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肩書を与える: Ten Creeks Run Author: Miles Franklin * A 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBook * eBook No.: 0801281h.html Language: English Date first 地位，任命するd: March 2015 Most 最近の update: March 2015 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg of Australia eBooks are created from printed 版s which are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright notice is 含むd. We do NOT keep any eBooks in 同意／服従 with a particular paper 版. Copyright 法律s are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright 法律s for your country before downloading or redistributing this とじ込み／提出する. This eBook is made 利用できる at no cost and with almost no 制限s どれでも. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the 条件 of the 事業／計画（する） Gutenberg Australia Licence which may be 見解（をとる）d online.
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TO
MY FATHER AND MOTHER
With 予定 承認 of their
valiant 株 in the life 描写するd
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These people never were, and the 出来事/事件s here 記録，記録的な／記録するd could not therefore have happened to them. They remain more vivid than reality because of imagination. I ramp impatiently, desirous of 進歩ing to other scenes and souls, but, 論証するing the 十分な 規模 of human emotions, they （人が）群がる about me suffocatingly, craving—nay, 需要・要求するing—perpetuation. I am 直面するd by a patternless, trackless 地域 out of which I must 緊急に （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 my way like the 早期に explorers, uncertain if I am 単に going 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, or 権利 through, or slipping out the 味方する by a 誤った 大勝する.
"You poor old nonentities," I exclaim in the irritation of 疲労，（軍の）雑役 and の近くに confinement to their 事件／事情／状勢s. "What 利益（をあげる） in agitating the printing-圧力（をかける）s on your に代わって! You are not の中で those who have 与える／捧げるd ideas to human knowledge, nor have you taken the human race one flicker above the mud on that road to 最高の-humanhood for which some of us gape."
"Bah!" they retort. "That stuff's all tommy rot! No 事柄 what 空気／公表するs of spiritual or mental 優越 people give themselves, it's all a 瓶／封じ込める of smoke in the end, and the end is before you can bally 井戸／弁護士席 get your 麻薬を吸う to draw decently. They will all 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する and die and rot like the cows and horses, and, in spite of all the 約束 and belief, no one knows for a dead cert if they have any more soul, or as much as old 'Flea Creek', who carried the salt-捕らえる、獲得するs out on the Run because the other horses were too flash for the 職業."
"That's all very 井戸／弁護士席," I 競う, "but it does not solve the problem of your inconsequence as 構成要素 from which to concoct a story. Whatever happened to you but that you were born in your turn, grew up in your turn, were smitten with the procreative 勧める or 天罰（を下す）—いつかs out of your turn—and tried to marry women who seldom 手配中の，お尋ね者 you; その結果 you turned to those more 強いるing, and who served 平等に 井戸／弁護士席; その結果 you 再生するd your 種類 without male 抑制 or mercy to the 限界 of 女性（の） capacity and endurance; and the reproductions like yourselves mostly, were not 価値（がある） the women's birth-pangs, nor the women 価値（がある） any other sort of pangs. Then in 予定 time you were buried, and ordinary funerals are as monotonously alike as 幼児s. One 世代 of you was but a repetition of a former, with a marriage or a funeral as a 最高潮の場面—not a 選び出す／独身 epic adventure to create a hero, nor a hero to engineer an epic adventure in the whole boiling!"
"持つ／拘留する hard!" says one old philosopher, who has thought much in the 孤独s. I see him on the outer 辛勝する／優位 of the （人が）群がる. "Is it real life here in this part of the world you're driven to make this blanky 調書をとる／予約する about, or is it about some strange, unusual, far-away land, with kings and savages, or professors and millionaires, and other 肉親，親類d of fantastic people?"
"It has to be 始める，決める bang here in Australia, with 非，不，無 but you kicking up your heels and using bad language in the middle of the natural scenery."
"井戸／弁護士席, then, it seems to me that all you have to do is yarn along and make us come alive just as we blooming 井戸／弁護士席 were. Let us drivel and meander like life itself. You have nothing to do with the way of our lives or the character of our 業績／成果s, whether big or little, or dull, or exciting. If a funeral, or a marriage, or a 干ばつ, or a flood, or a snake-bite, or a spree, or a broken 脚 was our greatest experience, that is not your 責任／義務. Blow it all, you're not the Lord Himself! You have only to show how things were without any squirming about the why or how. You don't need to swell your 長，率いる with 形態／調整ing 運命 or 解釈する／通訳するing life によれば those new-fangled blokes who never baked a damper, or felled a tree, or 棒 a buck-jumper, or killed a snake or a beast, or tanned a hide, or broke in a team of bullocks, or knocked up a 棺 for a mate out of stringybark, or drank water out of their hats. You just 始める，決める us 負かす／撃墜する on paper as we were, without any of your own shenannakin!"
There! Put in my place as simple delineator and 慰安d by 耐えるing in mind that life is the most discursive and fragmentary experience, I proceed 解放する／自由な of 疑惑s about the flatness of the contours or the duller colours of my 構成要素, and 関心d only with what I can 逮捕（する） of inevitability, actuality, 割合. My "squirming" 転換s to the 現実化 of my own bewildering nescience in 直面する of the 仕事 which sucks me 負かす／撃墜する. Why, in a universe 回転するing upon marvels, magnitudes, and problems, before which the best of human intellects are but as thimbles to 保存する or direct Murrumbidgees, and man's day but an ephemeral hazard like that of the horse-飛行機で行く at Wamgambril 押し寄せる／沼地s snapped by the iridescent kingfisher in his flight, should I be 所有するd to limn the inconsequent 開拓するs and horses that have gone?
Howbeit, I must 配達する myself of my love and 忠義 to them, before my own 不安定な moment in this consciousness is ended.
If 業績／成就 be maddeningly 不十分な to conception and inspiration, にもかかわらず for the sake of peace I must 圧力（をかける） on. If I do my 仕事 only 概略で, as the old 開拓するs knocked up their humpies and 炎d their 跡をつけるs 選び出す／独身-手渡すd against untamed nature, 井戸／弁護士席, that cannot be helped. There are hosts to come after me—that is all!
BRENT OF BIN BIN.
NEW SOUTH WALES,
November 1927.
"Stick to him, Jerry! Stick to him!"
"Garn! Stick to your grandmother! He's only pig-rootin'!"
"Ole Flea Creek could do better'n that! You orter seen him last spring!"
"Stop that, you —— fool!" 命令（する）d an older 発言する／表明する. "What the hell do you mean, kicking the insides out of a horse just to show off? There'll be plenty real riding to take the flashness out of you and the mokes before the 召集（する） is done!"
"Ssh! Milly!" said another in honour of a girl 瀬戸際ing on teens, balanced on the 最高の，を越す rail of the horseyards.
"Blow her! What's she doin' here? Oughter be home learnin' to sew!"
"Milly, you better go home," 命令（する）d her uncle, overhearing. "This is no place for you. Your mother wants you."
"Mother's coming herself to see them 支援する Corroboree."
"He's not going to be 支援するd today. Billy's not here."
"Yes, he is. He's coming 負かす／撃墜する from the huts now. Besides, Uncle Bert said I could go to the 召集（する）."
"You'll get your neck broken!"
"No 恐れる! I could stick anything in my new saddle, and Uncle Bert is going to take me himself." Milly put out her tongue behind her 親族's 支援する. Covert grins. The boss was not popular: Milly was, and in danger of 存在 spoilt. Young Farquharson tweaked her long pigtail. Milly moved closer to Uncle Bert, where there was safety.
A busy time had come for the Run. The professional 買い手s for the Indian Army were 推定する／予想するd, and the usual （人が）群がる that would as soon have 行方不明になるd the 地元の 農業の shows as a 召集（する） were arriving for the fray. の中で the 最高の，を越す-rail critics and 助言者s were 隣人ing 無断占拠者s and 駅／配置する-手渡すs 同様に as horse-fanciers and touts from Monaro, Queanbeyan, Yass, Goulburn, Tumbarumba, Bool Bool, Tumut, and Gundagai, who had come to look for 逸脱するs or to 選ぶ up a 約束ing colt or filly in 前進する from the 駅／配置するs celebrated for their 製品s.
There were friends like Curradoobidgee Poole and Ronald Dice of Bookaledgeree, who had ridden from afar to take home their own 逸脱するs and lend a 手渡す in general: there were the Farquharsons from さらに先に 負かす／撃墜する the River—the river Murrumbidgee—smart fellows and 広大な／多数の／重要な on harness horses. There were Billings and Cross-注目する，もくろむd Prendergast from Gundagai, in hopes of 安全な・保証するing something for the coach lines, since the Milford brothers of Jinninjinninbong, over the river—the river Coolgarbilli—had introduced a coaching 緊張する of late years, and the 召集（する） on that 駅／配置する was a 共同の 事件／事情／状勢 with Ten Creeks Run. There was little Tommy Roper, unattached bachelor and horse-trainer 捕まらないで, who 選ぶd up a living partly by に引き続いて the shows with his hunters, and by droving, etc., between whiles. He was the man of the hour by 推論する／理由 of his 最近の epic which had left dead bullocks along the 大勝する from Riverina to the Victorian 国境, and incidentally left Tommy 破産者／倒産した, but he hoped to make a fresh start with something likely from the 差し迫った 召集（する）.
*
Old Jack Stanton, boss of Ten Creeks Run, and son of the 初めの Stanton of Stanton's Plains, Bool Bool, before he became old Jack, had gone 負かす／撃墜する the River—the river Murrumbidgee—to Turrill Turrill and started in sheep, where he did 井戸／弁護士席. He had, however, never been 離乳するd from the mountain country and with spare 資本／首都 started a horse 駅／配置する with some first-class 血 at Ten Creeks. In droughty summers he also travelled his sheep up. Friends and 隣人s were the Milfords, natives of the other 味方する に向かって Yass, who had 安全な・保証するd Jinninjinninbong and other runs and 設立するd 永久の homes on the opposite 味方する of the Coolgarbilli, and were known for the uniformly high 質 of their 暴徒 horses.
Jack Stanton was unmarried. His 未亡人d sister—Milly's mother—kept house for him. She enjoyed the mountains, and often spent half the year in the home-made 木造の house on the Coolgarbilli. It was 予定 to her presence, and that of the Mesdames Milford, that there was a ぱらぱら雨ing of women guests の中で the musterers. The Farquharsons were …を伴ってd by two sisters, and Aileen Healey had come with her brother Larry from Neangen 駅／配置する 隣接するing Bookaledgeree. Aily was as pretty as the girls on chocolate-boxes, as her mirror told her any time she looked in it, a pleasant story now 存在 確認するd in the 注目する，もくろむs of the 召集（する）, and, most enchantingly to her, in the 注目する，もくろむs of Ronald Dice.
It was the liveliest time of the year for these inaccessible 駅／配置するs. House and huts were 十分な. Mrs Saunders had an ex-sailor in the kitchen and in the house proper a couple of brumby girls 補足（する）d by intermittent help from as many rouseabouts as could be filched from the 追跡s of the Run. They were 平易な to filch with two such baits as Sarah and Ellen Humphreys, and the girls の中で such 群れているs of admirers no sooner felt their affections beginning to root on one 望ましい than they were uprooted by the 侵入占拠 of another.
A 罰金 草案 of colts and fillies was 推定する／予想するd this season to do credit to the brand "SP over J"—SP standing for the 初めの Stanton's Plains, which each son 保持するd as he 始める，決める up for himself and 追加するd his own 初期の below. The runs were to be 徹底的に捜すd from the Wamgambril almost to the Jenningningahama and the 長，率いる of the Murrumbidgee through to the fringe of the Bimberies and Tidbinbillies and 支援する to Jinninjinninbong and Ten Creeks.
There were forty or fifty saddle horses in the home yards that glorious morning, most of them seasoned 在庫／株 horses, with a few ladies' 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスs and beasts fit for any show, and all in 最高の，を越す 条件. Some, turned out since last summer, were 推定する／予想するd to be collar-proud and more experienced buckers than bewildered colts を受けるing their first ordeal. There were several celebrities on 反逆者／反逆する count, or for their pedigrees and potentialities. 真っ先の of these was Corroboree, a glorious four-year-old, sixteen 手渡すs, coal 黒人／ボイコット, luxuriant of mane and tail, the spit of his 輸入するd sire, owned by the Potters of Cuppinbingle, さらに先に 負かす／撃墜する the river. The Potters were known for their hard riding and hard 断言するing, with a good 取引，協定 of carousing and other virility thrown in, and as the best 子孫を作る人s and 裁判官s of horse-flesh from the Murrumbidgee to the Murray. One of them was 推定する／予想するd on the morrow, and today was 代表するd by a trainer and Mick Muldoon, the latter a horny old 境界-rider, drover, etc., who did not remember learning to ride or when he first （軍の）野営地，陣営d out on his 孤独な.
Opinion was so in favour of 支援 Corroboree and others that SP-over-J had to let the morning go in a buck-jumping tourney.
*
William 屈服するs, known as Flash Billy the Breaker, now approached, and 利益／興味 転換d to a young man with 四肢s loosely hung and 不均衡な long for his 団体／死体, like a pair of 結社s. His 黒人／ボイコット hair was sleekly greased and grew low above his 注目する，もくろむs on his small 弾丸 長，率いる. His 直面する was garnished with two 黒人／ボイコット lawns foment his ears and a 悪賢い moustache with coquettish curls at the ends. He had glaringly strapped trousers, a tight short coat, a 有望な blue-前線d waistcoat, and the light boots of the horsey acolyte. Everything about him was flash, from the （犯罪の）一味 on his little finger to his long 刺激（する）s, and the cabbage-tree hat "hanging on three hairs", as his 同時代のs 表明するd it, and coloured the 権利 shade like a meerschaum. He had 実験（する）d his でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる and earned renown breaking for Curradoobidgee, Gowandale, Cuppinbingle, and other 駅／配置するs 以前 to having all he could do on Ten Creeks. It was never 否定するd that he had earned his sobriquet honestly. He had arrived but a few hours earlier from Queanbeyan and was in holiday apparel. He swung up to the 最高の，を越す rail beside Milly and spat with terrific efficiency の上に Corroboree as he was 存在 run 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the yard with 長，率いる aloft and the carriage of an emperor.
"He crackles like a 捕らえる、獲得する of rattlesnakes. Golly, just listen to him!" 観察するd Long Billy, the rouseabout.
"What makes him make that noise? Is that good or bad?" 問い合わせd Milly. This raised a guffaw. Uncle Bert （機の）カム to her 救助（する）.
"My old dad, who knew more about a horse than any man I know—"
"Not more than you, Uncle Bert, surely?"
"I can manage to tell a horse from a cow if I'm not too 急ぐd, but my dad knew all that was to be known about the gee-gees, and the more the colts would 動揺させる the better pleased he'd be."
"I reckon he was dead 権利," 確認するd Flash Billy.
"What about ketchin' him, Billy?" 問い合わせd Jerry Riddall.
"Wait till mother comes; she and the girls want to see him. I'll catch old Readymoney while we're waiting."
"Don't 試みる／企てる such a thing!"
"You'll have your 注目する，もくろむs kicked out!"
抗議する arose from all 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 最高の，を越す rail from men with halters or bridles を待つing a propitious moment to 減少（する） の中で the （人が）群がる cunning in 現在のing slickly 目的（とする）d heels to the enemy.
"If you won't let me ride Romp, I shan't have anything but Readymoney. The others are スピードを出す／記録につけるs of 支持を得ようと努めるd. It would take the 投票d Angus team to 持つ／拘留する or slew them."
"Don't 試みる／企てる Readymoney till Billy gives him a turn. He bucked like blue 殺人 last spring," said SP-over-J.
Readymoney was a sweater's horse, one taken 不法に and ridden till knocked up and turned 流浪して. His brand was botched, so he had never been （人命などを）奪う，主張するd. He had been trained 負かす／撃墜する the country and was the delight of Milly and other women riders for his 都市の manners. Trained paces 始める，決める a gap between the 在庫／株 horse and the saddle horse. High prices were given by Sydney and Melbourne 買い手s for paced thoroughbreds 保証（人）d 解放する／自由な from 副／悪徳行為, with 裁判，公判 permitted. SP-over-J filled this 肉親，親類d of order, and in 会合 it Billy 屈服するs was an artist of importance.
"Flash Billy's like a feller outer a circus. He can learn a horse to do anythink but talk," his admirers 布告するd.
He had been 後部d in the 権利 atmosphere, his dad having been an old lag who had served his time on Cuppinbingle, and Billy, the last of his litter, was cradled in the Potter stables in which he learnt the more aristocratic methods of horse-training. His mother was a Red Rover lass, which is 高度に irrelevant, the lass and her old man having been long abed in a 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 近づく their hut where the itching cattle were 押し進めるing the palings 負かす／撃墜する, and high grass and thistles on the 塚 made a home for a pair of fat old goannas what time the Corroboree colt was 存在 tamed. The old 手渡すs used the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な as a 目印, but it is obliterated today; the 殺人，大当り of 木材／素質 alters the 直面する of the 範囲s, and the old 手渡すs—what few of them remain—are growing forgetful.
*
Scornful of 警告s, Milly dropped into the （人が）群がる with her pretty bridle, its blue forehead-禁止（する）d threaded through a macrame 飛行機で行く-chaser. Poole of Curradoobidgee dropped 負かす／撃墜する behind her, but Readymoney, sneezing his 好意／親善, 許すd the little girl to 安全な・保証する him. She led him out of the ruck in 勝利, and when eves were off her, slipped astride his fat 支援する and cried, "Open the gate while I ride the bucking 無法者 through!"
"Get 負かす／撃墜する at once! You せねばならない be ashamed of yourself," said her uncle.
"Then I'll ride sideways." She changed and Readymoney ambled away without 抗議する.
The ladies were now coming from the house with Ronald Dice and Mr Eustace Blenkinsop in 出席.
"Come on, Billy, shall we put the 取り組む on the colt?" asked Jerry Riddall.
"Put it on the Wamgambril fust. He'll do yous for a start to warm up," said Flash Billy with consequence.
"Young Dice seems to be stickin' like a 飛行機で行く in tar to the ladies," 発言／述べるd young Billings to Dan Spires, the overseer.
"You'll see him wherever there's a bit of rag about. He's like me," interposed Flash Billy.
"All the good riders seems to be weak on the skirts," said Jerry Riddall flatteringly. "What have you done with your girl, Billy?"
"Left her in Queanbeyan till next week." Billy was ぱたぱたするing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a barmaid there.
"I heard a cove from Goulburn was 最高の，を越す o' the runnin'," 発言／述べるd Long Billy, the rouseabout.
"That tin 襲う，襲って強奪する with the 扱う off!" Billy was contemptuous. "You might git left. You never can tell with 女性（の）s. The ——s seem to 選ぶ out the 襲う，襲って強奪するs and pass by the likeliest chaps for spite," said Cross-注目する，もくろむd Prendergast.
"Perhaps they think you're looking at someone else all the time," 投機・賭けるd Long Billy.
"Begor', if the faymales didn't 選ぶ the culls, some of yez would stand a fat chance of iver getting married at all." This was Mick Muldoon's 出資／貢献.
"Is that why you're an old bachelor?"
"Maybe Oi'm 病弱な of the proizes was passed over for the culls by the spoiteful faymales."
"It's Aily Healey!" 観察するd young Billings, as the ladies drew 近づく. "How did she get here?"
"On old Healey's chestnut 損なう, that's how; but if you want to know why, go ask Ron Dice," said little Tommy Roper, by 推論する／理由 of his aptitude and peregrinations, so forehanded in other people's 事件／事情／状勢s that he was credited with 注目する，もくろむs in the 支援する of his 長，率いる.
"Ron Dice! Wotta yer mean?"
"Some fun there, I betcher! Ole Skinny Guts has shown 調印するs of stickin' up to her since the show in Bool Bool," continued Tommy in a whisper.
"Who says that?" 需要・要求するd Timmy Porter, eager on the 跡をつける of gossip.
