"The General's hat, please, Martha, the white sun-hat with strings;
it's on my bed, I think, or a chair or somewhere--oh! and bring
down my large one with the poppies in, as well, please."
Martha departed, and, after a little search, returned with the
headgear.
And Esther tied the white sun-hat over her own curly, crinkly hair,
and made the General crow with laughing from his seat on the hall
table. And then she popped it on the Captain's head, and put the
cabbage-tree on her son's, and occupied several minutes thus in pretty
play.
Finally they were ready, and moved down the hall.
"Master Bunty is locked in his room; on no account open the door,
Martha," was the Captain's last command.
"Oh, Jack!" Esther said reproachfully.
"Oblige me by not interfering," he said; "allow me a little
liberty with my own children, Esther. He is an untruthful little
vagabond; I am ashamed to own him for my son."
And Esther, reflecting on the many shiftinesses of her stepson, was
able to console herself with the hope that it would do him good.
They went a shortcut through the bush to avoid the public road, and
the blue, sun-kissed, laughing river stretched before them.
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