They Found a Cave Read Free Page B

have to be. For the first time she was wishing she had not persuaded her twin sister in England to send the children to the safety of the Tasmanian bush when war broke out. It would be different, she sighed, if there were anyone better than the Pinners to leave in charge. However, she reflected, in these days you were lucky to get anyone at all who knew their job, and she was a good cook and he certainly seemed excellent with sheep.
    â€˜What about the salt lick for the mothers?’ Cherry called as she returned.
    â€˜Yes, put it out for them, please.’ Jandie watched the big brownish rock placed in the yard and then she said abruptly, ‘I’m going away next week, Cherry, I’m going to leave you in charge of the goats. Do you think you can manage? I’ve got jobs for the boys, too, all except Nippy.’
    â€˜Well, he can do the cats. He does them anyhow.’
    â€˜Yes,’ Jandie smiled, ‘so he does. But your job isn’t only the milking. It’s complete charge, feeding, bedding, turning them out each day, and cleaning the sheds. Oh, and it’s setting the milk, skimming the cream, and making butter and cheese when you can.’
    â€˜What about Mrs. Pinner? She won’t like…’
    â€˜Never mind Mrs. Pinner! She will do the house and get the meals for you all as usual, that’s all. I’ll explain to her exactly.’
    â€˜Do you mean, Jandie, that you—that you’ll be gone long?’
    â€˜I hope not, dear. I don’t think so.’ Again the worried look came on Jandie’s face. ‘When I was your age, Cherry, I didn’t know what responsibility was. You children have had more than I like already, but—I may be delayed. I expect I have to go to Melbourne. If anything keeps me remember the goats are your job entirely. It’s a big trust. Do what you and the boys think best, and never mind if things do go wrong sometimes…What’s this I’m saying? Of course I’ll probably be home again within a week. But just in case…Oh, and don’t let a mail go out without writing to Mother and Dad, will you?’
    â€˜â€™Course not!’ Cherry swung a leg over the top rail and sitting on the top grinned down at her aunt. ‘You think you’ve bluffed me, don’t you, Jandie? But you haven’t. I know quite well why you are really going away.’
    â€˜Oh, do you?’ For a moment Jandie looked quite startled; then she recovered herself and laughed.
    â€˜Yes,’ crowed Cherry. ‘We’ve been wondering what was on your mind lately. You’re not very clever at hiding things I’m afraid, Jandie. Mother could show you! Of course since her letter came we guessed what’s up. You are trying to get us all away to boarding schools , aren’t you?’
    â€˜Am I?’ said Jandie. ‘Well, now you mention it, you will have to be educated some day, I suppose. You can’t grow up like savages.’
    â€˜Why not, when there’s a war on? Now me—I’m not a bit keen on school. Why not let me stay and help with the goats, and send Tas instead? He’s clever, and he says he wishes he’d had more schooling.’
    â€˜Tas clever? Somehow I never pictured him as a bookworm.’
    â€˜Ah, but he might be. He says he never had a chance.’
    â€˜Umm? Never had a chance? Well, perhaps he hasn’t. I’m afraid, though, his education isn’t our affair. Still I’ll have a chat about him with Mrs. Pinner some day. I think a lot of that boy. And don’t any of you get too worked up about school, it won’t be till after Christmas. This side of the world the long summer holidays include Christmas, did you know that? Now, come on. We’d better go in.’
    They strolled towards the house by way of the vegetable garden. The scent of the broad bean flowers rivalled that of the violets over the fence, and in the long paddock beyond