"Anyone with as much gumption as a 塀で囲む-注目する，もくろむd wombat can see some things for himself," said Tommy.
その上の 信用／信任s were impossible. Teddy Parsons, Long Billy, Jerry Riddall, and others had the 取り組む on the Wamgambril colt, so 指名するd from the direction of his foaling, and he stood breathing 反抗 in one of the outer yards. These 青年s were as 堅い as greenhide, having been dragged up on cockatoo 選択s about Bool Bool, but they 欠如（する）d horse-flesh to squander, so for the 現在の held ambition in leash and waited upon the 広大な／多数の／重要な.
"Any cove like to show off what he can do fust?" called Billy. "I ain't been outer the saddle for a couple of days, and ain't had any sleep since the night before last."
"Here s a chance for volunteers," cried Ronald Dice gaily from the 最高の，を越す rail as he sat between Rose Farquharson and Aily Healey, tenderly helping Aily to balance.
"Surely yous ain't afeared of a buster or two," continued Billy. "I git 'em meself now an' again if I git playin' the goat."
Tim Porter stepped 今後. He had a 弾丸 長，率いる and a large, loose mouth. He and his dad before him had been brought up on Bookaledgeree, where old Tim Brennan of The Gap had 始める，決める up Tim, jun., some thirty years before this history takes its rise.
"I'd jist like to try," he said, paling 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the gills. Tim would never be a 割れ目. He 欠如（する）d the 知能, and a horse-breaker who does not have that needs to be minus a derangeable nervous system. Tim 機動力のある まっただ中に copious advice from the 最高の，を越す rail. The colt went into 活動／戦闘 すぐに.
"Stick to him, Tim! Hang on a little longer! He's givin' in!"
"He can't ride! The colt's only pig-rootin'!"
"Pooh! He's hangin' on by his 刺激（する）s!"
"The next root will bring him a buster."
Tim was stood on his 長，率いる, his 体操 迎える／歓迎するd by guffaws. He got up and walked off with a 軍隊d grin.
"井戸／弁護士席 tried, old man!" said Dice kindly. "You only want to 支配する better with your 膝s and throw your 負わせる with the movement of the horse—practice will do it."
"Who's next?" called Flash Billy.
"If someone will put my new saddle on him," said Milly, "I could easily stick those bucks."
A 強風 of laughter 迎える／歓迎するd this. "You could ride him all 権利," said Poole 静かに, "but sticking a buck is no game for a girl: no game for a man either with any savvy, and it's no good for the horse, and unnecessary."
"Sure, 'tis tin chances to 病弱な the beast wouldn't buck at all if you got on him, missy," said Mick Muldoon. "Only the Creathor Himself knows the way of high-spirited horses with women. A 血 horse that would jump out av his hoide to get rid of a 割れ目 rider will let a hoigh-spirited gurrul play circus thricks wid him, him lettin' out snorts of contint. Or he will let a short-witted man put a pack-saddle on him an' climb aboord himself 頂上に of the 負担. Sure, there's food for the philosophers there. Can ye explain it, Mr Poole, an' ye knowin' more av a horse than annywan aloive?"
"The trouble is, Muldoon, that we 運動 horses to buck and then break them of it. It would be much better if they were never let buck at all, and never learnt how, but that of course can't be done with so many to 扱う."
"Gettin' 脅すd!" whispered Tommy Roper to Dan Spires. "The greatest rider that ever threw a 脚 over a horse in his young days! I've seen the day when no horse could do nothing with him—not very long ago neither; an' when he'd get tired of buckin', his nibs would rouse him up again—must be losin' his teeth altogether."
"Coin' barmy to talk like that, I reckon. Aw, he's an old geezer now. I hope I'll kick the bucket before ever I get like that. No more good than a —— ole woman!"
"Ye re roight, av coorse, Mr Poole, but ye couldn't git thim young turkey cocks to credit it. But how do ye explain it furder with a horse that has been learnt to buck—take ould Readymoney now with 行方不明になる Milly on him bareback, an' she could have taken a tin can on with her その上 and he wouldn't 乱す a nest of eggs in a silk hat, but if Flash Billy got aboord him there would have been the Ould Gintleman to 支払う／賃金."
The Breaker was called Flash Billy to his 直面する to 避ける 混乱 with Long Billy. He took no umbrage, considering it a 尊敬の印 of jealousy to his smart trousers and waistcoats.
"I think it 耐えるs out what I have said," replied Poole. "A woman is not 許すd on a horse till the buck is out of him, so he has no 恐れる of her as an enemy, and all is friendly from the start."
*
A traveller was 発表するd by the watch-dogs の中で the heelers, kangaroo dogs, and mongrels—visiting and 居住（者）—that were settling differences by direct 活動／戦闘.
"Hogan's ghost! Here's old Teddy O'Mara!" 発表するd the 強硬派-注目する，もくろむd Billy 屈服するs. This was 論争d, betted upon, and settled by the 外見 of a large brindled kangaroo dog followed by a smaller grey one, both in 毒（薬） muzzles of perforated leather securely strapped on, 保護するing their lives and robbing them of joy. Behind them on a 跡をつける 負かす／撃墜する the river a horseman （機の）カム out of the 木材／素質.
"He allus has them old dawgs."
"I never see them used for anything."
"Couldn't use them for nothing but to kill fowls or sheep."
"Keeps 'em for company, I reckon."
"It's a lonely thing to be travellin' without a dawg."
The horseman bent 今後 in somewhat the posture later introduced by Tod Sloan, and since 可決する・採択するd by all professional (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手s. In that clay it was the distinguishing antic of a half-wit.
"Queer ole feller! Always lays on his belly on horseback. Oughter git a bed an' be done with it."
"He turned in at Keba before we left. We 手配中の，お尋ね者 him to 錨，総合司会者 there, because we have plenty to keep him going," said young Farquharson.
Teddy hitched his horse in the line outside the yards, kicked a few dogs from his path, and beamed upon the company. "井戸／弁護士席, Teddy, are you travelling or only going somewhere?" said Dice.
"I'm goin' as far as I'm goin'," said Teddy. He was a tall man with greying whiskers in unclipped possum 形式. His tousled curls protruded through a tattered felt bat: he wore a ragged overcoat にもかかわらず the warm day, and twine served as bootlaces. Fearless decency shone from his （疑いを）晴らす blue 注目する，もくろむs.
"Have you got married yet, Teddy?"
"No 恐れる, the missus wouldn't let me."
"That's 権利, Teddy, you listen to what she says," commended Mrs Saunders, and 発言／述べるd to Flora Farquharson, "I think it', disgusting to talk about marriage to that sort of men—might put dangerous notions in their 長，率いるs about women."
"Heard you were at Keba for the summer," said Poole, and shook 手渡すs with him.
"No 恐れる, that lousy old Farquharson 申し込む／申し出d me thirty （頭が）ひょいと動く a week. 'Keep your lousy thirty （頭が）ひょいと動く,' I says to him. 'I never work for いっそう少なく than a 続けざまに猛撃する a week.' Ha! Ha! Ha!"
A kookaburra chorus 続いて起こるd.
"My word, Teddy! That's the way to 扱う／治療する the 爆破d bosses!" laughed Dice.
"Your father せねばならない be ashamed of himself to play a dirty trick like that on poor old Teddy," smiled Poole at Farquharson.
"It was pretty low-負かす／撃墜する. I must see into it," laughingly agreed Farquharson.
"But I put the bell on him, you bet I did!" 持続するd Teddy hilariously. Again the guffaws at a 原始の type of humour—which 固執するs out of 割合 to man's 開発 in other ways—the propensity of the five-eighths-witted to find 激しい delight in guying the half-witted.
"Where are you bound for now—staying here?" asked SP-over-J.
"No 恐れる! I'm making over the river to my young missus."
Two or three years 以前 the younger Milford had 逮捕（する）d one of the Labosseer girls of Coolooluk, and it was to her that Teddy referred. His （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 ran from Coolooluk to Curradoobidgee on Monaro and from there to Ten Creeks and Jinninjinninbong 支援する to the Mazeres and Stantons of Bool Bool. Now and again a 無断占拠者 outside the circle tried to entice Teddy with a higher 行う, but usually met the 運命／宿命 of the Farquharsons because he could not count higher than a 続けざまに猛撃する. His （警察，軍隊などの）本部 were with Mrs Rachel Labosseer. On her 広い地所 perfection 統治するd. Every 逸脱する man, Chinese, dog, or horse that （機の）カム that way received attention. There Teddy returned when destitute and in tatters, and from there he was never 許すd to 出発／死 without warm 着せる／賦与するing and stout boots, and, if it was winter, an overcoat. A steam-roller could not have deflected him from seemliness, but he had to live life on his own 条件 as one of God's fools. Horse-breaking since he was twelve or fourteen, not even 無法者s were untamable by him, but he left them with nature's paces and believed a walk an example of equine debauchery brought about by 接触する with cities. The cities to him were strange towns like Goulburn, Gundagai, and Wagga Wagga. Bool Bool and Cooma were home paddocks where to diddle Teddy brought upon the miscreant a dragooning from a Mazere, Labosseer, Brennan, or Poole.
Seeing that the dogs were all without muzzles, no baits having been laid for weeks before the 召集（する）, Teddy 解放（する）d his pets.
"井戸／弁護士席, Teddy, you're in the nick of time," said Dice. "We're going to ride the Corroboree colt and when he's flung us all you can have a turn."
*
A fresh arrival brought word that the Milford brothers would be over on the morrow to run the Bull Flat Creek 暴徒 into 罠（にかける）-yards out that way, so the clay was 放棄するd to recreation. The more 即座の sports opened briskly. Half a dozen young fellows with more energy than 知能 were soon raising a dust in the outer yards.
"I don't see any real fun in this bucking 商売／仕事," 発言／述べるd Lucy Saunders. "It must rack a man."
"Of course it does," agreed Flora Farquharson. "Mother told me..." She lowered her 発言する／表明する for a juicy 信用／信任. "You must tell me tonight."
Men's ribaldries regarding women were mostly obscenities about such basic facts as the procreative 機能（する）／行事s, and fed a distorted or debased craving for 本物の humour, but the remotest men would have been staggered to know what percolated to women of their 存在s, and as 厳密に divested of prurience as a 外科医's treatise. There was nothing hidden from a decent 十分な-witted woman 関心ing a man in those 地区s if she had a mind to know, and いっそう少なく hidden from the indecent. It has always been so. It will be more so as time goes on, but what men do not know of women is that about which women deceive them, 加える what women do not know of themselves.
Flash Billy was genuinely tired from 欠如（する） of sleep and hard riding consequent upon 追跡 of l'amour, and 単に kept an 注目する，もくろむ on the active practitioners. The prince of riders that day was Ronald Dice, elated because Aily Healey was an onlooker and that old SP-over-J seemed to be narked. Larry Healey was not riding, for a 最近の 事故 had 緊張するd his shoulder and he was 残り／休憩（する）ing to be ready for the feats of the 召集（する）. Dice's 業績／成果 was 平易な and dashing. By sheer high spirits he excited his 開始するs and was not の中で those 苦しむing 落ちるs. 賞賛 in Aily's pretty 注目する，もくろむs was too much for SP-over-J.
"The real rider is the one who can stick Corroboree for five minutes when he really goes to market," said he. "Anyone who can do that can have his 選ぶ of the first yard of yearlings run in tomorrow."
"Is that a real 申し込む／申し出?" asked Flash Billy. Stanton never flung his money about. "Skinny Guts" had more 言及／関連 to his parsimony than to his physique.
"A square 申し込む／申し出 this morning to everyone within 審理，公聴会, and I'll make it for anything under three years old."
"I wish I was not so thunderin' tired," complained Flash Billy.
"You and Mr Poole can be the timekeepers and 裁判官s." This mollified the Breaker. "Besides, there's not much chance of anyone winning—not anyone riding today. They can flop about on ladies' 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスs pig-やじ, but let them have a go at Corroboree and they'll find their class."
There was a 動かす to rope and gear the colt, the snorting beauty, short of rib with バーレル／樽 splendidly 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd, big in the girth, shoulders 井戸／弁護士席 laid in, 広大な／多数の／重要な 脚s and ４半期/4分の1s, built like a 激しく揺する to stay, with 産む／飼育するing and 知能 stamped all over him. He （機の）カム from a proud line of 勝利者s on the sire's 味方する and on the other had a 緊張する of Poole's famous 黒人／ボイコット Belles and Waterfalls.
When he was saddled, Jerry Riddall was the first to step 今後. One of the greatest drovers known, young Jerry had never been off the roads till he engaged himself for a change on Ten Creeks. He was a better （短距離で）速く走る人 than rough rider, but the 暴徒 spirit here 辛勝する／優位d him on.
The colt was deceivingly 静める. Equine 知能 pitted against human had so far kept him 解放する／自由な from 降伏する. The flash bravado of horse-breakers could be a tea-party for two. Here was no terrified 苦しんでいる人 with quivering 側面に位置する, tail tight between the hindquarters, and ears laid 支援する. It was Jerry that trembled and had his tail between his 脚s.
Milly supported Poole as timekeeper when he took out his watch, a gold repeater 現在のd to him over thirty years before when, 選び出す／独身-手渡すd, he had rid the Southern 地区 of a ゲリラ兵 禁止（する）d of bushrangers.
Jerry hardly seated himself when a marvellous lurch flung him in the 空気／公表する. Dan Spires, the overseer, the second 候補者, speedily met Jerry's 運命／宿命. Then followed Jim Porter. 米，稲 Leary, the Cuppinbingle trainer, next had a try, but Corroboree dislodged him with the 雷 lurch.
"The trouble with this 'ere colt is 副／悪徳行為," said Flash Billy. "He's been at these capers for 'most a year now and it looks like he'll never give over."
"He's got the rale thoroughbred spring in him, an' he's carryin' his tail like a paycock, an' him the spit of his dad. Sure, if he's niver 安全な but for to pack salt 'tis a pity," 観察するd Muldoon.
"With 徹底的な 警戒s, I'd like a try," said Alistair Farquharson.
"Me first," said Long Billy. He took no end of 警戒s. He 鈍らせるd the saddle まっただ中に the jeers of the 観客s, and blindfolded the colt. Flash Billy and Dice led him 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the ploughed yard before they took off the handkerchief and 支援するd away. The colt 単に raised his perfect muzzle and 匂いをかぐd the morning 微風, honey-甘い with wattle borne 負かす／撃墜する the valley to the music of the Coolgarbilli. Long Billy led off gingerly. Not a buck.
"Touch him up a little!" 命令（する）d Stanton. Long Billy dug a heel in his 側面に位置する, but the horse did not seem to 反対する.
"I don't think he's going to—" One splendid backward lurch の上に his hindquarters and Long Billy went の上に the wither, another 今後 and the rouseabout 発射 off like a pebble from a catapult まっただ中に shouts of glee.
There was a 急ぐ to 再度捕まえる the colt lest he should （疑いを）晴らす the dog-脚 盗品故買者 of the bucking-yard and get away with the saddle, a 深い-seated treasure with perfect 膝-pads, but the colt only trotted 支援する to the gate of the inner yard to be 近づく his mates, 許すing himself to be caught without fuss. Poole 公式文書，認めるd that he was やめる 静める, showing no touch of bad temper.
"広大な／多数の／重要な Scott, what a clinker!" exclaimed young Dice, who had not seen him in 活動／戦闘 till then. "All he needs seems to be a rider. Have you tried him lately, Billy?"
"I'm allers tryin' him."
"Can he get rid of you?"
"I allers tire fust. He's as active as a cat, an' a stayer, an' as cunning as Beelzebub."
"He only needs a rider, though, for all that," said Stanton insinuatingly. "I've seen the day when Poole could have bested him without any fuss at all. Young fellows nowadays can't ride like they used to. They're not game!" He slyly watched the 影響 of his words on Aileen Healey. He half 恐れるd that if Dice took the challenge he might 勝利，勝つ, though Corroboree had not turned a hair yet. Wait till a succession of tormentors got his 血 up!
"Oh, Uncle Bert, why don't you try now?" 需要・要求するd Milly. "I'm sure he couldn't chuck you. Wouldn't you love to see Uncle Bert on him, Aileen?"
"I'd hate to see anyone 傷つける," said Aileen dubiously.
"She'd rather watch some of the flash young fellows who think they can ride," said Stanton.
"The colt ain't in his 最高の，を越す form today," said 屈服するs.
"That's good news," said Alistair Farquharson. "I'll have a go and chance the dux." He had watched the horse's methods and thought he could be ready for his sudden 支え（る）.
A few vigorous bucks failed to dislodge him. Alistair stirred him up and was 扱う／治療するd to the backward 支え（る）. 生き残るing this he began to feel 希望に満ちた, but he could not read the colt's mind for the next move. It was an oblique 肺 to the off-味方する and a swing-切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス to the left with such terrific 速度(を上げる） and strength that Alistair might 同様に have tried to sit a derrick loose in a southerly. It placed him on the crupper and a bound 今後 始める，決める Corroboree 解放する／自由な.
"I managed the 支え（る） but that twister did for me," said Alistair, getting up and dusting himself with unruffled amiability. "I'd rather break him to harness with my new-fashioned breast collar."
"That's allers the way with him. You may think you learnt all his moves, but you'll allers find him one ahead of the game."
"I'd like a go just to show I'm not yellow," said Dice, stepping up and 診察するing the 取り組む. He 丸天井d to the saddle with strength and grace and spurred the horse into 即座の 活動／戦闘. His 策略 were to put him on the 防御の. The onlookers enjoyed an 展示 of every 肉親，親類d of buck with a breather between the 成果／努力s—味方する to 味方する, the sharp swing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, kicking-up and bucking 今後 at the same time, and 説得力のある the rider to 雇う two 肉親，親類d of seat 同時に. This failed to dislodge young Dice.
"He's the only feller of me own age I'd ever be afeared of taking second place to," said 屈服するs commendingly, "but he's only been on a couple er minutes yet."
SP-over-J grew uneasy. "You must 動かす him up. You mustn't （軍の）野営地，陣営 till the time is up," he called out 厳しく.
Ronald 適用するd a prick of his heel. The horse was warming up. Terror was stealing into his haughty heart such as no rider had been able to put there since he had dislodged the first impertinence. When first 支援するd he had felt 類似の terror. Here was one who might be a fixture. A convulsion of 激怒（する） stirred the horse. 支援する and 前へ／外へ, up till he was perpendicular as a man! This 存在 unavailing, he finally 行為／法令／行動するd like a dog with a ひどく 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d bait and in frenzy flung himself clean backwards. A 刺激（する） high in the glinting sun, the clink of a stirrup, and his tormentor rolled from under with agility and presence of mind.
With a snort of satisfaction Corroboree trotted away.
"You pulled him too far over. Would you like a second try?" 問い合わせd Stanton suavely.
"No, Mr Stanton, that wasn't it," interposed Billy. "It's what I was sayin'; it's 副／悪徳行為. That's what he does when he can't get rid of you by fair means."
"Going to take a second 発射?" 固執するd Corroboree 's owner. "Not now, thanks," said Dice, dusting himself and working his 四肢s to be sure they were uninjured. "He's bested me 公正に／かなり, but I shouldn't call it 副／悪徳行為, would you, Mr Poole?"
"No, Ronnie, I shouldn't. I've never seen a better bit of riding, but when it （機の）カム to bedrock he was the better 軍人. It's not the 権利 way to 取り組む that beast, if I know anything."
"Teddy! Now's your chance!"
"Come on, Teddy—Teddy O'Mara up!"
"Don't let the poor old fellow on that beast. He might be killed," said Mrs Saunders.
"It's not fair! He's getting too old!" said Rose Farquharson. "They say it was a 落ちる on his 長，率いる when he was little left him as he is," said her sister.
"I should say he （機の）カム short from his mother," said Stanton.
"He's not short on lots of things that others would be better to be a bit longer on," said Poole. "I don't know a decenter old fellow from here to the Upper Murray. No woman has ever had to make a （民事の）告訴 about poor old Teddy, and he 作品 his passage through life."
