Explore "A Bush Bayard" by John Sandes on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
From the verandah from his private house of dressed stone on the right bank of the Hawkesbury, Jonathan could see the approach of the Government cutter, and with his spy glass he could make out the two ladies sitting in the stern. The elder lady was Mrs. Cuthbert, whom he had met at the Governor's King's birthday ball--the Sybil Granger of long ago. The younger one he recognised as Major Cuthbert's niece, Miss Mary Fitzharding. He knew her well by sight, and had seen her on the night of the entertainment.
They were accompanying Major Cuthbert, who was probably coming to inspect the small detachment of troops quartered in the neighborhood to protect the settlers from the Cameragal blacks. On such occasions Jonathan Wylie was accustomed to dispense hospitality to the distinguished visitors. He called out to his wife, bidding her to prepare for the ladies, and Mrs. Wylie hastily set the antimacassars straight on the backs of the chairs in the parlor, took off her blue cotton apron, and put on her best company manners.