old, and was now standing apart from the others, watching a bullock-driver yoking-up his beast. I am very fond of children, and take great interest in studying their characters; so I stood, not unamused, behind this youngster, as he stood looking with awe and astonishment at the man, as he managed the great, formidable beasts, and brought each one into his place; not, however, without more oaths than one would care to repeat. Suddenly, the child, turning and seeing me behind him, came back, and took my hand.
"Why is he so angry with them?" the child asked at once. "Why does he talk to them like that?"
"He is swearing at them," I said, "to make them stand in their places."
"But they don't understand him," said the boy. "That black and white one would have gone where he wanted it in a minute; but it couldn't understand, you know; so he hit it over the nose. Why don't he find out how they talk to one another? Then he'd manage them much better. He is very cruel."
"He does not know any better," I said. "Come with me and get some flowers."
"Will you take me up?" he said; "I musn't run about for fear of snakes."