"It's a shame to barrack him の上に an 無法者," said Milly. "He's too old."
"Strange thing, 存在 a little short mentally, I don't believe he knows he's getting old," said Poole.
Teddy could not be kept off the colt now. He placed his own saddle, with wads of horse-hair sticking from under the seat where mice had 設立する a lying-in 区. Someone had (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手d him out of the sound article with which he had left Coolooluk six months earlier. He did not discard his flapping overcoat. He put one foot in the stirrup, jumping several times to 伸び（る） 勢い to rise. The noble beast courteously を待つd his guest. Teddy 機動力のある, clouted with his old hat; Corroboree, with the sneeze that 発言する／表明するs equine 好意／親善, 始める，決める off at a dog trot 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the yard. Teddy reined in before the ladies and 詠唱するd:
"Me feyther and mother were Irish, And I was Irish too; We bought a tin kettle for ninepence, And knocked up an Irish stoo!"
"He's tired for the day," said Farquharson.
"Phwat did I tell yez about women and thim that's not all there!"
"He's all 権利 if you ride about like a girl!" gibed Dan Spires. "動かす him up, Teddy. He's afraid you'll 落ちる off."
Teddy flapped his hat but the charger only mended his pace a little. The gibes began to 怒り／怒る Teddy. Other tunes, other fashions in the efflorescence of virility. In those days a roan would have been considered effeminate to 最小限に減らす bucking. Teddy yawed on the bit, but the horse was taking no ungentlemanly advantage. Flash Billy reached out with a roping 政治家 and pricked him under the tail. He resented the 侮辱／冷遇 by 伸び（る）ing his freedom with a smart buck. Old Teddy rolled away 損なわれない.
Poole spoke aside to Stanton, "Say, Jack, if you like to 信用 魚の卵 with that colt for a few weeks, I'll return him fit for Milly to ride, or I'll make a swop for him."
"I don't want to part with him, but if you'll take him on, you can have the 選ぶ of the youngsters as I 約束d."
*
"Ronnie, do please ride Romp for me," 説得するd Milly.
"Is she an 無法者, too?"
"Anyone could stick her bucks," Flash Billy 急いでd to explain, "but she's a vicious little devil and no two ways about it. She lays 負かす／撃墜する when she finds she can't get red of you, an' when she finds you can lepp 支援する on her as often as she comes 負かす／撃墜する, she'll jump 権利 out of everythink. I'd like you to have a go at her, just to see, but as I'm makin' a lady's 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス outer her for 行方不明になる Milly I want to keep her mouth from bein' spiled—it's like velvet now," 結論するd Billy with 甘い reasonableness.
"I couldn't 危険 spoiling your work. You give us an 展示."
Romp was the daughter of Young Whisker, the famous polo pony that had been 購入（する）d for an Indian rajah. Old Whisker his dad, was as famous a galloway sire as ever put to stud, and, like many other celebrities, the 発見 and 所有物／資産／財産 of the Potters of Cuppinbingle. His granddaughter, Romp, was a unique beast such as is seen once in ever so seldom in a 暴徒 where there is an admixture of pure 血. Her dam, Lady Lochinvar, bred on Curradoobidgee, had been a tall flyer with a swinging stride that could give dust to any amateur racer run for saddles and bridles up the country. Had high jumping 達成するd its 現在の vogue she could have 設立するd a 記録，記録的な／記録する. She had （疑いを）晴らすd the Curradoobidgee horse-yards, seven feet if they were an インチ, and built like a 刑務所，拘置所. She jumped out of Mazere's orchard in Bool Bool, no 続けざまに猛撃する could 保持する her for five minutes. Withal her canter gallop were pneumatic and her mouth so delicate that a child of four could 持つ／拘留する her, and she was never 'mown to shy or even prance in spring. When she was やめる old but still a treasure, Milly bad received her as a 現在の from Uncle Bert, beloved of children and with pockets 十分な of just the safest nags for them to ride.
Lady Lochinvar's youngest daughter was a blue roan, with 黒人／ボイコット mane and tail. She flashed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the yard in the sparkling day, one of the daintiest fillies that ever tasted the waters of the Murrumbidgee. The small 長，率いる had 解雇する／砲火／射撃 and symmetry, the chest, shoulders, and 井戸／弁護士席-工場／植物d 脚s 約束d a 負わせる-運送／保菌者 and stayer. She was as hard as nails with a grace and strength of 活動／戦闘 保証（人）ing goat-like sure-footedness—the perfect polo pony, with outré colouring to make her the darling of a girl's heart. Before two she had been 扱うd and given to Billy to pace. That was fifteen months since. Billy's 報告（する）／憶測 was that she was a she-devil and would never be 安全な as a lady's 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス. Milly 反駁するd this with heat. It had grown to a 反目，不和 between Billy and Milly.
"Wouldn't she be a picture with hogged mane and tail! In a nice light 罠（にかける） with my new breast collar she'd take every prize from here to Melbourne. Will you sell her to me for harness, Milly?" teased Alistair Farquharson.
"If Billy's too much of a softy to train her, I'll do it myself. You can have old Flea Creek for harness!"
The Breaker 機動力のある and the filly went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the yard like an angel. "She's so tricky," said he, "you'd think butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, and then, whew!" He touched her with the 刺激（する）. Away went the little spitfire, bucking like a demented kitten and rolling viciously on the 近づく 味方する. Billy was out of her way like an acrobat and 支援する into the saddle as she 権利d without dropping the reins. 元気づけるs from the 最高の，を越す rail. Romp went 負かす／撃墜する on the other 味方する.
"She jist doesn't want anyone on her and will never 残り／休憩（する） till she gits 'em off. I don't mind her now, because I can feel when it's comin', but she'd be a nice 安全な little picnic for a lady on a sidesaddle with skirts," said Billy as he dismounted.
"Let me have a go at her," said Dice. "She せねばならない be ridden hard for a week and never stirred up till she forgets about bucking."
"Billy is always telling lies about the poor little thing. I don't know why he has such a 始める，決める on her," said Milly 温かく.
"We'll get to the 底（に届く） of this, Milly, old chum," said Poole in a 慰安ing aside.
"Let her git her 長，率いる 負かす／撃墜する an' touch her on the 側面に位置する same as a lady with skirts couldn't help doin', an' see what the 背信の little tyke will do," said 屈服するs.
Dice obeyed. Romp was stirred to violent 活動／戦闘 and by some sleight 退却／保養地d from every 捨てる of gear without 緊張するing a buckle—a feat possible to perhaps one horse in a million.
"She won't have a skerrick on her, and that's all there is about it," said Billy conclusively.
"You せねばならない sell her to a circus, Milly," 示唆するd Spires.
"I'll never, never sell her. I'll keep her to look at," said Milly, 小衝突ing away indignant 涙／ほころびs, "and no one shall ever ride her if I can't."
Cooees 召喚するd the 召集（する） to lunch. 近づく the house Mrs Saunders was met by the cook in wild excitement. 解放（する）d from muzzles, and led by Teddy O'Mara's 支持する／優勝者s, the kangaroo dogs had carried out a （警察の）手入れ，急襲 on the beef 樽. While the cook 急ぐd to save something there, the big brindle had 掴むd the midday 一連の会議、交渉／完成する hot from the dish. The meat 供給（する） had been 破壊するd. The cook had a gun and was 解雇する／砲火／射撃ing wildly. Canine yelps 示すd some of his 的s. Teddy 急ぐd to the 救助（する） of his darlings 関わりなく his own safety. It looked like a dangerous imbroglio till Poole, Stanton, and others 適用するd the ブレーキs.
Mrs Saunders ordered a lunch of eggs, cheese, and tinned fish, and called for volunteers to shoot wild ducks for the evening dinner.
"If Bert hasn't lost his 注目する，もくろむ he can 料金d the multitude in a 発射 or two," said Stanton.
"Long Billy, as soon as you've had dinner, take a pack-horse and ask Mr Milford to let you have a wether to kill. You'll be 支援する before bed-time."
The 召集（する） continued cheerfully に向かって the house. Milly led the saucy blue roan, which rubbed her 長，率いる against her doting mistress with the 保証／確信 of an old 手渡す.
"What's she goin' to do with the blanky filly?" 問い合わせd Long Billy.
"Take her to bed with her, p'非難するs," said Flash Billy disgustedly. "That's allers the way with a lady's 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス. Good 構成要素 spiled, I call 'em." He emitted voluble 脅すs to Stanton about the 背信の filly's heels, but Milly was not to be separated from her, and hitched her to the palings at the 底（に届く） of the garden.
*
A jovial company sat 負かす／撃墜する to the 代用品，人d meal. Mr Blenkinsop, gentleman 捕まらないで, reviewed A. L. Gordon's poems and Mr Gladstone's 最新の speech. Others talked of the 人気 of roller-skating, the coming pigeon match at Gundagai, or the need of a 支店 鉄道 line to Bool Bool, and of the new 橋（渡しをする） over the Yarrabongo. The 橋（渡しをする） was to he 公式に opened during the coming month. Old Mrs Mazere of Three Rivers—広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma Mazere—was to 削減（する） the 略章.
Milly's mind was on the pony, and, finishing her pudding in a hurry, she stole away from her end of the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. The whole 駅／配置する staff was 安全な in midday meal or smoko, so she took her gear unobserved and placed the pretty little saddle of 黒人／ボイコット hog-肌 on the ornate cloth, braided like an officer's, and with horses' 長，率いるs worked in the corners, and buckled the girths. She had いつかs turned Romp on her 支援する when very tiny to play with her perfect hoofs—impossible that she could be spiteful or dangerous! They had come all the way from Turrill Turrill to Stan-トン's Plains one season, Dlilly riding old Lady Lochinvar with Romp に引き続いて, and neither of the young things the worse for the long trek. "I'll not put any hot old crupper or breastplate on you, darling, and you aren't a villain, are you? It's that awful pig of a Flash Billy."
She kissed and fondled her pet affectionately, and 診察するd the 側面に位置する, to find it pricked with the 刺激（する）. "Romp darling, you'll never buck again, will you, except in fun? And I'll not let that Flash Billy touch you again."
She made sure that no one was stirring to 失望させる her, and 機動力のある tremulously, Romp walked demurely 負かす／撃墜する the hollow away from the house, without 乱すing the heelers and kangaroo dogs snoozing on nefariously 十分な bellies, thence to the open flat along the river and away like the 勝利，勝つd, playmates frolicking together.
"Oh, you darling, darling love!" Milly flung 負かす／撃墜する her reins and clasped the filly's neck in adoration, indulged her with a drink from the 予定する Pool, from which ducks rose in clouds, and then tried さまざまな paces, shouting with glee, and fetched up at a stiff pace in 見解（をとる） of the family and guests who had come out on the veranda. Milly was elated to 証明する the filly a lady. "Look" she cried. "Look! she doesn't buck or roll or do anything but be an angel like she always has been since she was the teeniest weeniest foal!"
The 観客s ejaculated and expostulated. Milly was too engrossed to give ear.
"Look! She's got her 長，率いる 負かす／撃墜する." The greedy little brute had 遠くに見つけるd a mouthful of clover. "Look! and while she has her 長，率いる 負かす／撃墜する I can do what I like with her 側面に位置する and she doesn't care. Who says she is spiteful and vicious? She hates Billy, and so do I, with his old 刺激（する）s a mile long. 刺激（する）s are loathsome. All you have to do is to have a sort of feeling and horses will race like the 勝利，勝つd. No one shall ever ride her now but me!"
"Horses," began Mr Eustace Blenkinsop, who had ridden from Bookaledgeree with Ronald Dice to spend some weeks sitting about or duck-狙撃. "Horses," repeated Mr Blenkinsop, to whom everybody listened unless racing to the 召集（する）, or basting to get a beast killed before dark, or さもなければ so 圧力（をかける）d as to 廃止する the polite 尊敬（する）・点 which Mr Blenkinsop's old-world 保証／確信 of 産む／飼育するing and 優越 命令（する）d, "have a chivalrous affinity with the ladies."
"Get off that filly at once!" 命令（する）d Uncle Jack. "Whatever for? She's as tame as Lady Lochinvar."
"Evidently it is only men to whom she 反対するs," 繰り返し言うd Mr Blenkinsop.
"What do you say to letting me take Romp home just to 始める，決める her paces?" said Poole. He had gone 負かす／撃墜する the garden. "It looks as if she has been taught tricks."
"That would be loverly! Can I go home with you too?"
*
"The horses nowadays are a poor lot av dunkeys. Sure, they'd crumple up onder the horses that Poole turrned out up to tin or fifteen years ago, and as for old Poole that died a few years 支援する, sure Oi remimber..."
Mick Muldoon stood with his 直面する to the company and his 支援する to the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, a man of 熟した virility as vouched by his hairiness. He had whiskers up to his 注目する，もくろむs, they flowed afar on his chest, sprouted from his ears and nostrils and, by contrariness, were scantiest 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his mouth, which could be discerned through the 待ち伏せ／迎撃する, wide and loose, 連合させるing an 表現 of hilarity and ferocity. The dog he had been was discernible in his 宙に浮く, in the spotted calfskin waistcoat with carved quandong buttons 機動力のある in silver, and in the 攻撃する of his hat, which he rarely doffed.
"Aw, you're allers blowing about the old days," said Flash Billy testily. "It stan's to 推論する／理由 they hadn't the horses we have now, when the 産む／飼育する's bein' 改善するd all the time."
"Oi wouldn't waste me breath on ye," said Mick grandly. "Belting a good beast to pieces and teachin' it vicious thricks!"
"What's the good of listening to an old codger!" snorted Billy, irritable with 疲労，（軍の）雑役 and a day that had gone 不正に.
"Sure, ye're very flash now, 法案 屈服するs, but the day is soon coming whin my ould coat will fit your behoind, and ye won't be able to spile good beasts with dhirty thricks for y'r own 利益（をあげる）, and ye'll have no ch'racter. Moi ch'racter will stand against anny man's."
"What's your 'ch'racter' ever done? You're barmy!"
It was evening in the men's hut. 確かな 身元s like Billy, Teddy O'Mara, and Muldoon had the 特権 of eating in the kitchen, but this evening had chosen the hut for its company.
"Hogan's ghost! Billy," exclaimed Long Billy, drifting in from the kitchen, "did you know that young Milly 棒 the Young Whisker filly up and 負かす／撃墜する the place like hell at dinner-time? Sent her 十分な lick with the reins swingin', an' grabbed up fistfuls of her 側面に位置する, an' the filly takin' it like ole Flea Creek." Flea Creek, a famous slug, so 指名するd for his beginnings, was used to pack salt and pull the water-slide.
"Tell that to the 海洋s!"
"There ain't ever anyone to be let ride her again but young Milly."
"Where did this fish-yarn spring up?" Billy was beginning to be uneasy.
"He's been maggin' to Ellen Humphreys in the kitchen," said Jerry Riddall.
"Ask her, if you don't want to believe me," 固執するd Long Billy.
"Phwat about yer ch'racter now, an' me 存在 barmy, am Oi? Oi wasn't rared onder a 貯蔵所, Oi'm tellin' ye," interposed Mick. "They're foindin' out yer thricks..."
"That's where you're dead wrong, you —— old billy-goat. Another word out o' you and I'll shy the bread at your ole pumpkin 長，率いる." Billy got up, kicking a stool over, and left the hut.
"His girl is givin' him the turnip, that's what's up with him, an' he's too fond of thinkin' he's Lord Muck anyhow," said Long Billy.
"Yes," said Jerry Riddall, "an' I reckon young Mr Dice can run （犯罪の）一味s roun' him stickin' a buck."
"Talkin' o' girls and turnips and such," said Tommy Roper, "there'll be some fun here presently. Did yous twig the play at the yards today atween the boss and Dice?"
"Gam!" said 米，稲 Leary from Cuppinbingle. "What yer givin' us?"
"Anyone can see Dice and Aily Healey think they was made for each other, and at the same time the boss looks as if he's goin' to hang his hat on three hairs an' （不足などを）補う to her too."
"Fat lot o' chance he'd have, the ole goat. A girl'd be as likely to 落ちる in love with a wombat." This was Tim Porter's idea.
"I dunno! Money makes the 損なう go," said Jerry.
"Aw, that ole pilgarlic! Ain't the Dices got a good place at Bookaledgeree? I'd rayther have it than either Ten Creeks or Jinninjinninbong, stuck up here の中で the wombats an' dingoes, or Turrill Turrill 負かす／撃墜する there in the 干ばつs," 持続するd Tim. "Big 株 this feller will have with all them young ones comin' on. Besides, Bookaledgeree is mortgaged over the ears and out the other 味方する, an' old Healey would 肌 his grandmother and sell her hide if he was 押し進めるd, an' if ole Skinny Guts puts his moneybags before him it will be a slice of turnip for young Ronald all 権利."
"Aw, I dunno," repeated Jerry.
"Who do you bet on, Tommy, the ole cove or Ronald Dice?"
"I'll bet anyone my bridle against a new saddle pouch that the ole cove will come out 最高の，を越す because ole Healey is as 猛烈な／残忍な and greedy as hell, I'm yous; an' the girl will be too weak in the 膝s to stan' up to him. Ole Healey is like all of them that can't keep money theirselves; he worships the spondulics. He thinks it can do everything."
"井戸／弁護士席, so it can," said Jerry 熱望して.
"It can do a lot all 権利, but then again there's a lot of things it can't do."
"Tell us some, Tommy."
"井戸／弁護士席, I don't think money would buy the Young Whisker filly from Milly, an' money may make 同盟（する） Healey marry old SP-over-J, but I bet you all the money in hell it will never make her love him."
"And ch'racter," 追加するd Mick Muldoon. "Money will never buy ch'racter. But phwat do these prisint-day mongrels care about ch'racter? They used to talk about the ould lags, but if you 扱う／治療するd the ould lags phroper they was daycint min. Oi've niver seen thim turrn on annyone who 扱う／治療するd thim phroper, but these fellers, begor' if ye carried thim on your 支援する for siven years and put thim 負かす／撃墜する for tin minutes to take a （一定の）期間, sure, they'd take 適切な時期 of that tin minutes to 略奪する ye."
"Here, Mick, never mind about your 'ch'racter' now. If you are such a know-all, why didn't ole Skinny Guts ever marry? Do you know?" It was Red Jimmy, the surveyor's link man, 問い合わせing. His master was working in the 地区 and not averse from a day at the 召集（する） or homestead.
"Av coorse Oi know. Oi know iverything about him, and whin Oi tell a thing it's true, not loike these liars wid nawthing in their 長，率いるs."
"Never min' about that now—p'非難するs it's like the horses...tell us the story."
"Curradoobidgee Poole never married neither," 観察するd Tim Porter.
"He was throwed over by that ole 行方不明になる Macorkaran, wasn't her said Jerry.
"Sure, a quischin is asked and ye 港／避難所't the breedin' to listen to a reply nor the brains to onderstand if ye did."
"I'm the man who knows most about it," 麻薬を吸うd old 法案 Heffernan from Wamgambril Flats, where he engaged in trapping wallabies and dingoes. He had 模造のd for Larry Healey's uncle on Monaro in '61 when the 解放する／自由な 選択 行為／法令／行動する （機の）カム in. He was 模造のing now for Stanton に向かって the 長，率いる of the Wamgambril and had come in for the 召集（する）. The boss here was never after ole 足緒 Macorkaran. It was she that was after Bert Poole. He was a 罰金 削減（する） of an upstanding man in them days, for all he is a （競技場の）トラック一周-dog now for all the little gurrls that call him uncle.
"And who was Poole after?" The link man had a newcomer's 利益／興味 in sorting out the 身元s.
"He used to have 注目する，もくろむs for 非，不，無 but Mrs Labosseer, mother of Mrs Harry Milford over the river," said Heffernan.
"Ye're wrong," said Mick. "Bert Poole was engaged to Mrs Labosseer's sister, Emily, daughter of the ould Mazere of Three Rivers, daughter of the same ould Mrs Mazere who is goin' to open the 橋（渡しをする）."
