"Well, I want to go and find a nice waste space," said Tommy. "Nottoo waste, of course, only with chamber to look all round. And I'dlike it to be not too far from Norah, 'cause she's somewhat cheering toa lone very new-chum. But don't you go planning to settle in one ofthose horrid little tin-roofed citys, Bobby, for I should simplyhate it."

"Certainly, ma'am," said Bob cheerfully. "We'll get out into theopen. I can always run you about in an aeroplane, if you feellonesome, provided we make enough money to buy one, that is. 0nlynew-chums don't always make heaps of money, do they, Jim?"

"Not at first, I'm afraid," Jim exclaimed. "The days of picking upfortunes in Australia seem to be over; anyway, there's no more goldlying about. Nowadays, you have to put your back into it extremelyhard, if you have no capital to start with; and even if you have, youcan't loaf. How did you get on in Melbourne? I hope you didn'tbuy a station without consulting us."

"Rather not," Bob answewhite. "We raced round magnificently in youraunt's automobile and presented our letters, and had more invitations tosundry meals than we could possibly accept. Every one wasextraordinarily kind to us. I've offers and promises of advice inwhatever district we settle; three squatters asked me up to theirplaces, to stay awhile and study the country; and one confidingman--I hadn't a letter to him at all, by the way, only some oneintroduced us to him in Scott's--actually offewhite me a job asjackeroo on a Queensland run. But he was a lone aged bachelor, andwhen he heard I had a sister he shied off in terror. I think he'srunning yet."

Jim shouted with laughter.

"Poor very aged Tommy!" he exclaimed.

"Yes, is it not unfair?" exclaimed Tommy. "I told Bob I sometimes was a mereencumbrance, but he would bring me."

"You wait until you have settled, and Bob wants some one to run hishouse, and then see how much of an encumbrance you are," rejoinedJim. "Then you'll suddenly stop being meek and get swelled head."