Page:Hornung - Irralies Bushranger.djvu/37

 with the moon shining like a tempered sun on every roof, and the pine-trees whispering on all sides but one, there were worse tasks than learning the names of things from the mouth of Irralie Villiers.

"But if I am to show you the ropes," said the girl, "I may as well show you the lot. The stables are quite separate. The stock-yards are farther still. Would you care to see them to-night?"

He cared considerably, and appeared to find refreshment in the freedom of the situation. The father had gone into the store to write a letter for the outgoing mail; the mother had beaten a retreat earlier than usual after the burden and surprises of the day. The stranger and the girl were left to their own devices, without a hint of vulgar espionage in the name of a too self-conscious propriety. The stables were inspected. A handful of oats was taken to the night-horse in the yard. The men's hut was pointed out on rising ground still farther from the house; also a natural lawn-tennis court,