"Her that was drownded in the Mungee, and Poole has never looked at no one since," 与える／捧げるd Tommy Roper. "Me ma used to tell me about it."
"Everyone knows about Bert Poole an' the 行方不明になる Mazere that was drownded in the Mungee, but Skinny Guts wasn't after her too, was he?"
"Sure, the boss here was hell-for-leather afther Mary Brennan, sister of ould Tim at The Gap, but she wouldn't look at him, and took the 隠す. That was away 支援する in '57. No, it was '58. Tell ye how Oi remimber."
"We don't care how the hell you remember if you'll only spit it out," said Red Jimmy, who was listening open-mouthed.
"Oi'm the 病弱な to 非難する for evening me wits to such an assimbly of gissobs," said Mick, 退却／保養地ing in lofty disdain into the 待ち伏せ／迎撃する of his 耐えるd, from which he spat lustily.
"井戸／弁護士席, Mick, I didn't 侮辱 you or 略奪する you while I got off of your 支援する for a （一定の）期間 or anythink," said 米，稲 Leary, a cheerful vassal. "Let's have the old stick's love 事件／事情／状勢s. I wouldn't have thought he'd ever have had enough juice in him to be in love."
"The 乾燥した，日照りのd-up ones is いつかs madder after the women than the マリファナ-bellied ones. Look at ole—" began Tim Porter.
"Oh, go and 押す your 長，率いる in a 捕らえる、獲得する and 乾燥した，日照りの up for a bit— Mick has the 床に打ち倒す," said Leary.
Mick re-現れるd. 人種上 he was a born conversationalist or monologist: the 独房監禁 条件s of the 境界s of the 支援する runs and the taciturnity of the 植民地のs 制限するd his life. "The master here was woild afther the daughter of ould Tim Brennan that's been in his 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な tin years an' more. Oi disremimber whether it was January or February—"
"Never min' wot you disremember, shoot ahead with the love story, for God's sake, an' be done with it."
"He! He!" cackled Jerry. "Tim's gone on Ellen Humphreys and wants the love—"
"I ain't, you —— fool. I want to turn in. We've got to be out before it's light. Why the hell wouldn't she marry him an' be done with it?"
"She niver married annyone. She took the 隠す an' died in ould Oireland an' was brought home an' buried at The Gap in the flower-garden there. Ye can see the paling fince and the tombstone anny toime ye have the moind."
"Ye're off the 跡をつける," said Heffernan. "More people has been 後部d under a 女／おっせかい屋 than knows it, and a duck 女／おっせかい屋 at that. It was Emily Mazere that had 'em all roarin' like town bulls, all but 黒人／ボイコット Poole, him that was sittin' up on the 盗品故買者 today beside young Milly, an' he contrarywise was the only one she 手配中の，お尋ね者. Ole Denny Healey and his brother Larry, the dad of young Aily, was madder than any after her too, and two of the flashest coves that ever dragged a stockwhip in the dust."
"I've often heard mum and the ole man talkin' of it," said Jerry
Riddall. "Mum used ter work for ole Mrs Mazere. Mary Brennan was smitten on Mr Poole too, but others reckons it was the boss here, and that neither would give way about 宗教, and that's why Mary went for a 修道女 and died of 消費 when she was only thirty, an' that's what slewed the boss off the skirts and turned him to money-grubbin'."
"What for, when he had no girl to give it to?" 問い合わせd Tim Porter.
"Aw, I bet it ain't that what put him on the money-grubbin'. It's in a man, an' nothing won't take it out or put it in."
"You know so —— much you oughter 始める，決める up as a lawyer."
"井戸／弁護士席, I'm not so snotty about it as them that knows いっそう少なく," retorted Leary with a good-tempered grin.
"Seein' as Flash Billy's cake is baked, he can sell that old donkey supper hat of his to the boss. It's used to goin' mashin' an' hanging on by three hairs already," said Tommy Roper.
"Aw, an ole cove like that, he wouldn't be able—"
"Don't you believe it! When the spasm takes 'em, the old blokes goes barmier than the young ones."
"I reckon a girl would have to be cross-注目する，もくろむd to take old SPover-J while Ronnie Dice was in the runnin'," commented Tim Porter. "If I wuz a girl, I'd rather live on the smell of an oiled rag with a feller like Ronnie than take old Ten Creeks with Turrill Turrill throwed in to fatten dingoes."
"But it ain't what you or Aily thinks; it's what ole Larry says that goes, an' he'd rather marry any one of them 女性（の） daughters of his to a 黒人／ボイコット snake if it had money than to a angel without," 持続するd Tommy Roper.
"Every dog has his day," 観察するd Heffernan. "Ole Poole had a hell of a 罰金 day, not only all the purty fillies mad after him, but he was the greatest rider and 発射, and （疑いを）晴らすd up the bushrangers, and still goin' strong."
"You're —— 井戸／弁護士席 権利," agreed Leary.
"My —— 誓い I'm 権利. The missus here is workin' herself cross-注目する，もくろむd to collar him now, and Milly would jump at him for a stepfather."
"Fat lot er chance ole Lucy's got if he's never looked at no one since his sweetheart was drownded."
"He might give way when he gets old and silly. He's a goodlookin' bloke yet, an' a nice one too. I'd rather work for him than ole Skinny Guts any day," said Tim Porter.
"For the Old Harry's sake stop yer everlastin' maggin'," complained Long Billy from the inner 議会, where bunks of stringybark stretched in three tiers 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 塀で囲むs. The window was a 木造の shutter; wide 割れ目s between the shrunken 厚板s 供給するd daylight and ventilation. The rouseabout was ready to call it a day after buckjump-riding in the forenoon and a long, hard ride to fetch a sheep in the afternoon. "Come on in, some of you damn' fellers, or the bugs an' fleas will walk away with me. It ain't fair. They're all 召集（する）d on me. Come an' take your 株. I don't want to be a fattenin' paddick for the whole —— lot."
*
The Milfords arrived next morning, bringing with them Kerry, the famous photographer, and the 探検隊／遠征隊 to Bull Creek was deferred in favour of 提起する／ポーズをとるing before the camera, while the （犯罪の）一味ing music of horseshoes 存在 形態／調整d on the anvil by a succession of blacksmiths for the forefeet of 在庫／株 horses never 中止するd. In a few of the 生き残るing houses of the locality, where there remains an old 手渡す to 保存する things of the past, there may still be 設立する stereoscopes and 見解（をとる）s perpetuating the 召集（する）s of Ten Creeks Run and Jinninjinninbong. Through the twin レンズs 血 horses, long dust, and their daring or dainty riders, now stiff and frail, stand out in seemingly solid 救済, so hauntingly still that they touch the heart to 涙／ほころびs.
Milly with streaming hair was photographed on Romp, and the 行方不明になるs Farquharson and Healey on their 各々の animals showed their hour-glass waists and soft young 直面するs above stiffing collars. Teddy O'Mara and Mick Muldoon, SP-over-J, the mad sailor cook, the new surveyor, Flash Billy the Breaker, 米，稲 Leary, the brazen kangaroo dogs, the 血 colts and fillies, Flea Creek, all are 保存するd for those who can 選ぶ them out, 同様に as a 一連の会議、交渉／完成する dozen or more to whom even Larry Healey or Harry Milford cannot put the 指名するs today.
There were no moving-picture cameras then to pickle these gladiators in 動議 in the ordinary day's work, as they 成し遂げるd feats that no rodeo could now excel. The 青年 of today would みなす the old-time commonplaces of that 召集（する） impossible, or but senility's drivelling of the glory of days that are gone. In these days there is only one of the Milfords left; for 欠如（する） of a 同情的な audience, he never 会談 of his 偉業／利用するs. The young fellows snorting about in モーターs have no 利益／興味 for him, and he is nervous in their machines, he who that summer in natural daring 棒 血 colts 負かす／撃墜する a 山の尾根 of 黒人／ボイコット 開始する Corroboree, while even the 常習的な 観客s held their breath for the 結果! That spring, too, it was Harry Milford, 補佐官d by Larry Healey—the only rider who could keep 近づく him—who put the Bull Flat 暴徒 into the 罠（にかける）-yards 支援する of 開始する Corroboree after a run 継続している from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m.
The stereoscope shows 非，不，無 of this, but only a stillness haunting as the memory of a 発言する／表明する that has lately enchanted and dropped for ever to silence. In the cavern of the レンズs all has been stricken to colourless rigidity, granite 玉石s, flowering trees and shrubs, men and maids, horses and dogs alike, for ever petrified in 青年 unchanging beside the leaping lacy Coolgarbilli, singing on its way to old Mother of Waters.
Old Blenkinsop—"gentlemanly ole feller"—is shown on Scutty, an 輸入するd 損なう so 指名するd for her ドッキングする／減らす／ドックに入れるd tail, and 借りがあるing to which she had been 早期に 始める，決める apart for stud 目的s, for the natives would as lief been seen abroad with a Jonah minus an 注目する，もくろむ as on a beast so mutilated. 黒人／ボイコット Harry, the horse-shooter, stood on the 最高の，を越す rail. He had 発射 fifteen hundred horses in those hills for their hides and tails, and by mistake potted one of old Tom Saunders's brood-損なうs, only old Tom did not take that 見解（をとる） of it. Harry had その結果 done a 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 of two years, which did not 増加する his 人気 with the Farquharsons, whose poor relation he was. Poole was taken teaching Corroboree to lead, a part of his education which had been overlooked.
He had put in the morning on the 職業. "Come, I'll give you a wrinkle," he said to Flash Billy, who obeyed sulkily. "Look out for that trick 商売／仕事—it won't do your 評判 any good, unless you think of joining a circus."
Flash Billy made no reply then, but 観察するd to his associates later, "Damned silly ole molly-coddle—you'd think he was trainin' cows. Gone clean barmy in his ole days."
Lucy Saunders joined Milly to watch Poole with the colt.
"Mother, can't I go home with Uncle Bert and Romp? He says I can."
"You are getting too big now to be bothering Uncle Bert."
Milly was no 血 relation to Poole. When a toddler she had fought with Marcia Mazere at Three Rivers for the 権利 to sit on his 膝. When told that she must give place because Marcia was his real niece Milly had 行為／法令／行動するd so like convulsions that Herbert Poole, J.P., 回復するd her to normality by 可決する・採択するing her as one of his 完全にする nieces and taking her on the 権利 膝; Marcia 辞退するd to 降伏する her hereditary 権利 to the left. Though Milly was long past tantrums, her affection for her Uncle Bert 増加するd rather than 減らすd. Famous horseman that he was, he took delight in her equestrian 約束, while he to the child was a lucky-捕らえる、獲得する that had 産する／生じるd such booty as Lady Lochinvar, Romp, and a saddle and bridle.
"She'd be no trouble, Lucy, if you'd like to let her come. Ma will enjoy 監督するing her lessons, and if she gets tired of her she could go to Ada for a change."
"How would she get home again?"
"Pooh! I could come by myself if I'd only be let. Tell you what. Couldn't Uncle Bert take me 負かす／撃墜する to see Aileen at Neangen and Uncle Jack could bring me home from there? I heard him telling Aileen that he had 商売／仕事 that way."
"You could get home 平易な enough," said SP-over-J, to stop その上の overhearings.
"Goody! I'll pack my valise. Couldn't I ride Romp?"
"She and the colt are a bit too green. We don't want to dishearten them at the beginning. You better stick to old Ready-money."
やめる a party left Ten Creeks at sunrise on a glorious morning at the の近くに of the 召集（する）. Young Lindsey, Poole's man, had 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the Curradoobidgee 逸脱するs, and Teddy O'Mara, …を伴ってd by his redoubtable thieves, was lending him a 手渡す. Poole and Milly 棒 behind them, Poole 主要な Corroboree, who followed with the 切望 of a neophyte while Milly had Romp trotting 友好的に beside Readymoney.
Larry Healey and Ronald Dice joined 軍隊s to take their 次第で変わる／派遣部隊, and, since they had Aily with them but no stockman, SP-over-J 発言／述べるd, "I'll give you a 手渡す till you get a start."
"You needn't bother, Mr Stanton, unless you like," said Tommy Roper with a wink at Tim Porter. "I'm making their way and can kill two birds with the one 石／投石する."
"I want to see what the dingo-trappers are after out by Wamgambril, in any 事例／患者," said Stanton. Tim returned Tommy's wink.
It worked out that the young men careered 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the loose horses, and Stanton 棒 with Aileen, who was pretty, ever so pretty, and alluringly young. She was also deferential and unfailingly agreeable. It was 夜明けing on her that there was more than banter in what people said of her and Stanton, though she did not take it 本気で. Ronald was delightful in his disparagement of an older 競争相手 as "gran'pa" and "uncle".
"You be careful," he 棒 up and whispered to her as they were splashing into the home paddock creek. "It's dangerous to an 年輩の gosling like that to become lovesick. He might take a fit and you be 非難するd." The 天然のまま wit convulsed the simple Aileen.
The riders kept together till the river crossing where 境界 Creek joined the larger stream. Here Poole 支店d off to the south and the others continued に向かって Wamgambril Flats. Milly had the last words:
"You'll come to Neangen for me, won't you, Uncle? You'll have me there, won't you, Aileen? If it's too much trouble for Uncle Jack to go all the way I can easily get 負かす／撃墜する to Stanton's Plains with Ronnie. You're sure to be going to Neangen, aren't you, Ronnie?"
To these suggestions Aileen cordially assented. Ronnie, with a grin at Aileen, also agreed. Uncle Jack 迎撃するd the wink that Tommy Roper threw at Dice and said to Milly, "You get 負かす／撃墜する to Neangen and let me know and I'll collect you from there without troubling anyone."
The Bool Bool 次第で変わる／派遣部隊 remained on the left bank of the Coolgarbilli while the others clattered and splashed の中で the 玉石s of the stream transparent as glass 急ぐing onward to the Murrumbidgee. Poole watched them go in a meditative でっちあげる，人を罪に陥れる of mind. Thirty years ago he and old Jack Stanton had ridden away on 類似の 探検隊／遠征隊s with the aunts of Aileen and Milly's 世代, and just as gaily as young Dice today, "削減（する） out" 競争相手s and (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手d for first place. 明確に in the glass of memory stood two girls that were dead—one （人命などを）奪う，主張するd by cramp in the 背信の Mungee, the other a 犠牲者 of a 限定するd life in old-world sunless damp—those whom the 手渡すs had discussed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the hut 解雇する／砲火／射撃 in the evenings. All the actors in the 演劇 of the previous 世代 主張するd that both these beautiful young women had loved him, Herbert Poole, to the 除外 of all others till the end.
Ah, 井戸／弁護士席, it was all past now, or rather, as he 公式文書，認めるd the blushes 花冠ing Aily's delicate cheeks when Ronnie made some 発言／述べる, it was only the players that changed in the eternal tourney. He enjoyed life as much as ever and 設立する himself more careful to 保存する it than he had been thirty or forty years ago, but something had gone out of it. What would he not give to feel again the delight and excitement that once 泡d in his veins! There were plenty of old chaps who still chased the "所有物／資産／財産s" of youthful joy more greedily than did the young. There was old Jack squinting at little Aily Healey.
"Nonsense, there is nothing in it. I'm getting as bad as the old gossips," he thought. They had been connecting himself and Jack with every 適格の and ineligible woman in the 地区 for the last thirty years and would be at the game for the next thirty, by the look of things. If it amused small minds, it did no 害（を与える） to him and Jack.
As they lost sight of the others の中で the tall 木材／素質 and dense shrubs, Poole looked at the 有望な 直面する of his companion with its button nose and freckles, the hat elasticked under the 一連の会議、交渉／完成する childish chin, and the long pigtail aft, and his 注目する，もくろむs 軟化するd with indulgence. Bless the youngster, a man could never have the mulligrubs while she was about! He 反映するd with satisfaction that a man was never too old for the affectionate joys 供給するd by the avuncular 関係. There had been a 連続する 刈る of such nieces, some of them 拡大するing matrons now, but all 保持するing their affection for Uncle Bert.
"Do you think goanna fat mixed with wombat grease would take the freckles off your nose, Milly?"
"It might be as good as those recipes they have for making straight hair curly," laughed the little girl. "My freckles go away in the winter, or if I stay inside, but I'd rather be outside."
"Then I suppose we must 耐える up under the freckles." His 注目する，もくろむ wandered to Romp, of a beauty to delight Abd-el-Kader, son of Mahi-ed-Din himself, and probably better topped through her thoroughbred English 緊張する than any ewe-necked prodigy that ever carried the 広大な／多数の／重要な 首長. "Think we can make something of the roan mongrel?"
Milly 答える／応じるd with a toothsome grin of understanding: she and Uncle Bert were mates. She was 存在 permitted this as her last tomboy 探検隊／遠征隊. Upon her return she was to be 教えるd by Mr Blenkinsop, who had gallantly 産する／生じるd to importunities to 請け負う the 責任／義務 for the 残りの人，物 of the summer at Ten Creeks, and later at Turrill Turrill for the winter, depending on how they 進歩d.
*
Dice's company parted from Stanton at the 長，率いる of the Wamgambril, a sister stream of the Coolgarbilli, which took an opposite course to reach old Mother of Waters.
"We'll put up for the night at The Gap and get Mrs Tim and young Tim to give us some songs," 示唆するd Dice, a sociable fellow.
"I must 押し進める on," said Larry.
"You and Tommy can 押し進める on with the horses at daybreak. I'll see that Aily gets to Neangen in good 条件. What do you say, Aily?"
"Whatever you and Larry do will 控訴 me," said she, with a rosy smile.
As young Celia Brennan could sing like a thrush and was pretty その上, Larry fell in with this suggestion after hesitation. As Tommy Roper was inordinately curious and had time on his 手渡すs he fell in with Larry.
Next morning Larry got away at daybreak. Dice at a more leisurely hour 始める，決める off with Aileen. He decided to go by Bool Bool and have lunch with old Mrs Mazere at Three Rivers—the old lady was his 広大な／多数の／重要な-aunt. He enlisted Tommy Roper to 配達する the spare nags at Bookaledgeree.
*
Larry reached home in time for midday dinner, and in 返答 to his father's 調査 said, "I left Aileen at The Gap to come on with Ronald Dice."
"And what the devil did you do that for? If she hasn't any more sense to look after her 評判, what were you there for?'
"Ronnie's not dangerous," 投機・賭けるd Larry, jun., "and if he was, Tommy Roper is there to keep a sharp 注目する，もくろむ on him."
"If she's not showing by two o'clock, you'll go 支援する after her."
Mrs Healey began to worry as soon as the 規定するd hour was reached. Her husband was an unamiable old scrub and she the chopping-封鎖する of his displeasures. Three o'clock and five passed without Aileen. Mr Healey waxed ferocious; Mrs Healey was in a stew.
"Her to be capering about the country like a streel and her character gone to the 勝利，勝つd," he 激怒（する）d. "I'll turn her out! For two pins she needn't darken my doors again."
"There needn't be such a mighty dust about that," young Larry was game to say. "Ron Dice would be glad to have her darken his."
"Him with not a penny to his 指名する; a waster ridin' about the country after every bit of rag in the world, and the place pin' to the dingoes and briars, and mortgaged up to the neck."
"井戸／弁護士席, if he can't put up enough spondulics to 控訴 you, old Jack Stanton wouldn't mind relieving you of her, unless I'm more green than I'm cabbage-looking. You'll have no trouble getting Aileen off your 手渡すs; it's Joanna and Norah will be the tussle," said their brother ungallantly.
"What 証拠 have you of that?"
"Old Skinny Guts was leering at her all the 召集（する） like a sick dog at a firestick. He 現実に danced with her and （機の）カム all the way to Wamgambril huts—pretended he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to look at the dingo-跡をつけるs, but he stuck too の近くに to the old chestnut to see any. It will do him good to be jealous of Dice, will bring him up to the scratch."
