'I'd have bet a trifle there was some game on.

You're welcome, old girl.

Out with it!' 'Did you know as I'd got a brother in 'Stralia--him as you used to know when you lived here before ?' 'You said you didn't know where he was.' 'No more we do--not just now.

But he wrote mother a letter about this time last year, an' there's something in it as I'd like you to see.
You'd better read for yourself.' Her husband laid down his pipe on the mantel-piece and began to cast his eye over the letter, which was much defaced by frequent foldings, and in any case would have been difficult to decipher, so vilely was it scrawled.

But Mr.Snowdon's interest was strongly excited, and in a few moments he had made out the following communication: 'I don't begin with no deering, because it's a plaid out thing, and because I'm riting to too people at onse, both mother and Clem, and it's so long since I've had a pen in my hand I've harf forgot how to use it.