CHAPTER 11.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 58

CHAPTER 11.

"Well, if the mountain won't come to Mahomet, what do you say to Mahomet going to the mountain?" and the prosperous Dunedin merchant, genial Hugh Calders, looked across the bouniifully-spiead breakfast table

at his comely wife vith fun twinkling in his eyes. "But," protested Mrs Calders, "how can he?" „ "Oh, easily. We'll send Charlie down to look after the prospecting that the dredging syndicate I'm dn tis going to do oh the Mataura River near'G-lensheila." "Is it very near?" asked Mrs Calders. "Some two miles, or thereabout." "The very thing," exclaimed Mrs. Calders excitedly. "You ask Archie Campbell to board Oharlie as a favour. He'd be glad to oblige yoti, and I'm sure Mrs Campbell would be glad or the money; they did look hard up last time we saw them." "But the distance," began Mr Calders. "What's his bicycle for? — and, oh, you might pay them so much for the use of a horse — another 103," cried Mrs Calders triumphantly. "Isn't it a shame he won't take any help from me, and all that family, while we have none? We weie such great chums when we 1 were boys, too— -like brothers. What tricks we did play, and what fun we had ! We had a time, I tell you," and Mr Caklers laughed at the recollection of their boyish pranks. "'lt? is a pity Mollie could not come up. We'll miss Charlie; he'll see what Mollie leally is, though, better than by a short visit here." "He's a fine fellow, and she's a jewel. If he marries a sensible girl like her I'll make him a, partner. He's a clever fellow." "And a good one- also," interjected Mrs Calders. -"Like his uncle, eh?" said Mr Oalders, ! smiling. j Mrs Calders was very fond of her husband's nephew, and also of her old friend's daughter, and she had set her heart on bringing about a mariage between them: > Mollie would be like a. daughter to her, and would not take Charlie 'away_ from her as another girl might. -Mr Calders was at one with his wife in the ,matter, hence his willingness to part with Charlie at the cost of sonic inconvenience to himself. "Look here," said Mr Campbell one night as he sat at tea with all his rosy, healthy family round him, "Calders wants us to boardIns nephew, who is coming down on prospecting business. Everybody seems to be . going ■crazj'- over this dredging, but I'm sure they'll get very little gold' in the Mataura. Well, well, a fool and 'his money are soon parted, but Hughie has plenty to spare." "What would he give for his board?"., asked Mollie, anxiously. ."Thirty bob a-wcek, if he can get the' use. of a horse. Can we spare a horse, Colin?" "He can have Plorrie," interrupted Mollie eagerly. Thirty .shillings seemed riches to her. Wthy, she would get that habit, and the children new clothes, and they had need of them. Mrs Campbell was very good at contriving and making old clothes look almost like new, but they would wear done, and it' was a hard struggle to make ends meet. Mr /Campbell did not like to run bills if it could possibly be avoided. Susie had complained of her schoolmates saying that she was shabby. Children are quick to notice, and just as quick at making remarks.- Very, iriuch to the point, too, some of them are,^ and rather embarrassing to their parents, who,' if they do" not tell lies, do" not blurt out all the truth on every occasion. "You women folk settle it among yourselves. It's you that'll have the work," said 'Mr Campbell, stretching himself as he rose. "The money will be a godsend," answered Mollie quickly. "We could manage, mother." Poor JVlrs Campbell did not want to add to Mollies burdens^ but the money would be such a godsend, as Mollie said. "You've plenty to do already, Mollie, I'm afraid," she said. "Too much, indeed/ "Nonsense," exclaimed Mollie; "I'm as strong— —" "As a gorilla," cried Jack, who had been deeply studying "The Gorilla Hunters." There was a great burst of laughter at Master Jack's comparison, none heartier than Mol'Td like to oblige Hughie," said Mr Campbell, after the uproar had ceased. "That settles it. Hurrah !" cried Mollie.^ "A pound a week, anyhow, "clear profit," said Colin. "What colour will you* get, Mollie?" "Blue suits your humble servant <best, sir, and Mollie made him a mocb curtsey with igre-at gravity.