Larry, sen., 中止するd to 激怒（する）. Stanton was rich and a swell. The Stantons of Stanton's Plains were of the earliest 開拓するs of Bool Bool, and, with the Mazeres, Pooles, Brennans, etc., 階級d as first families の中で the squattocracy.
"Be the hokey-pokey!" Healey exulted to his wife. "If this is true about old Stanton, why there isn't a man from here to Wagga Wagga half so 井戸／弁護士席-直す／買収する，八百長をするd as him—a 冷淡な-血d 用心深い feller as solid as 開始する Corroboree. You give Aily a speakin'-to when she comes home. She doesn't want to be 妥協ing herself with young Dice if there is anny hope of Stanton. Dice won't have a stiver to his 指名する when the banks get their 株."
"He's such a nice young fellow," said Mrs Healey weakly.
"Nice, nice! You fool! What's the good of nice—it's the dough that counts. If a man's as ugly as old King Billy and as 汚い—sure, he can be as 汚い as he likes if he's only rich enough."
A woman of spirit might have said that some were ugly and 汚い without 存在 able to afford it, but Mrs Healey was not a woman of spirit.
Aileen did not reach home till seven o'clock. In 新規加入 to Ronald she was …を伴ってd by his sister, Ida, which took the 勝利，勝つd out of Healey's grizzle about the proprieties. Ida was a dashing girl with the Dice charm, 有能な of making herself agreeable even to old Larry, so that he could not 爆発する while the Dices were 現在の, and he 発言／述べるd as they went on their way in the moonlight, "'Tis a pity the Dices have no ability to 持つ／拘留する money. She'd make a nice pair with Larry, though he would be better 直す／買収する，八百長をするd up at The Gap. Old Tim must be a pretty warm man by now with that good 所有物／資産／財産 on both 味方するs of the river."
*
Larry, sen., was neither rich nor nice, nor yet happy nor beautiful. He was the second son of his family, which had gone up in the social 規模 like a ロケット／急騰する, but the second 世代 showed no ability to 持つ／拘留する or 改善する what had been 伸び（る）d.
The first Larry and his wife, Aileen, had settled on Monaro の中で the earliest 開拓するs. They had （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するd themselves as Irish 移民，移住（する）s and were reticent about their past. They were 隣人s of the 初めの Poole. By assiduity and 無視（する） of scruples they had 安全な・保証するd a good 広い地所. The old days had been enlivened by a rumour that a 無断占拠者—some said about Goulburn—had 伸び（る）d his wife by a roistering bet, but 非，不，無 were sure of the man's 身元. This story had been fastened on the Healeys in a 劇の manner in the fifties by a bushranger who subsequently died in Berrima 刑務所，拘置所. On the historic occasion while he held up the whole gallimaufry of first families at a ball at Gowandale he had audaciously （人命などを）奪う，主張するd Mrs Healey as his wife in 十分な 審理，公聴会 of the company, thus casting the aspersion of illegitimacy upon the whole boiling of young Healeys. The Healeys carried this off as best they could, and it had been taken as wild 衝突／不一致. にもかかわらず it had 崩壊するing results upon the 意気込み／士気 of the Healeys. The boys in altercations would be 侮辱d as bastards, and old Healey had had to divulge that it was better for his sons to 嘘（をつく） low and take the 主張s as lightly as possible rather than 動かす up the mud of "thrubble".
"Sure, if ye keep 静かな it will dhrop, an' there's those that niver want to 動かす it up. M'Eachern of Gowandale for one, his son bein' married to the bushranger's daughter, an' her yer half-sister, an' there's others. Sure, they're not all married on 合法的 daughters of the nobility."
The dearth of maids in that 地域 and 世代 had made it necessary for the most pretentious to marry a shepherd lass or a fille de joie or go unwed. But to be compelled to turn the other cheek because they could not 乱打する the other fellow's nose was as bitter as the milk of seeding lettuce to the belligerent young Healeys. It 抑制（する）d their dash and crumpled their amour-propre.
Dennis, Larry of Neangen's 年上の brother, had 統治するd for a time on Eueurunda, which the Healeys had acquired by 工場／植物ing 模造のs on Simon Labosseer while he was 無能にするd and so that his wife had had to 退却／保養地 to Coolooluk. The wife of Dennis, a barmaid from Goulburn, was used to ワイン and spirits, and Dennis, always that way inclined, grew too fond of his 減少（する）. As he reached middle age he was a loud, 急速な／放蕩な man and many women had too many charms for him.
There were rumours of more bastards than his father's. It was the grandfather of one of these who met Dennis one night and nearly finished him. The 仕事 failed only because Dennis, like a carpet snake, 回復するd after 存在 left for dead. He 否定するd that he and old Lindsey, the selector, had met in the dark of the moon where Poole's Creek runs with a velvety Monaro song to join the Eueurunda. It was through old Lindsey that the story got abroad.
The 地区 knew that Jenny Lindsey had gone wrong. The distraught young woman had 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるd upon her 破壊者 for one more interview. At this, old Lindsey, 事実上の／代理 sleuth, had punished the 有罪の with 暴力／激しさ. He then 棒 madly to Braminderra, a one-pub 郡区 where there was also a constable and lock-up, and had given himself in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金. The constable did not know whether to believe him or not, so 悪口を言う／悪態d him and kept him till daylight, when he 棒 abroad to collect the 証拠. Constable Pigeon was of comfortable form and mind and the scene of the 殺人 was twenty-five miles distant.
Lindsey was unable to produce the 死体. "Here's where I waited for him," he 主張するd. 跡をつけるs 確認するd this. "Here's where I 麻薬 the —— ole scoundrel and 詐欺師 and bastard horse-どろぼう from his saddle. When I got through bashing him I flung him 負かす／撃墜する the 味方する there." There was a 示す as of a 解雇（する） dragged across the 跡をつける and broken 下落する-bushes, but no 調印する of Healey.
"You've evidently got 'em," said the constable. "But I'll keep you in 保護／拘留 till I see Mr Healey."
They had gone off に向かって Eueurunda, calling at Curradoobidgee for refreshments. Here the constable 設立する the 乗り物 of the doctor from Cooma and Mrs Healey's carriage. Poole on coming home the night before had heard groans from below the level of the road. Search had shown Dennis Healey held on the 味方する of the declivity by the 下落する-bushes and bracken. Healey was unable to move or speak. Poole returned to the homestead for 援助. Messengers had also gone forthwith for Mrs Healey and the doctor. The 明言する／公表する of Healey was that while there is life there is hope, so the constable credited Lindsey's story and took him away with him.
As soon as he was able to make a deposition, Healey 主張するd that he had been riding a fresh horse, which, startled by a snake, had unseated him. His foot stuck in the stirrup and this accounted for the terrible 乱打するing he had received. A 雷雨 late the day に引き続いて the affray made その上の 言及／関連 to the 跡をつけるs impossible. Lindsey had been 解放（する）d.
Healey never 機動力のある a horse again. His wife met the 大災害 by getting rid of the 駅／配置する and taking a hotel in Goulburn. She was tired of 駅／配置する life. She was no rider, and had not been 受託するd by the squattocracy as she had hoped. The Pooles and M'Eacherns held aloof because she had not been congenial to them, and also they resented the way Dennis had 扱う／治療するd an old friend and 隣人.
Larry, the second brother, transferred to Eueurunda, but ill luck …に出席するd him too. His wife died. His eldest son was 発射 dead きれいにする a ライフル銃／探して盗む. The Healeys had paid too much for Eueurunda in the first place, and bad 管理／経営, bad seasons, and 病気 in the flocks 軍隊d Larry to 削減（する） his losses and move to Neangen. Another wife and family had 後継するd the first, but life seemed to sour on Larry. He was an ill-tempered 失敗, feeling that God and man were against him. The old Healeys had 脱退するd from "the 病弱な thrue Church", 借りがあるing, it was said, to a 列／漕ぐ／騒動 with the 階層制度 regarding their marriage or 欠如（する） of it, and the consequence was that the Healeys of the second 世代 had no 宗教 as a buttress of respectability.
Such were Aileen's antecedents at the time of the 召集（する） at Ten Creeks Run. 負債s and minor 苦しめるs were the family's 部分 at Neangen. The girls hoped for marriage as a way of mending their fortunes, but the two of the first marriage were as plain as kitchen aprons and without style, while Aileen 欠如（する）d 長，率いる to market herself, and the family were 警報 to 妨げる their best ewe lamb from throwing herself away.
The news about old Stanton was 希望に満ちた. Not only was he rich but he had standing, and most of the higher squattocracy now ignored the Healeys unless they needed a night's 宿泊するing when 商売／仕事 led them past Neangen.
*
Stanton turned 支援する from Wamgambril Flats where the 孤独な 選択 of his 模造の 安全な・保証するd the 注目する，もくろむ of a 山地の horse and cattle run. He retraced his way across creeks and ferny gullies through the 冷静な／正味の depths of thousands of square miles of 木材／素質 broken only by the tiny spring-長，率いる flats of the plateaux まっただ中に the 範囲s. There were tucker and tea in his saddle-捕らえる、獲得するs of calfskin, and a quart マリファナ on the D. He went 刻々と and mused on the 草案 of colts and fillies, and what he might 逮捕する from his wool on Turrill Turrill, but most of all he thought of Aileen Healey and felt young again. A reawakening zest in life was throwing a 魔法 隠す over things once more.
Many men older than he took unto themselves wives. It was not as if Aileen were a child. She had come of age this year or two. He could 始める，決める her off in a way that 非，不，無 of her other admirers could approach. Lucy might think him a fool, though she was not 据えるd to say what she really thought to any 破滅的な extent. Why the ジュース couldn't she pull it off with Bert? That would leave him, Jack, 解放する／自由な and give him an excuse for marriage which a 確認するd bachelor so 井戸／弁護士席 catered for 欠如（する）d. It would do old Bert a world of good to get married, but SP-over-J did not believe he had the red 血 in him these days. SP-over-J chuckled in the elation of the resurgence of his own 血.
A day or two later he 発表するd his 意向 of running into Bool Bool to 調印する some papers. Arrived in the little town he 棒 to the saddler's and gave a 満足な order for gear 含むing a smart pair of leggings. Next he called at the house 隣接する to the bank, the windows of which 発表するd A. A. RANKIN & SON, SOLICITORS. It was the son, a pleasant man in the forties, that received Stanton.
"井戸／弁護士席, Jack, what can I do for you today? How's the horse market?"
"Fair to middling. How're yourself and Fannie?"
"罰金, thanks."
"How are things financially—everyone paid up and 独立した・無所属, or is there a mortgage or two kicking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する?"
"As a 事柄 of fact there are a couple going begging, but nothing juicy."
"Do you mind telling me what they are?"
"Old Larry Healey is trying to raise something more on that dingo-run he has at Neangen, and the Dices want a covering mortgage on Bookaledgeree."
"Who has it now?"
"Tom Saunders."
"Is he foreclosing?"
"No, but the Dices probably want to get out of his clutches."
"Bookaledgeree is a wilderness of briars—cost more than it's 価値（がある）—涙／ほころびs all the wool off the sheep's 支援するs. Neangen would be better for horses."
"I can get you the bank's valuation."
"I want to work through the bank, if you'll 直す／買収する，八百長をする it up 個人として. When I have money going, I like to put it in the old 地区."
"The 権利 spirit, Jack. If more had it the place would 進歩 more 速く."
詳細（に述べる）s of the mortgages on Neangen and Bookaledgeree were followed by gossipy 雑談（する） about people, no taint of ideas on either 味方する, then Stanton withdrew till next day. Two days later he 棒 home with a feeling of 業績／成就. His next move was to complain to his sister that Milly was running wild. He gave 指示／教授／教育s for a letter to Poole 明言する／公表するing that if he brought Milly as far as Neangen, he, Stanton, would go there to 会合，会う her, since he had to go in that direction to 検査／視察する horses that were for sale.
The 公式の／役人 開始 of the new 橋（渡しをする） was not far off, so Poole wrote to Mrs Saunders that he would bring Milly to the festival. Stanton could not be too fussy, but not to be robbed of his excuse for going to Neangen he 始める，決める out to 検査／視察する horses as 初めは planned. He was spruce as to horse and gear. He was wearing a new hat and had trimmed his 耐えるd in the 流行の／上流の Prince of むちの跡s clip. He would have liked to shave it off, but for the 現在の 欠如（する）d the 保証／確信 for such an 革新.
By some miscalculation, as he said, he got to Neangen in 前進する of Milly. "Can you 苦しむ me an extra day?" he 問い合わせd of Aileen.
Milly and her Uncle Bert arrived next day, Milly riding Romp, the exquisite galloway, now of perfect manners.
The most 利益／興味ing public event for a year 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Bool Bool was to be the 開始 of the new 橋（渡しをする）. The punt that had carried the main street across the Yarrabongo to join the 広大な／多数の／重要な Southern Road from Sydney to Melbourne had in the late sixties been 取って代わるd by a 木造の erection. This structure in turn had given way to a 橋（渡しをする） with ornamental arches painted white, the pride of the inhabitants, and the New Crossing on the 辛勝する／優位 of Stanton's Plains had been furnished with a punt. It was this punt, which in the course of 進歩 was 存在 superseded by a second 橋（渡しをする）, that 吊りくさび Mortimer, the 地元の M.P., had bagged for his 選挙民. Mortimer had been 招待するd to open it, but the old 軍人 was more renowned for his tact than his oratory. Old Mrs Mazere, the oldest 開拓する and 長，指導者 of the 長，指導者 一族／派閥 of the 地区, should open the 橋（渡しをする）, while he made a speech about the wonders of the valley and the intelligent 進歩／革新的な spirit of the 選挙権を持つ／選挙人s whom he had the honour to 代表する.
The 祝賀 同時に起こる／一致するd with Mrs Mazere's seventy-eighth birthday, and the 二塁打 event was bringing people from a wide 半径. The 橋（渡しをする） was to be opened in the morning and clinched by a 祝宴, the evening to be given to a grand subscription ball and supper. The Rev. Archdeacon Fish and the Rev. Father O'Halloran were both patrons of this. Tickets were a guinea each, proceeds to be divided between the 地元の hospital and the Anglican and Roman カトリック教徒 churches. Considering the good 原因（となる）, old Mrs Mazere had 同意d to open the ball. The 支配する put the price of wool and maize and cattle and horses in the shade for a day or two and 一時的に （太陽，月の）食／失墜d 地元の スキャンダルs, only to germinate a fresh 刈る.
When Milly arrived at Neangen, Julie, her 即座の 同時代の の中で the young Healeys, pleaded for her to remain the 介入するing nights instead of 訴訟／進行 to Bool Bool. This ふさわしい SP-over-J, and Poole, always of placid mind, thought it better not to 追加する to the 世帯 of Three Rivers while 準備s were 激怒（する）ing.
"There's been a 広大な／多数の／重要な struggle to get 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma Mazere rigged up for the shivoo. Fannie sent to Sydney to get Rhoda to choose a new bonnet, but 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma jibbed at it. It's been 選ぶd to pieces two or three times and made look as nearly like the old one as possible, the one she took to when old Mr Mazere died," said Joanna.
"Old 法案 Prendergast is coming from Gundagai to 運動 her over the 橋（渡しをする） to open it with his grey four-in-手渡す, and they've got about an acre of テントs put up for the 祝宴," 追加するd Larry, jun.
Uncle Jack felt 罪人／有罪を宣告するd of family dereliction to be cavorting with the Healeys, and to have Milly and Poole there with him while his sister was away 支援する at Ten Creeks. As a 妥協 he sent Tommy Roper to fetch her, coupled with the 儀礼 of 発表するing that he and Milly and Poole would be coming together.
*
Thus when the big day 夜明けd the Healeys had the honour of Poole and Jack Stanton as their 護衛するs. Larry, sen., wife, Joanna, and small fry filled the shabby buggy drawn by a pair of long-tailed horses. Young Larry, Alf Timson, and Norah galloped away from their dust on horseback.
Poole was surprised that Stanton should appear on such an occasion with the Healeys instead of with his own people from the Plains. He knew it would be unpleasant for Lucy Saunders to have Milly in that company, and he felt he 借りがあるd it to the child to stay with her. "Old Jack must be 公正に／かなり collared," he mused, looking on. "Old fool, at his time of life! The little girl is 甘い and pretty, but weak—the 産む／飼育する is 欠如（する）ing—an old fool with a young wife is as bad a team as a Clydesdale yoked to a （短距離で）速く走る人."
Milly and Julie capered 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Uncle Bert, but Julie's old Neddy was outclassed by the incomparable Romp, groomed till her hide was like polished granite, richly caparisoned and with smartly hogged mane and tail. The little girls amused themselves counting the snake-跡をつけるs in the soft dust, counting the goannas that ran up the trees and looked at them, counting Tommy Roper's dead beasts or Riverina dead sheep, counting anything that made a game.
Aileen, a picture of slender grace in a new habit on her 平易な old chestnut, 行方不明になる Muffet, was …に出席するd by Uncle Jack on a showy four-year-old. Movement was to be seen as they turned out of the 木材／素質 on the Neangen road and （機の）カム in 見解（をとる） of the アイロンをかける roof of Bookaledgeree の中で its bower of fruit and ornamental trees, with the （疑いを）晴らすd mile between the homestead and main road.
Milly looked for her friend Ronald to put the 権利 valuation on Romp's excellencies. Milly was a wholesome young thing still mentally undisturbed by her budding womanhood. Ronald was her chum and admirer; that she might be an 侵入者 had not yet occurred to her. Julie, not of such wholesome mind and absorption, watched for Ronald with an excitement born of words overheard.
As the Bookaledgeree party grew clearer, Aileen's heart ぱたぱたするd deliciously to 認める Ronald with his sisters Ida and Olive. Mrs Dice and younger members of the family followed in the buggy. Old Dice had been dead some years. Mrs Dice had been Jane Freeborn, daughter of old Mrs Mazere's brother Matthew.
The Dices reached the public road as the Neangen riders 近づくd. Notice of Milly's prodigy could not be omitted. Ronald, while giving this, 雇うd a stratagem to get Aileen, and left Jack Stanton and Poole with Olive and Ida, who made themselves 過度に agreeable. Milly was 床に打ち倒すd by the defection of Ronald, but he was speedily topping the next 山の尾根 with Aileen on her silly old chestnut, which everyone was agreed was only fit for dingo baits. Something in the 空気／公表する checked Milly's impulse to 追いつく them: she had to be content with the 賞賛 won by Romp from every other traveller.
"Look, Ma, Aileen has galloped away from Mr Stanton with Ron Dice," 観察するd Julie, riding の近くに to her parents' shandrydan to whisper sententiously.
"I'm not blind," replied Mrs Healey.
"持つ／拘留する your tongue, and ride away or you'll get the horse's foot between the spokes," said her father 概略で.
The day, one of the hottest of the season, had started auspiciously with a sharp 雷鳴-にわか雨 that left the 空気／公表する （疑いを）晴らす and sparkling and laid the dust, so 深い on the rich river flats that if 乱すd it could be so dense as to 原因（となる） 衝突／不一致s. The 組織するing 委員会 had arranged a 行列 to approach by way of the 権利 bank and cross the new 橋（渡しをする）. Terence M'Haffety, butcher in the old days and later landlord of the 王室の Hotel, was 市長 that year, and a 罰金 hearty father of the 郡区 he 証明するd, always ready to put colour and dash into his 機能（する）／行事ing. For the 橋（渡しをする） 事件／事情／状勢 he had an energetic coadjutor in his old 同僚, Prendergast, another publican from Gundagai, and in the old days "Cornstalk 法案", redoubtable coach-driver. He ran the best hotel in Gundagai, and in the beginning had owned several of the 子会社 lines of coaches later swallowed by the world-wide Cobb & Co.
