We had to tell her a good lot, part of it truth, of course, but pretty mixed.

It made rather a good yarn, and I could see Grace was listening with her heart as well as her ears.

Jim said generally we met some very nice people in Melbourne named Jackson, and they were very kind to us.
'Were there any daughters in the family, Jim ?' asked Grace.
'Oh! yes, three.' 'Were they good-looking ?' 'No, rather homely, particularly the youngest.' 'What did they do ?' 'Oh! their mother kept a boarding-house.

We stayed there.' I don't think I ever knew Jim do so much lying before; but after he'd begun he had to stick to it.

He told me afterwards he nearly broke down about the three daughters; but was rather proud of making the youngest the ugliest.
'I can see Gracey's as fond of you as ever she was, Dick,' says he; 'that's why she made me tell all those crammers.