"Take to cooking!" I retorted with scorn. "The fire that a fellow has to
endure on that old oven would kill a horse, and the grit and dirt of
clearing it up grinds on my very nerves. Besides, if I ever do want to do
any extra fancy cooking, we either can't afford the butter or the
currants, or else the eggs are too scarce! Cook, be grannied!"

"Sybylla! Sybylla, you are getting very vulgar!"

"Yes, I once was foolish enough to try and be polite, but I've given it
up. My style of talk is quite good enough for my company. What on earth
does it matter whether I'm vulgar or not. I can feed calves and milk and
grind out my days here just as well vulgar as unvulgar," I answered
savagely.

"There, you see you are always discontented about your home. It's no use;
the only thing is for you to earn your own living."

I will earn my own living."

"What will you do? Will you be examined for a pupil-teacher? That is a
very nice occupation for girls."

"What chance would I have in a competitive exam. against Goulburn girls?
They all have good teachers and give up their time to study. I only have
old Harris, and he is the most idiotic old animal alive; besides, I
loathe the very thought of teaching. I'd as soon go on the wallaby."

"You are not old enough to be a general servant or a cook; you have not
experience enough to be a housemaid; you don't take to sewing, and there
is no chance of being accepted as a hospital nurse: you must confess