Prendergast was a coaching 当局, and had driven six-in-手渡す before the 知事 in Sydney. He was unhappy away from coaches and horses, and after retiring to be host of the Cornstalk 武器, had returned to the road for his health. In her 未亡人d years old Mrs Mazere made visits to her son Hugh, beyond Cootamundra, and always arranged her 旅行s for the days when William, as she 演説（する）／住所d him, was 運動ing. He was unfailingly delighted to have her. On such occasions the box-seat was sacred to her, and he put extra dash into his 運動ing for her 評価. There she enjoyed his 技術 with four or five coachers, which like as not of late years bore the Jinninjinninbong or Ten Creeks brands on their hides. Mrs 法案, or "Squinty Ellen" of earlier years, had been 後部d in the Three Rivers kitchen, and the pair 扱う／治療するd the old lady as a 明言する／公表する guest and dined with her in a 私的な sitting-room.
It was now two or three years since she had gone to Cootamundra; time and rheumatics were 制限するing her activities. The 外見 for the 橋（渡しをする） was in the family sociable. The coach had had to be abandoned because the box-seat was now too high for the old lady to reach with 慰安. Mr and Mrs Prendergast arrived the clay before with the four-in-手渡す of アイロンをかける-greys, driven at a 動揺させるing bat to 安定した them for the 行列.
The 儀式 was timed for 11.30. About an hour earlier there was a 召集（する） at Three Rivers. The 市長 and Mayoress were to go first, followed by Mortimer, M.P., and his wife, and then Mrs Mazere, decked in new 黒人／ボイコット silk and the adapted Sydney bonnet. Her grandson Philip 解除するd her up beside Prendergast. The seat held three, so Mrs Prendergast had the honour of sitting beside the 広大な／多数の／重要な lady. In the 支援する were Mr and Mrs Philip Mazere and Mr and Mrs Jacob Isaacs and Mrs Rachel Labosseer and Emily. After this （機の）カム Archdeacon Fish and Father O'Halloran, the 銀行業者, the lawyers, other 商売／仕事 and professional people, and 非常に／多数の old 開拓するs.
The 行列 turned upstream to the new 橋（渡しをする）, and those 組み立てる／集結するd 元気づけるd its arrival. Mrs Mazere nodded and smiled under a tricky little parasol in acknowledgment; several 急ぐd to the bit-（犯罪の）一味s while Bert Poole helped his old friend to alight. It was his arm she leant upon to stand with the Member, the 市長, and clergy. It was an honour （許可，名誉などを）与えるd Poole and in sentimental favour since long ago he had been engaged to lovely Emily Mazere, 溺死するd just after her 約束／交戦 to him had been 発表するd. A little Brennan girl （機の）カム 今後 with a bunch of roses. Mrs Mazere took them, kissed the child, and 手渡すd the flowers to her eldest 広大な／多数の／重要な-granddaughter, Marcia, who was lady-in-waiting. The 市長 現在のd the gold scissors and Mrs Mazere 削減（する） the 略章 and 粉砕するd the 瓶／封じ込める of シャンペン酒 with a few baptismal, God-恐れるing words. Poole 解除するd her 支援する to her seat and the hard-banded hoofs of the coachers made 課すing 雷鳴 on the decking of the new structure as まっただ中に 長引かせるd 元気づける they crossed it. Then まっただ中に handshakings and greetings and congratulations to the 祝宴 in the marquee at which Mrs Mazere sat at the 最高の，を越す of the 長，指導者 （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する with the 市長 and Member on either 味方する, and an 交流 in wives on either 味方する of them, and so on.
There were those who 早期に were not so happy as might have been. One was Flash Billy in his strapped trousers and cabbage-tree forgathering の中で his 肉親，親類d on the 郊外s.
"Did yous see ole Poole ridin' the Corroboree colt, an' him actin' as tame as ole Flea Creek with a couple of hundred of salt on him?" 問い合わせd Long Billy, joining him. "It seems he wasn't no 無法者 after all."
"Hell!" said Flash Billy. "You know a terrible lot, don't you?"
"What's the 事柄?"
"Oh, shut your gob, you—. I've bitten me tongue."
"Did yous twig young Aileen and Ronnie with their horses sweatin', an' a long way behind them ole Skinny Guts stuck with Olive and Ider? Ron 削減（する） out the old bloke at Bookaledgeree." This from Tim Porter.
"The reel fun," said Tommy Roper, "was the missus when I come an' told her the boss was stayin' with the Healeys and she had to come on her own."
"An' young Milly," 与える／捧げるd Jerry Riddall. "You should er seen her ridin' up on the Young Whisker filly as simple as if it wuz the ole 損なう. What do yer make o' that, Billy?"
"The —— fillies 'll let women an' lunatics ride 'en every time, that's 井戸／弁護士席 known, ain't it? Ain't you heard ole know-all Mick Muldoon skitin' about it, 爆破 you, 同様に as Mr Eustace Lord Muck the Earl of Blenkinsop?"
"Yes, but Poole an' Corroboree ain't no lunatic nor ole woman neither."
"If you ask me, I think his brain is softenin' an' he is becomin' an ole woman, an' the horse knows it."
"My cripes, I don't know when I've laughed so much," said Tommy Roper. "There was the missus drivin' with ole Dan Spires sittin' up with her like an ole cluckin' 女／おっせかい屋. Good アイロンをかける wingey, she was pleased!"
She certainly had been in Roper's ironic sense. Arrived at the 橋（渡しをする） she sprang straight over the wheel to 表明する her displeasure to her brother.
"I 推定する／予想するd you at Stanton's Plains last night to come with me in the 行列," she said.
"You can 運動 同様に as I can."
"I can 運動 better for that 事柄, but where on earth were you?"
"At Neangen. I sent you word."
"の中で that （人が）群がる! It is foolish to encourage such people. I won't have Milly getting familiar with them. They せねばならない be ashamed of themselves to appear on an occasion like this!"
"広大な／多数の／重要な snakes, it's a public 機能（する）／行事 and the 橋（渡しをする） will be of more use to them than anyone."
"Yes, but it's a Mazere and Stanton and all our （人が）群がる's 事件／事情／状勢, and considering what old Denny Healey did to the Labosseers about Eueurunda I consider—"
Milly interrupted by 急ぐing up to 迎える／歓迎する her mother and to 発表する that the 行列 was coming. Mrs Saunders turned perforce に向かって the 商売／仕事 of the day. 会合 Aileen Healey on the way to the 壇・綱領・公約 she gave her the curtest of nods, which covered Aileen with 混乱 since there had been no coolness during the 召集（する）. Old Larry she 辞退するd to 認める at all, and she 解任するd Milly はっきりと from Julie's embrace. Others besides her brother 公式文書，認めるd these 活動／戦闘s.
The 祝宴 was a tedious 機能（する）／行事 with jellies melting and blowflies attacking the meats. Many of the younger fraternity stole away to flirt and gossip in the shade of the big gums along the river-banks, while the 市長 統括するd flamboyantly and his wife supported him like a sunflower. The more platitudinous, flowery, and distended the speeches the more 高度に were they esteemed as gems of oratory and wit, and the 橋（渡しをする）, 公式に christened in honour of Mortimer who had 安全な・保証するd it, was better known as old Mrs Mazere's.
The old lady was returning to Three Rivers after the 祝宴 to 残り／休憩（する） for the evening 機能（する）／行事. Prendergast's greys stood 暗礁ing at the bits, with eager volunteers 持つ／拘留するing the （犯罪の）一味s. Charlotte, wife of old Mrs Mazere's eldest son, went with her and 説得するd her husband to go too, to be out of the way of the drinking. Young Mazeres or Stantons or Labosseers filled up the 支援する for the ride in the chariot of honour, and because one place is as good as and occasionally better than another to the infatuated. Beside her mother went Mrs Rachel Labosseer of Coolooluk, Mrs Mazere's 未亡人d daughter. It was against her husband that the Healeys had 雇うd 模造のs to 得る Eueurunda, the Monaro 駅／配置する on which the Healeys never throve.
On the contrary, Mrs Labosseer had since 栄えるd and was honoured second only to her mother. Now a handsome woman in the fifties, she was surrounded by sons that were paragons and daughters that were accounted perfect. Her （犯罪の）一味ing laugh could be heard as Poole 補助装置d her into the sociable and said something about engaging her for a polka at the ball.
"Oh, Uncle Herbert, did mamma ever dance?" exclaimed Emily in surprise. All of the Mazere 一族／派閥 called Poole uncle because of his 約束／交戦 to their beautiful Aunt Emily.
"Your mamma could dance better than any girl I know when she was your age. She once gave me lessons."
"Mamma, you never let us dance at all! I thought you did not believe in it."
"Because I did 確かな things when I was young and wicked is no 推論する／理由 I should countenance wickedness now," said mamma, with the finality which distinguished all her pronouncements on 事柄s of 行為／行う for her family.
The volunteers let go, the greys bounded away; no one 行方不明になるd the 罰金 sweep of them up the approach to the 橋（渡しをする） and as they lilted 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 辛勝する／優位 of Stanton's Plains by the way they had come.
"Ah," said Terence M'Haffety, who had a 目だつ place in the 出発. "Sure, they're all roight in their way, but the bist Oi iver saw was ould Poole, the dad of Bert here, swhinging five bays up through the town there, ivery 病弱な of thim on their hoind 脚s, an' his missus with a baby in her 武器 sittin' there unconscious as if 'twas a perambulathor! There was a man for ye!"
"You should not have について言及するd that," said Isaacs, 製図／抽選 him aside. "That was the time old Poole （機の）カム to the twenty-first birthday ball of Emily, and she was drownded just after."
"Maybe Oi shouldn't have, Jacob. Poor ould Mrs Mazere, gettin' very whoite. The last of the rale ould 病弱なs left. Not another of the 初めのs left of the first whoites on the Yarrabongo. All the ould Saunderses and Stantons and Brennans with their wives in the cimitery this sivin years or more. Sure, whin the ould lady is gone, Jacob, it's me and you next."
*
"This makes me feel young again, William," 発言／述べるd Mrs Mazere, when the horses had settled 負かす／撃墜する on the level plains. She had enjoyed the 遠出 and 歓迎会. "It reminds me of the days I used to go riding over the mountains to Monaro and thought nothing of it."
"You must come with me to Gundagai one of these days. It is too long since you （機の）カム our way."
"I 推定する／予想する I shall not take many more runs till I go to 残り／休憩（する） beside Papa in the hollow," she 発言／述べるd, but not gloomily. "If the Lord spares you to my age, William, you'll know that it is a lonely 条件—not one left of my own age for me to talk to about the things we knew."
"I never thought of that before, Mrs Mazere. It will be dashed lonely for some of us to be without you when the time comes. Now ain't those leaders pearls!" he 観察するd to コースを変える her. "I'd like to be 運動ing them for a wedding couple, the next best thing after this here today."
"There will be plenty of weddings about presently, with so many young people. I cannot remember who they all are...I'd like you to 運動 me at my funeral, William," she 追加するd.
"井戸／弁護士席, I'll be blowed, Mrs Mazere, for you to think of such a dull thing on this happy day! You're good for another ten or twenty years yet, I'm hanged if you're not! You'll very likely be at my funeral first."
"And I hope everyone will come to my funeral—all the women and girls 同様に as the men, and say a last good-bye to me. I have known so many of them since they were born, since before they were born, so to speak, and I pray to 会合，会う them hereafter."
She had 主張するd upon …に出席するing Emily's funeral long ago against the usual custom for women, and all her women friends had supported her on that 悲劇の occasion. She had continued the practice of seeing all her friends to the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な. In the 事例／患者 of old Tim Brennan of The Gap, and one or two others, Prendergast 解任するd that she had been the only member of her sex to 支払う／賃金 the 出発／死d this last 儀礼.
On sped the greys, nodding their crested 長，率いるs in the annoyance of the 飛行機で行くs, pulling their 重荷（を負わせる） gaily between the river singing the G minor Ballade over its 広大な／多数の／重要な 玉石s and the fields of dark-green maize that stretched away to yellowing grasses that carpeted the 山のふもとの丘s of the undenuded mountains where the Gap known as Brennan's let the Wamgambril through.
"If you 運動 me on my last 旅行, William," 追求するd the old lady, "I'd like to be driven like this, and not that dismal creeping pace of funerals."
"権利 you are, Mrs Mazere. It shall be as you wish: Mrs Labosseer can be 証言，証人／目撃する. But I hope I'll be too old to 扱う the 略章s by that time."
*
No thought of their end entered the thoughts of others. Poole 長，率いるd a 委員会 to arrange impromptu sports. 特に enjoyable were these to the rising 世代, and the half-栄冠を与えるs they won seemed better prizes and 本体，大部分／ばら積みのd larger than many later honours.
The day was as 十分な of youthful zest and notoriety to Milly as it was of 熟した honour and homage to 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma Mazere. Her pony was the wonder of all 借りがあるing to the tricks taught her by Flash Billy. Mr Mortimer asked for a special 展示 and Milly made Romp ひさまづく while she 機動力のある, and 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する and pretend to be dead, and jump a bush held up in 十分な 見解（をとる） of Archdeacon Fish and Father O'Halloran and the 組み立てる／集結するd squattocracy.
Another 著名な was Dot Saunders, Milly's cousin, the 主要な amateur equestrienne of the 地区 and a belle who had more admirers than she could use. Riding at one of the up-country shows last autumn, the 知事, himself a かなりの 人物／姿／数字 a cheval, had been so delighted with her horsemanship that he asked her to ride at the Sydney Show. This she had done at 復活祭, carrying off everything she entered for. She, too, was requested to give an 展示. 障害物s were placed and she entertained the beholders by her own grace and 技術 同様に as that of her famous horse, the Princess. She was active and efficient, with 手渡すs strong and 静かな, and was good to see in her tight-fitting habit, and her yellow plaits showing under her billycock hat. She had them all dithering because of her vitality, and above all for the egg-boiler cast of her waist, which in those days was equal to a dowry to a maiden in the marriage 円形競技場.
With all the 賞賛 Dot was receiving she saw hardly anything of Ronald Dice, the only young man 現在の who attracted her. He and Jack Stanton were ますます infatuated with Aileen Healey, and making for her the most exciting and successful day she had so far experienced. The Dice girls also had a pleasant day squired 断続的に by Poole. There was a 冒険的な chance that he still could be 逮捕（する）d, an idea その上のd by the 慰安 of his manner.
Dot was a doer, not a dreamer. When SP-over-J 安全な・保証するd Aileen's attention she 示唆するd to Ronald, "What about us riding in the pairs at the next show in Bool Bool, and at Gundagai too?"
"It would have been ripping, Dot," replied Ronald. "Only I have just 直す／買収する，八百長をするd up with 行方不明になる Healey."
"I didn't know she could ride." There was in that locality a 湾 between those who could travel on horseback and those who could disport themselves over 障害物s.
"She can do 井戸／弁護士席 enough for the pairs," said Ronald with that instinct for escaping 論争 that made him popular. "I didn't dream of looking so high as you, Dot."
"Have you got a horse for 行方不明になる Healey?"
"Good enough for the pairs."
"I せねばならない lend her Susan Nipper, only she takes riding," said Dot to cover her 失望, and moved away 持つ／拘留するing her new-fashioned habit smartly 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her. So daring an 革新 called out 観察s rooted in 賞賛 and envy. It fitted like a snake-肌 to the waist, and as a special feature was destitute of gathers to disguise her 支援する contour, and that was daring for Dot's １０年間.
She walked straight over to Herbert Poole. "Mr Poole, will you ride in the pairs with me at the show?"
"I should think that grey of Ronald's would pair better with your Princess than anything I've got."
"I've asked him, but he's already 直す／買収する，八百長をするd up with Aileen Healey." There was a wistful, tired look in the 有望な sunburnt 直面する, and Poole with his unfailing 親切 said, "All 権利, Dot, if you want me to."
Ronald Dice had a word with Aileen at the earliest 適切な時期. "I want you to ride with me in the pairs at the show. Don't say no, for I've already said we are going to."
"Oh, Ronnie, how wonderful! However did you think of it! I don't believe I can ride 井戸／弁護士席 enough."
"Oh yes you can."
"Perhaps Pa won't let me."
"He'll have to. Dot Saunders is always riding at the shows and she's no end of a swell."
"Yes, but the 知事 has 賞賛するd her, and had her at 政府 House."
"井戸／弁護士席, we'll take it as settled for a start anyhow, and tell anyone who asks you for a dance tonight that you are already engaged."
"Oh, Ronnie, how heavenly!" she breathed, her 注目する，もくろむs like 星／主役にするs.
The ball was held in the hall at the 農業の Show grounds, and a number of the oldest 植民／開拓者s, 長，率いるd by the 市長 and Mayoress, the Member and Memberess, the two clergy and their one spouse, were waiting to welcome old Mrs Mazere when she was driven up in another 黒人／ボイコット silk dress and a shawl from India, and, instead of the day bonnet, an expensive 未亡人's cap of 類似の origin and modifications. Terence M'Haffety was proud in his office. He was a man of money and consequence in the town, his wife his able partner, and it had been long since forgotten that one had 罪人／有罪を宣告する beginnings and the other was supposed to have been born in the "女性（の） Factory" at Parramatta.
Mrs Mazere was 打ち勝つ by the 贈呈 of a long gold chain, and an illuminated 演説（する）／住所 調印するd by the 主要な townsmen, setting 前へ／外へ the esteem in which she was held, and wishing her many more happy returns of the day. She had difficulty in controlling her 発言する／表明する but her emotion was 溺死するd in 元気づけるs of 好意／親善. Then followed the 開始 of the ball by a grand march 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the hall to the music of an 輸入するd 禁止（する）d, the gift of M'Haffety for the occasion. Mrs Mazere walked with the Member, the 市長 walked with the Memberess, the Mayoress walked with Archdeacon Fish, and Father O'Halloran walked with Mrs Fish, and so on 負かす／撃墜する to a tail of beaux and belles for whose delectation balls are really 組織するd. The grand march ended, the old lady returned to her home, whither she was taken by the men who 追い出すd the horses and drew her 関わりなく dust and perspiration.
The entertainment 進歩d with a dance or two of honour in which the distinguished 訪問者s and 年上のs joined with cackle and 繁栄する and then retired comfortably to the rooms improvised in the wings of the Hall while youthful enjoyment continued unconfined. The oldsters played cards in their nook, and the real oldsters of all talked intimately of the old days and speculatively of the 未来. の中で those taking part were Jacob and Rebecca Isaacs, the first storekeepers of the town. There were 厚板s of human 演劇 acutely 利益／興味ing to Rebecca.
"Sure, Oi saw with me own 注目する，もくろむs Mrs Lucy Saunders walk sniffily past the gurrul, Aileen, and give the 削減（する） direct to ould Larry," whispered the 市長.
"And 権利, too!" said Browning the carpenter, now of 相当な 広い地所, retired, and an alderman. "Think of the dirty trick the Healeys played on the Labosseers."
"But what has that got to do with the Stantons?" 発言／述べるd Isaacs.
"They bein' all 関係のある 支援する and 前へ／外へ, and hangin' together."
"Aw, it can't be that," 固執するd Isaacs. "Tommy Roper, the little feller with the prize jumpers, was in the 蓄える／店 the other day an' tellin' me as how Aileen and her brother was at Ten Creeks for the 召集（する）, so why should Lucy Saunders give them the go-by now? If we went about giving the go-by because of what some other family did to our friends some time there'd be no 商売／仕事 done at all."
"Sure, Oi'm tellin' ye Oi saw it."
"But Mrs Labosseer herself spoke to old Larry, I seen her, an' asked how old Denny was. I listened, because I was goin' to ask, myself."
"And old Mrs Mazere shook 手渡すs with him the same as all the others," 証言するd Browning.
"Och, now ye've said it!" exclaimed the 市長. "But there niver was annyone to ayqual the rale ould Mazeres of Three Rivers. All these others stickin' on a bit av soide is upstarts. These Saunders is not half the 産む／飼育する of the ould Mazeres, and that Lucy, the 未亡人 of Saunders, can 行為／法令／行動する loike a mad dog with stinkin' proide if annyone attimpts to speak to her that she thinks isn't good enough. Sure, hasn't she 行為／法令／行動するd that way to me! But ould Mrs Mazere was niver loike that. Av coorse she'd speak to Healey, or if it was a condimned man she'd speak to him too, just as natural. The rare lady is the rale Christian, you can know it by that."
"The missus says the trouble is that old Jack Stanton is struck on the girl Aileen, and you know my missus can always be depended on for the straight tip."
"My 誓い, she can that!" said Browning.
"Sure, Lucy Saunders doesn't loike the 産む／飼育する, an' it would put her nose out of jint その上. The Healey gurrul won't get anny 援助 there. Sure, now whin Oi think of it, didn't ould Skinny come with the Healeys, an' Lucy drivin' the four-in-手渡す herself. Phwat the divul...Sure, Jacob, things must have gone pretty far without you havin' the cognizance."
"The cognizance was all 権利, but things have been as suddent as greased 雷. It's Lucy who hasn't seen it coming, an' now it is too late to stop it, is the opinion of my old woman."
"Begor', ye moight 同様に try to stop a snowball meltin' in hell whin an ould feller that hasn't been afther the gurruls for years gets it into his 長，率いる to want 病弱な. Croipes, wouldn't it be a 解除する to ould Larry!"
"As good as a play," agreed Browning, who had risen to watch the ダンサーs. "Old Skinny is dancing with the Healey piece now this minute, and Ronald Dice is sitting out with Dot Saunders, and Lucy is layin' 負かす／撃墜する the 法律 to Poole. She's had her hooks in there long enough and nothing ever （機の）カム of it."
"Sure, nothing ever will. He keeps himself natural, 存在 koind to all the little gurruls and the children. Sure, that little 病弱な of Lucy Saunders has more chanct with him than anny of the grownups. An' wasn't she a noice little thing with that pony, loike a circus! She's betther than her ma. Sure, a 事例／患者 in pint with what Oi've been sayin', did ye see ould Mrs Mazere with ould 法案 Prendergast? For all he's a successful man now, and a マリファナ on him loike a 損なう in foal, sure, don't we remimber him for iver in ould Mazere's kitchen after Squinty Ellen, his woife. And didn't the ould lady rare her by 手渡す so to speak, in her own thrue 宗教, an' she frinds now with thim without lowerin' herself or thim, an' 非，不，無 of these 空気／公表するs of excloosiveness like the Saunders and Stantons—thinkin' it roises thimselves to keep others 負かす／撃墜する."
Surely His Worship must have heard that Lucy Saunders said it was a 不名誉 to Bool Bool to have an ex-ticket-of-leave as 市長.
"Bert Poole is dancing with the little Saunders girl, and Aileen Healey and Ron Dice have got together at last," 報告（する）／憶測d Isaacs in his turn. "And they look made for each other, I will say that, and she lookin' up at him as if she was swimming in 楽園. It's a curious thing, this 存在 in love."
A game ended, the 市長 joined the proprietor of the 王室の Drapery 市場. A 集まり of young people in ball finery were disporting themselves to the music of the 市長's 禁止（する）d. The 始めるd could 選ぶ out dozens of the third 世代 of Mazeres, Stan-トンs, Saunderses, and Brennans, the 初めの 開拓するs. Then there were the later comers and the townspeople proper—the daughters of the 銀行業者, lawyer, and clergyman, and also the tradespeople, this 存在 a public ball. There were, too, the Riverina 無断占拠者s and their families in the 地区 for the summer. の中で them were a few 著名な for their beauty or other public 質s. 目だつ was Herbert Poole, J.P., youthful-looking for the late fifties, 繁栄する, popular, a 人物／姿／数字 of romance.
"Isn't it a pity," 観察するd Mrs Isaacs to the Mayoress, where these two looked on from another doorway, "that he doesn't marry—him so fond of children. Look at him now with little Milly, laughing and enjoying himself as much as if she was the belle."
"Sure, Rebecca, do you think there's anny thruth in Milly's mother makin' up to him?"
"She'll never catch him. She's too bossy. She せねばならない take ole Mr Blenkinsop. He'd be one of those 半導体素子-in-porridge ole men that would just fit in with her tigrinizing. He'd be a nice figurehead, an' it's ぎこちない for a woman without some sort of a man. Don't the ole bird look nice tonight?"
"Sure, he's loike the 知事! How do ye suppose it is that his woife cannot 耐える him and sint him out here; he seems as meek as a lamb."
"A man may be a lamb, but there's many things to be considered in a husband that wouldn't 事柄 in a lawyer or a gardener."
Mr Eustace Blenkinsop was the beau of the ball, 存在 the wearer of a perfect dress 控訴, a uniform rare の中で the men. To Mr Blenkinsop's mind and education it was 不可欠の, and he had the art, ingrained through 世代s, of wearing it without offence in any society. He was a remittance-man, one of those amiable ditherers of whom it is said, "He's no one's enemy but his own." His perfect manners were only equalled by his perfect uselessness, and there was no 激烈な／緊急の alcoholism to account for it. It was 単に his しつけ. As an eldest son in the land of primogeniture he might have been 雇うd as a figurehead in the 支配する of the cliques over the classes; but a younger son of an indigent 支店 he was 簡単に one of the unbelievable paradoxes 輸出（する）d by England to the 植民地s. He was no Gussie—also at that date 輸出（する）d in such numbers as to 示す that the English system of 産む／飼育するing gentlemen must either have had poor 構成要素 to work upon or be most inefficient to produce so many "culls" patronizing the "beastly 植民地s" and 嘆き悲しむing the life of Australia as 激しく as their families 嘆き悲しむd them. Mr Blenkinsop enjoyed Australian life. He was the perfection of kindly content, never 有罪の of 不快な／攻撃 comparisons, and able to 会合，会う members of his own 始める，決めるs, did any appear, with the same unembarrassed grace with which he associated with the Stantons and M'Haffetys, the Mazeres, or Mick Muldoon, or Teddy O'Mara. His allowance, 定期的に remitted and …を伴ってd by affectionate letters, was spent on 着せる／賦与するs, 儀礼s, タバコ, and 定期刊行物s. He never needed to 支払う／賃金 for board where every door was open to him and where he never 疑問d his welcome. He was an ornament wherever he appeared—a lily of the field—so enamoured of good manners and a 穏やかな disposition is humanity at large. Many had coveted him as a 教える and Mrs Saunders had 得点する／非難する／２０d in having 説得するd him to superintend Milly.
He was, as Mrs Isaacs spoke, 主要な Mrs Lucy Saunders upon the 床に打ち倒す. He could dance as agreeably as he could take a 手渡す at cards, or chess, or billiards, or 供給（する） a classical quotation.
"In the 指名する of all that's sinsible, can ye 示唆する either 病弱な of ye whoi ould Mr Blenkinsop is not at home with his family instid of everlastin' phrowlin' about from 病弱な house to another out here, him such a nice ould gent?" 需要・要求するd the 市長. "Sure, look at him now, as gintlemanly as a proize rooster with the hins!"
"Who do you think is the belle?" 問い合わせd Mrs Isaacs.
"Sure, there's 非，不，無 can hould a candle to Dot Saunders. Look at that yaller hair of her with the pink rose in it, and she's tall, and わずかな／ほっそりした in the middle without too much squazin', an' haughty enough to make people keep their distance without bein' disagreeable."
"井戸／弁護士席, now, I was just thinkin' she seems to have her nose a little out of 共同の tonight. That dress she wore to the 政府 House ball last 復活祭 is a bit too 罰金 with that 広大な／多数の／重要な train like a princess, and she's beginning to look old. She must be twenty-seven last birthday." Mrs Isaacs did a computation 設立するd on her own grandchildren and 確認するd this. "I was thinkin' Aileen Healey is putting her in the shade. Aileen is a real little beauty, and her dress, for all she made it herself, makes her look girlish and 甘い with the flowers 一連の会議、交渉／完成する that 深い V and the waist straight 一連の会議、交渉／完成する instead of 頂点（に達する）d, and no train."
"Ah, but the Healeys 港／避難所't got the standing of the Saunderses."
"But if a girl has the beauty and the men run after her, the women of standing can't do much against her. Look at Aileen now, doesn't she fit in with old Mr Blenkinsop and his swallowtail and nice manners?"
It was true that few of the women could equal the girl and 非，不，無 could excel her. There was a slimness, a dainty windblown 質 in her prettiness, that gave it the distinction of beauty, and she had the その上の 控訴，上告 of gentleness. She was of medium 高さ and her waist had the delicacy of Alexandra's or of the 統治するing 副／悪徳行為-reine's. She had 自然に wavy chestnut hair, a little oval 直面する with soft Irish 注目する，もくろむs of changing colour under emotion, and her 長，率いる was 始める，決める upon her わずかな／ほっそりした flat shoulders with the grace of a flower on its 茎・取り除く. Also flowerlike was her taste in dress, and she had the 技術 to 遂行する／発効させる it.
Mr Blenkinsop in requesting the 楽しみ 保証するd her that she made him feel young again, so like was she to the beautiful 行方不明になる Severn of Budleigh Salterton whose beauty afterwards 逮捕（する）d young Lord Osgood, 相続人 to the marquisate of Salterton. "Ah me, my dear, I wish I were 相続人 to a marquisate, and young again, and there is no 疑問 that I should be 類似して 逮捕（する）d—all over again," he said, the kindly gallantry bringing a blush to Aileen's cheek.
"Aileen Healey is a real beauty," 観察するd Mrs Raymond Poole (née Mazere), wife of Bert Poole's young half-brother, who lived in Sydney. Rhoda was home for her mother's birthday and the 橋（渡しをする） 儀式.
"It's a cheap sort of prettiness, though," said Lucy Saunders.
"No. I was going to say, that's just what it isn't. She reminds me of Lady Carrington and other English ladies I 会合，会う at 政府 House. It's a pity she's not of better 在庫／株. The way Ronnie Dice looks at her it seems as if we might have her in the family. It's a pity when a girl as lovely as that has no family ballast—it leaves her a prey to all the men."
"More likely it leaves our families a prey to her until she catches someone. I wish Ronnie would be successful. After all, he's only a second cousin to you, and it would save me from something nearer."
"Tell me, is it really true about Jack? I didn't give it any credence. They've been marrying him and Bert Poole to every barmaid and 未亡人 since the time of poor dear Emily and Mary."
"True! He seems to have gone suddenly off his 長，率いる. Come till I tell you. It looks like senility to me."
"Oh, he's not old enough for that!"
They moved off to 信用／信任s out of 審理，公聴会.
*
"Uncle Bert, do you know what I heard someone say?" 問い合わせd Milly as Poole was swinging her by the 手渡すs in a 始める，決める.
"Couldn't guess. You tell me."
"井戸／弁護士席, it's rather 私的な. I think we shall have to go outside like the grown-ups." Poole 抑えるd too much of a chuckle and smiled indulgently 負かす／撃墜する upon her as he led her outside in やめる the style of amorous pairs.
"I heard Mrs Isaacs 説 that Mother is trying to marry you. It isn't true, is it?"
"You might hear a lot that isn't true if you listen to gossip. It's best to let such things go in one ear and out the other."
"Of course I know that, Uncle Bert, about people that don't 事柄, but you are different. You are not trying to put me off now, are you, because you think I am a child? Mother is not going to marry you, is she?"
"This is the first I have heard of it." As Milly still looked at him questioningly he 安心させるd her, "No, Milly, it is not true."
"I am glad of that," said the little girl with a loud sigh of 救済.
"You don't mean to say you'd 反対する to me, do you?" Amusement twinkled in his （疑いを）晴らす brown 注目する，もくろむs.
"Oh no, of course I don't 反対する to you, but I don't think Mother could make you happy." Milly spoke with 深い 真面目さ. She had lately taken to reading romances of the Ladies' 定期刊行物 type.
"Dear me, how's that?"
"I don't think she has the 権利 temperament to make you happy," 繰り返し言うd Milly out of the 蓄える／店 of her imbibings, and 追加するd spontaneously, "I don't think she's nice enough."
"Dear me, what a pity for all our sakes."
"Now, Uncle Bert, you are laughing at me, and we had a compact"—Milly loved the word—"that we were never to laugh at each other when we were dead-serious."
"All 権利. I'll わびる and be 二塁打 dead-serious. What are we to do about it?"
"I had made up my mind to marry you myself when I'm old enough, if you will wait."
"I've waited so long that a little more won't 事柄 one way or the other; but don't you think I'd be rather long in the tooth?"
"Not if you stay just as you are till I am eighteen. I might hurry it on to seventeen if you got impatient."
"The difficulty is that time won't wait for me, and nothing can be done about it." Recollection played 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the succession of young things that had tried for his favour, and those other instances in which he had wished to marry and 運命／宿命 or favour had failed him. He remembered also the lamps of 招待 lit for him in the 注目する，もくろむs of older women. Now here was his little playmate with imitative prattle talking of marrying him. There had been many such, now fecund matrons, delighted when their day had come to receive his generous 現在の and kindly raillery regarding desertion of himself. Milly was a quaint old-fashioned little woman in many ways, but her chatter vouched for her innocence, though it would not be so long before some young chap （人命などを）奪う，主張するd her too, and only a thunderingly decent chap would be 権利 for Milly.
"井戸／弁護士席, Milly, this is 広大な／多数の／重要な. Just what I have 手配中の，お尋ね者. But I think it had better be a secret 約束／交戦, then if you change your mind it won't make such a fool of me."
"Oh yes, it must be a tight secret—a compact—between you and me. If that Julie knew she would be jealous, and besides, she's dead in love with Ronald."
"All 権利, that's settled. I should make a point never to take any notice of what you hear anyone 説. It 作品 out this way. If someone says a foolish thing it is no 害（を与える） unless it is repeated. It is the repeating person who is dangerous."
"Yes, I see, Uncle Bert."
"井戸／弁護士席, now, we had better go in, as another good thing is never to make talk by staying out too long with any partner." Poole laughed gleefully as Milly squeezed his 手渡す and left him inside the doorway.
一方／合間 other lips had said, "Oh, Ronnie, isn't this a divine waltz? I wish I could go on waltzing with you for ever."
"Come out!" glowed Ronald as they approached one of the yawning 開始s and he whirled the slender 産する／生じるing form into the dark velvet of the moonless summer night.
Wherever they turned, other couples 類似して 影響する／感情d were before them, or else they were in danger of the 熱心な 観察 of 境界-riders or horse-breakers or hotel slushier. They sped through the long 乾燥した，日照りの summer grasses, 十分な of seeds and burrs, to the far 味方する of the grounds where the roses nodded their 長，率いるs over the paling 盗品故買者 of what had lately been old Mrs Dr James's domain. Here was 避難 for a while, but, 乱すd by the murmur of approaching 発言する／表明するs, Ronnie tore 負かす／撃墜する some of the palings with his 手渡すs and 解除するd his partner through to 捜し出す the 跡をつける where the Yarrabongo fell 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a bend in a song that charmed the night.
Their emotions were beyond words. They 洪水d into the 熱烈な caresses of first love, an ecstasy approaching 苦しむing. When breathing necessitated a pause, Ronald could only gasp, "Aileen! Aileen!" and 鎮圧するing her to him began again, da capo, da capo.
"We can't go 支援する after this, darling. You must marry me, now, soon!"
"Oh, I will, Ronnie. I will! Just as soon as you want me to. I'd die at the thought of anyone else after this."
They sat upon a fallen tree. It was rough for the 壊れやすい ball drapery, so he gathered her の上に his 膝s. A mosquito stung him and he pulled off his coat and wrapped it 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his love.
"Good night, mate!" said some inquisitive strollers. Dice kept still and they passed on with an 侮辱ing chuckle and an obscene 観察 spoiling the beauty of emotion for the two in Eden.
"It's that horrid flash Billy 屈服するs, isn't it? Oh, Ronnie, do you think they knew who we were?"
"It's 非，不，無 of their 商売／仕事 if they did. Flash Billy is going to find his market value going 負かす／撃墜する with a bump, if I'm any prophet."
"But, Ronnie, supposing Pa 設立する out that we had come away out here like this all alone, he'd kill me."
"It doesn't 事柄 what he'd do. You belong to me now. Oh, darling, I love you so, I feel as if I would 窒息させる."
"I love you, too, but don't you think we'd better go 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス now?"
"I don't feel like going 支援する to that heat and dust."
"But Ronnie darling, we can't stay out here. Think how it would look. Pa would have a search party after me in no time. We've been away much too long already.'
"It will be all 権利 when we tell him we are engaged."
"Pa is so terribly strict with us. I'd rather go 支援する to the hall now."
"Let us run away and get married tomorrow."
"But where would we live? Pa wouldn't let us live at Neangen."
Ronald was only 経営者／支配人 for his mother at Bookaledgeree, things were not 繁栄する and his whole family 反対するd to the Healeys. Ida had ridden up to Neangen with him and Aileen expressly at her mother's 命令（する） so that Ronald should not be 妥協d.
Two more strollers passed and asked for a match, trying to discern the 身元 of the lovers. When they went on Aileen raised herself from Ronald's embrace in panic. "That's Larry. I bet you Pa is 激怒（する）ing and Ma sent him to find me."
"I 示唆する I take you to 広大な／多数の／重要な-aunt Mazere. You can stay at Three Rivers without any 恐れる of スキャンダル."
"We couldn't wake the old lady up at this hour, and your cousin Charlotte is here with the girls."
Aily was 急いでing に向かって the hall and Ronald had to keep up with her, the bliss of amorous catalepsy 分散させるd by the imminence of parental 対立.
"Wait! Wait, darling! Don't run like that as if I had been 殺人ing you. Let us go together and 勇敢に立ち向かう it out. You are your own mistress."
The girl 安定したd her fawnlike flight and 恐れるs. They 回復するd the neighbourhood of the hall. Ronald lit a buggy-lamp and enabled Aileen to 解放する／自由な herself of some of the grass-seeds. She slipped into the 洗面所-room to 配列し直す her tresses while Ronald entered the main 開始 and sought partners. Dot Saunders was just 存在 led out by Larry Healey, jun. She had waited in vain for Ronald and was not enjoying the ball. Ronald looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する for a partner. Milly 麻薬を吸うd in his ear, "Why don't you ask me?"
The youngster should have been in bed if rightly 後部d, but Ronald blessed her 介入, looking over her 長，率いる to see Aileen enter. All 証拠 of her 最近の walk 除去するd, she （機の）カム in with a Brennan girl and carefully steered away from her Parents. This took her に向かって Mr Blenkinsop, who 迎える／歓迎するd her with a courtly inclination. Aileen chatted with him about the heat and the pity of the 床に打ち倒す 存在 so uneven and dusty, as thankful to him as Ronald was to Milly. While this was happening SP-over-J requested the 楽しみ, and Aileen tripped away on his arm so distrait that she could distinguish no 直面するs in the 鎮圧する but Ronald and Milly's. The others were unsettled like 直面するs returning to one who has been unconscious.
After one turn of the SP-over-J made some suggestion, which Aileen 受託するd without knowing what he said, and was presently conscious of 存在 led in the direction from which she had just returned with Ronald. SP-over-J did not 涙／ほころび 負かす／撃墜する palings nor ramp about 集会 grass-seeds and 危険ing snakebite. He helped Aileen to the 支援する seat of the Mazere sociable and climbed in after her.
Larry, jun., a little later 報告（する）／憶測d to his stepmother that he had not been able to find Aily. "It's all 権利," said that lady. "She's just gone outside with Mr Stanton."
"Aileen," said that gentleman, putting his arm about her, "perhaps you can guess what I want to say. I know there is some 不平等 in our ages, but your 肉親，親類d words to me from time to time have led me to understand that that makes no difference to you."
Without intentional defection on her part, the last person talking to Aileen would always feel that his words carried greatest 負わせる, and he the happiest favour. It is a characteristic of the world's charmers, male or 女性（の）, but for success they must also be endowed with the ability to 妨げる their 同意／服従 伴う／関わるing them.
"Oh no," said Aileen helplessly. "Indeed you are not old at all, Mr Stanton."
"You must learn to say Jack."
"Of course, Mr Stanton, if you wish it." Aileen's dazed mind was subconsciously taking its hesitant course—anything for peace.
