trapping, "shinning up" trees, fishing in the lagoon and generally
disporting herself as a maiden may whom conventional restrictions have
never trammelled.

It follows that the music lessons, twice a week, were times of woe for
Mr. Groom, the teacher. He was an earnest young man, with a sincere
desire for his pupil's improvement, and it was certainly disheartening
to find on Friday that the words of Tuesday had apparently gone in at
one ear and out at the other simultaneously. Sometimes he would
remonstrate.

"You haven't got on with that piece a bit!"

"What's the good?" the pupil would remark, twisting round on the music
stool; "I can play nearly all of it from ear!"

"That's not the same"--severely--"that's only frivolling. I'm not here
to teach you to strum."

"No" Norah would agree abstractedly. "Mr. Groom, you know that poley
bullock down in the far end paddock--"

"No, I don't," severely. "This is a music lesson, Norah; you're not
after cattle now!"

"Wish I were!" sighed the pupil. "Well, will you come out with the dogs
this afternoon?"

"Can't; I'm wanted in the office. Now, Norah--"