But the
Dandy took a hobble chain to the forge, and breaking the links asunder,
welded them into smooth round rings.
The need for curtain rings was very pressing, for, scanty as it was, the
publicity of our wardrobe hanging in one corner of the reception room
distressed me, but with the Dandy's rings and a chequered rug for
curtain, a corner wardrobe was soon fixed up.
Dan looked at it askance, and harked back to the sundial and education.
"It's 'cute enough," he said. "But it won't do, boss. She should have
been taught how to tell the time by the sun. Don't you let 'em spoil your
chances of education, missus. You were in luck when you struck this
place; never saw luck to equal it. And if it holds good, something'll
happen to stop you from ever having a house, so as to get you properly
educated."
My luck "held good" for the time being; for when Johnny came along in a
few days he announced, in answer to a very warm welcome, that "something
had gone wrong at No. 3 Well" and that "he'd promised to see to it at
once."
"Oh, Johnny!" I cried reproachfully, but the next moment was "toeing the
line" even to the Head Stockman's satisfaction; for with a look of
surprise Johnny had added:
