t of entertainment in inflicting a list of their aches
upon people, blissfully unconscious of how wearisome they can be, but
my temperament is of the sensitive order, knowing its length too well
to similarly transgress.

How I had struck upon Noonoon I don't know or care, except that it was
within easy access of the metropolis, and I have no predilection for
being isolated from the crowded haunts of my fellows. I had descended
upon Jimmeny's Hotel because in an advertisement sheet it was put
down as the leading house of accommodation in Noonoon. Now I had come
to hear of Clay's and Dawn, and determined to shift myself there as
soon as possible. This did not seem imminent, for presently the
"bloated aristocrat" came back to Jimmeny's pub. for the evening meal,
as he had been unable to get so much as a shake-down at Clay's. This
so aroused my desire to be a boarder at Clay's that I straightway
wrote a letter to its chatelaine inquiring what style of accommodation
she provided, and could she accommodate me; and strolling up the
broken street, while a few larrikins at corners, by way of
entertaining themselves and me, made remarks upon my appearance, I
dropped it in the post-office, but had to endure a week's inattention
at Jimmeny's, and no end of yarns from outside folk I encountered as
to how Mrs Jimmeny robbed the "swipes" who took their poison at her
bar, before I was honoured by a reply from Mrs Clay.

"The accommodation provided by me for people is clean and
wholesome and the best as suits me. If it don't suit them
there are other places near that makes more efforts to
gather custom than I do. I can't take you in at present as
I'm too full for my taste as it is.--Yours respectfully,

"Martha Clay."

This interesting rebuff inspired me to further effort, and sitting on
the back verandah, under a giant fig-tree shedding its delicious and
wholesome fruit also to the fowls and ants, I wrote:--

"Dear Madam,--Would you kindly apprise me when it would be
convenient to accommodate me, as I'm anxious to be near the
river, where I could indulge in boating?"

To this I received reply:--

"There isn't any chance of me accommodating you till the
cool weather, and then I don't take boarders at all. I like
to have them all in the summer, and then have a little peace
to ourselves in the winter without strangers, for the best
of them have their noses poked eve