girls had been asked so many absurd things about their
native country that they were rather sick of lecturing
on the subject, and, besides, misunderstood the temper
of this inquiry, and fancied it patronizing in tone : so
Jenny said quickly, " Oh, dear, no I they wouldn't dream
of taking such a liberty in a new country !" and Lucy,
" Why, of course ! What an odd question !" almost at
the same moment ; whereupon Miss Frynne l^uniedly
begged pardon, and said, —

" No offence meant, I assure you, only they don't in
Australia," astonishing the girls in her turn. After this
she devoted herself to her pudding again, which she
pronounced "beautiful." But no words could paint
Jenny's amazement when, chancing to look at her a
few minutes later, she saw her put down her spoon,
clap both hands behind her ears, press some springs,
take off an auburn wig that covered a head as bare as a
billiard-ball, wave it about a few times, clap it on again,
settle the springs, pick up her spoon, and go on with
her pudding, quite unembarrassed by the performance.