"井戸／弁護士席, Aileen, as I was 説," he drew the seductive form closer, unaware of its spontaneous 縮むing.
"Oh, if you please, Mr Stanton, it is such a hot night," she murmured. Innate amiability made direct rebuff impossible and disguised her 反対 to his embrace.
"Yes, it is a hot night—bit 蒸し暑い, like a 雷雨. As I was 説—in fact there is no need for me to say anything more; you understand, don't you?"
"Oh yes, please don't say anything. I understand, Mr Stanton."
"Mr Stanton!"
"容赦 me, I mean Jack."
"井戸／弁護士席, then, I am a 攻撃する，衝突する older, but that I hope will make me all the more sensible. I'll understand better how to make you comfortable than a flighty young fellow. I can give you anything within 推論する／理由..."
Here there was an interruption in the approach of two hereditary occupants of the Mazere 乗り物, in the persons of Marcia and Amy, 一族／派閥 cousins in the throes of youthful infatuation. 'They heard the 保証／確信 of Uncle Jack—he was uncle to one of them—about making someone more comfortable than a young fellow would be able to. This was hilarious to the two 有望な 行方不明になるs. They should not have been "out" either only that it was 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma's big day, and discipline relaxed for the historic occasion. The girls contumaciously went 近づく to the carriage to ascertain the second in this fascinating duet.
"Oh, Mr Stanton, someone is coming," breathed the startled Aileen as the adventuresses scampered away convulsed by the 願望（する）d （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状）.
Dice was standing outside the 入り口 pondering which way to go in search of Aileen when the tittering girls ran に向かって him. "Oh, I say, Cousin Ronnie, such a lark! I'm sure you'll never guess." Communication 創立者d in 強風s of adolescent giggles. "We went over to the sociable for something and—"
"I know what you 設立する," interposed Milly. "You needn't make such a fuss."
"井戸／弁護士席, smarty, what did we find?"
"Uncle Jack and Aileen. Pooh, that's nothing! Everyone knows all about that. Aileen was on a visit to Ten Creeks, and then I've been up at Neangen with Uncle Bert and Uncle Jack." Her superior トン put the other girls on their mettle.
"You don't know what he was 説," giggled Amy.
"Neither do you. You are only pretending to be smart."
"We're not." They giggled together consumedly. "I never 耐えるd anything so funny in my life. I thought we should have died when he said he was ever so much better than a young man, and Aileen said of course he was."
"Oh he is, is he?" said Dice alarmingly. "Where is the sociable? I must go and see or the old Death Adder might sting her."
"Over there behind the sheep-pens," said Amy, alarmed. Ronald strode away like the strong man in melodrama.
"You're nice ones. I'd be ashamed to be you. What anyone says does not 事柄 at all; it's those who go 一連の会議、交渉／完成する repeating things who are a menace to society." Milly was pleased with the 罰金 （犯罪の）一味 of this. Her button of a nose in the 空気／公表する, she continued, "Uncle Bert is the one to を取り引きする this."
"We'd better make ourselves 不十分な," said Marcia to Amy, the enjoyment of their "scoop" 廃虚d.
"Do you think we had better poke our noses in other people's 事件／事情／状勢s? It's not a nice thing to do, and 一般に not wise," said Uncle Bert when the 状況／情勢 was 明らかにする／漏らすd to him.
"Oh, but there was 殺人 in Ronald's 注目する，もくろむ. You would be 十分な of 悔いるs if anything happened," said Milly in her novelette vocabulary. "Often we must sacrifice ourselves for 義務."
Uncle Bert smiled under his moustache. "Suppose we whack the difference? We can go in that direction and keep out of the way unless we are 猛烈に needed."
There was nothing more monumental in Ronald's 注目する，もくろむ than jealousy and a 決意 to 難破させる his 競争相手's 計画（する）s. He was astounded by Aileen's behaviour. What was she doing in the sociable with the old Death Adder すぐに after becoming engaged to himself? She could surely see what had been coming. Tender thoughts 介入するd. "Poor little Aileen, too gentle and innocent to be a match for old Skinny Stanton!"
The girls had brought Aileen to her senses. "Oh please, Mr Stanton, take me straight 支援する to Ma. I couldn't think of..." She 妨げるd, unable to utter, "Loving or marrying you." He might say he had not について言及するd marriage, and what a fool she would look!
They were out of the 乗り物 when Dice approached. "Aileen, where are you? This is my dance," he said in an 権威のある トン, the 条約s operating now that he and Stanton were 直面する to 直面する.
"You will be glad to let Aileen off your dance when I tell you..."
"Oh no, no!" said Aileen 猛烈に. "There is a mistake. I must keep my 約束 to dance."
"Very 井戸／弁護士席, then," said Stanton 友好的に. "I'll see you after." The young people went off together but not to dance. Stanton approached Milly and Poole.
"Devilish hot, isn't it?" 発言／述べるd Poole. "Outside is much the pleasantest place only for the スキート射撃s and grass-seeds." Stanton walked に向かって the hall with Poole. Milly slipped her 手渡す into Uncle Bert's in acknowledgment of the momentous 企業 for the public peace they were engaged upon.
Ronald 設立する Aileen rather scatter-witted. "What were you doing with that old Death Adder in the family coach? What was he trying to stutter for himself?"
"Oh, Ronnie, I don't know. I was so upset. I wish we could go away together and not see anyone." Aileen sounded tearful. She was such an adorable little creature in that 明言する／公表する that Ronald was 減ずるd to ditheration and strolled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the outside of the hall 持つ／拘留するing her comfortingly and kissing her 手渡すs and thus affording delectable 証拠 to the newsmongers.
Stanton shook off Poole and Milly, and went straight to old Larry Healey and drew him aside. This was 平易な, for Larry had been on the qui vive for a trump call all the evening.
"Ah, ah, ahem!" began the 見込みのある bridegroom. "I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to tell you, that is, I didn't want to leave it to Aileen to tell you, but Aileen and I have come to an understanding by which I am a happy man, and I hope Aileen will be happy too. This is no place to say any more, but I'll take a turn up to Neangen tomorrow night or the next day. You'll be home and 回復するd from the 祝賀s by then."
"Sure, we will, and pleased to see you. I hope that you and my little Aileen will be very happy. The child is young and there are 確かな things to be talked over."
"That is so, but no more for the 現在の."
"Who'd have thought this when we used to—"
SP-over-J did not want reminiscences 伴う／関わるing their approximation in age. "I'll 企て，努力，提案 you good night, Larry!" he said, and escaped.
Larry すぐに 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd up his flock. Not another dreary moment would he hang 一連の会議、交渉／完成する の中で the revellers. Norah and old Alf Timson could look sheepish together at Neangen as they had been doing for years without sitting up at a ball, and Joanna had been a wallflower except for a dance with Poole and two with Dan Spires, the Ten Creeks overseer, に引き続いて his introduction to her by Aily. All but Aileen were readily 来たるべき.
"Och, I suppose she's with her ould man, and we'll have to give them a few minutes," he 観察するd.
"She's not with Mr Stanton," volunteered the lynx-注目する，もくろむd Julie. "She's 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 味方する there kissing and hugging with Ronald."
"Phwat!" ejaculated Larry ominously.
"I 推定する／予想する she's had to get rid of him. It is いつかs 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業d," said Mrs Healey, who had not taken Larry as her only 適切な時期.
"持つ／拘留する your tongue, you fool woman! Go you, Joanna and Norah, and bring her at wanst."
Guided by Julie they 設立する Aileen with Ronald and told her that Pa was in a 明言する／公表する to know where she was, for they were starting for home at once.
"You're making yourself the talk of the town, absent from the ballroom half the night, first with one and then another," said Joanna.
Pa was not long in getting under way in the old buggy, with Julie and Alf Timson as outriders, and Larry, jun., and Joanna instead of Norah left to bring Aileen.
They could not 涙／ほころび her away in 無視（する） of decorum now that she was selected by the richest bachelor in the 地区 to become a member of the tribe of the Mazeres and Stantons, the real geebungs of the community. When she had incoherently 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるd upon Dice to leave her, SP-over-J 主張するd upon 行為／行うing her to the door of the dressing-room.
"Whatever do you mean, have you lost your wits?" 需要・要求するd Joanna in a heated whisper when she had her half-sister 安全に in the dressing-room. "You know what Pa is, and to engage yourself to Mr Stanton, and then to be carrying on like a streel with Ronald Dice under the 注目する，もくろむs of everyone, why, it's just ありふれた indecent!"
"I'm not engaged to Mr Stanton," 抗議するd Aileen, and began to cry.
"You can always 麻薬を吸う your 注目する，もくろむ at every convenient and inconvenient time. Pull yourself together and have a little sense, for the love of God."
An unobserved onlooker was Milly, 決定するd to 介入する should it become necessary. She 遠くに見つけるd Ronald hanging about the dressing-room 開始.
"Is Aileen in there?" he 需要・要求するd in what the student of low-class novelettes of high life considered an 適切な agitated manner.
"Yes, she's dressing to go home."
"Tell her to step to the door to speak to me for a minute." Milly bounded off 十分な of 大使の zeal.
"Oh, tell him, please, I can't see him," wailed Aileen.
"I should think not! Tell him she's dressing," 追加するd Joanna. Milly returned to Ronald.
"Is there anyone in there but Joanna and Aily?"
"No."
Ronald strode in. Milly followed wonderingly through such an 前例のない rent in 条約.
"Aileen," he 需要・要求するd, "what the 炎s is this about old Jack Stanton giving out that you are engaged to him?"
"It's true, Mr Dice, and can't you see that you are upsetting my sister? Whatever your 私的な feelings are, I think you should 支配（する）／統制する yourself and not make a public スキャンダル, 侵害する／違反するing modesty," said Joanna, not without dignity.
"スキャンダル be damned! That's on the other foot. Let Aileen speak for herself. Aileen, are you engaged to that old Death Adder?"
"Oh, Ronnie, no, of course not. There is some terrible 誤解."
"I thought so, my darling," said he, clasping the girl to him. The excitement and heat of the day had been 過度の. Milly's ヘロイン did the 権利 thing. Her 注目する，もくろむs の近くにd, her lovely form went limp in her ardent lover's 武器. She had been endowed with a 武器 potent in the 手渡すs of weak femininity.
"She's fainted!" gasped Joanna.
They laid her on a buggy rug. Milly sped to Uncle Bert. She considered the 危機 十分に 円熟した.
"Uncle Bert"—she placed a heatedly whispering young mouth on his ear—"Ronald 急ぐd into the dressing-room and asked Aileen if she was engaged to the old Death Adder—that means Uncle Jack—and Aileen fell 負かす／撃墜する in a deathly swoon."
Uncle Bert enjoined silence, his arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his young confederate. He sought his sister Charlotte, Mrs Philip Mazere. A tall, gaunt woman, sparing of speech, her 黒人／ボイコット hair わずかに streaked with grey, she was wonderfully like her brother. Her 天候-beaten 直面する and work-marred 手渡すs betokened a hard life as the wife of the oldest son of Three Rivers, but she was a 激しく揺する of 避難 to all who called upon her. 有能な, 静かな, she 行為／法令／行動するd where 活動／戦闘 was needed, 観察するd the golden 支配する of silence 同様に as of sisterhood, and was not inquisitive as to 動機s and 原因（となる）s. Without 騒動 she went to the dressing-room. She had seen many 事故s, much sickness, and some 悲劇 in her sixty years.
"She has only fainted," she 発言／述べるd to Joanna. "You have bathed her 直面する with 冷淡な water and 緩和するd her stays, that's all that can be done. Bert, you and Ronald see that no one comes in to take up the 空気／公表する."
Opportunely, 市長 M'Haffety, a little elevated, at that moment burst into an unscheduled gem of oratory and held the people in the hall. It was not so fortunate that Mrs Isaacs, to whom by some faculty all was speedily known, should come to the dressing-room.
"Whatever has happened," she exclaimed. "Can I be be of any help?"
"Ronald," said Mrs Philip, "put the horses in the sociable and we'll run Aileen up to Three Rivers and put her to bed, and she'll be all 権利 in the morning."
"That's very 肉親，親類d of you, Mrs Mazere. But we must go on home. Pa will be in a terrible 明言する／公表する. He and Ma won't know what has happened."
"You and Larry go on as ーするつもりであるd, Aileen can't take that ride now," said Poole.
"I 推定する／予想する it was too far in the heat, and then the dancing on 最高の，を越す of it," said Mrs Philip, as 静める, as 慰安ing, as pump water.
"Our old phaeton will be better than the sociable, and the horse is in it," said Mrs Isaacs, 肉親，親類d of heart and bursting to be in this 約束ing 事件／事情／状勢.
"That will be just the thing," agreed Mrs Philip, her mind on the rearrangement of bedding accommodation so that Aileen could have a room to herself. Three Rivers was chock-a-封鎖する. Family ramifications were かなりの, and it was the custom of everyone coining to town to billet at the old place. Already beds were in the billiard-room and the office. Mrs Philip decided that her grandson's 選び出す／独身 bed in a box veranda room at the New House, which had been 始める，決める aside for a young Philip and Matt Dice, would do nicely, and the two dispossessed could take a pillow and rug to the hay-loft.
Mrs Isaacs, returning from showing where her phaeton and old yellow 損なう were moored, met SP-over-J, and, impelled by her nose for news, told him that Aileen had fainted and that she had arranged for her phaeton to take the girl to Three Rivers. Stanton 急いでd to the scene and 発表するd that he would take Aileen to Stanton's Plains, and talked of finding Lucy.
"It is more convenient to take her home with me," said Mrs Philip. "She can 残り／休憩（する） 静かに till tomorrow."
"You can be やめる at 緩和する," said Poole to Joanna. "She'll be as 権利 as rain with Charlotte. I'll take her home myself tomorrow on the way to Curradoobidgee."
"That is putting everyone to altogether too much trouble," said Joanna, out of whose 手渡すs the whole 事柄 was slipping, and who was worried as to her father's idea of what she should do in the circumstances. "I think I had better stay with Aily."
"By all means. We'll find a nook for you," said Mrs Philip.
"You can go home with my sister and we can come in for Aileen in the morning," said SP-over-J.
Joanna thought of Lucy, unable to 認める her that day, and Mrs Ned Stanton, 統括するing genius at Stanton's Plains, who had been even more gelid, and she 滞るd. "I think I had better go with Larry, and we can bring the buggy 支援する for Aily tomorrow."
事柄s were その上のd by Larry from outside asking Milly to find out if the girls were ready and adjuring them to hurry. Milly, hedging against スキャンダル-mongering, gave Larry the bones of the 出来事/事件. Joanna （機の）カム out to 協議する with him.
"The devil!" 観察するd Larry. "At all events you stay by her and see what goes on. It would be just the thing to stay at Three Rivers, as good as going to stay with Queen Victoria herself only for Ron Dice 存在 there. At any 率, I'm the 権利 one to 運動 the 乗り物 there and then I'll go on and tell Pa what has happened or he'll be roaring 負かす／撃墜する like a town 船体 and making a fool of us."
Larry went in with the 告示, but Charlotte Mazere without malice or forethought or hindthought blew him out. "I'd rather have Bert, if you don't mind. He knows the way to the New House in the dark along those 小道／航路s, and we don't want a fuss and the whole 祝賀 about our ears."
"The best is for me to 運動 Joanna and Aileen out to Stanton's Plains at once without any fuss, and Charlotte, you can tell Mrs Ned and Lucy presently so as not to 乱す them," said SP-over-J, as his 出資／貢献, but Charlotte was 確認するd in her 計画（する） by Aileen's clasping her arm and whispering, "Dear Mrs Philip, please put me to bed at your house. I have a terrible 苦痛 in my 長，率いる and Stanton's Plains is so far."
"井戸／弁護士席, then, Joanna, you can come home with us," said SPover-J, desirous of keeping something in his own 手渡すs, but this decided Joanna to go with Larry.
"You'll 約束 me, Mr Poole, that you'll bring Aily yourself," she said to him. He gave his word and she went away content as people did when Poole 約束d. This put the 事件／事情／状勢 into 中立の 手渡すs and 除去するd Ron Dice. Joanna and Larry waited to see that he was 除外するd from the phaeton. Poole 成し遂げるd this office: "Ron, old man, will you 静かに tell the others why Charlotte has gone home and I'll bring Mrs Isaacs's 罠（にかける） 支援する without 延期する." Then he saw the 直面する of his little 同僚. "Milly, don't you think you せねばならない come home with me and Aunt Charlotte? You should have been curled up in your possum-rug hours ago."
Milly was 苦しむing 不決断. "I'd love to go with you, Uncle Bert, but don't you think it would be 井戸／弁護士席 for me to keep my eve on things here till you come 支援する? I don't like Uncle Jack as much as I like you, but still he's not a death adder, is he?"
"Not by any means," replied Poole, again smiling under his moustache. "And that's another thing, these little hard 指名するs don't mean much if they are let pass without notice. 井戸／弁護士席, you keep your 注目する，もくろむ on things here till I return, and remember that a shut mouth is good for keeping the 飛行機で行くs out and the brains in, as our friend Mick Muldoon would say."
"井戸／弁護士席, now," said Milly as the 乗り物 lights made a galanty show of 反対するs in its way, and tucking her arm in Ronald's in grandmotherly style, "you and I must manage this so as not to make a public スキャンダル."
"Aw, hell, I'll punch his blooming old 長，率いる! I'll break his scraggy old neck!" said Ronald, pulling himself from her しっかり掴む, "and you can tell him so if you want something to do, and then jolly 井戸／弁護士席 go and mind your own blooming 商売／仕事!"
Milly was 一時的に confounded by the 疑惑 that Ronnie was not so nice as she had thought. She had been 投資するing him with the cloak of the lovely young 相続人s of the nobility who finally carried off the beautiful Lady Adelines from—from the old—old—death adders! This did not seem a bit dashing and romantic like the stories. Perhaps Aileen had not 十分な backbone to be a Lady Adeline, but then again all that the Lady Adelines had to do was to be pretty and weak and faint, and this Aileen was doing very 井戸／弁護士席 indeed. The discrepancies intruded doubtlessly because the Lady Adelines and Lord Percys lived in England の中で 城s and ivy with butlers and ladies'-maids, 反して 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Bool Bool were only 境界-riders and shearers and ありふれた servant-girls, crudely unromantic, and who would have grinned had the missus been incapable of dressing her own hair. Milly decided to 捜し出す （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） from Mr Blenkinsop at the first 適切な時期. He knew real live lords and ladies, and 持続するd that Aileen was like the Marchioness of Salterton. Milly was 高度に looking 今後 to having Mr Blenkinsop under her own 裁判権.
She was a little dashed for the moment but still game, and decided to ascertain how Uncle Jack was faring. She 設立する him 近づく the sheep-pens whither Ronald too was walking. They met and Ronald took 問題／発行する at once. "See here, Stanton, I'll thank you to keep away from 行方不明になる Healey in 未来—the さらに先に away the better. You've nearly thrown her into a fever already, and I don't wonder, an old hide like you after a young girl is enough to turn the milk sour."
"You're mad!" said Stanton. "In 未来 I'll take a gun to you or send for the police if I see you within a mile of my 未来 wife."
"I'd knock your old 襲う，襲って強奪する into the middle of next week only it would be 過失致死 to lay a finger on such an old crock."
"Now, now!" said Milly in her best manner, stepping courageously between them. "This is not the way for honourable gentlemen to bring a lady's 指名する into discredit. A real gentleman would die of a pent-up heart rather than do such a thing."
"ネズミs! Go and 捕らえる、獲得する your 長，率いる!" said Ronald, but amused in spite of himself.
"You want a good sound clip under the ear and feeding on bread and water for a week. Your mother will 苦しむ for the way she lets you run wild, one of these days," snapped Uncle Jack, putting a rough 手渡す on her shoulder.
"Here, don't 傷つける the child!" said Ronald.
"You're both as silly as a pair of mad old turkey-cocks when they put their wings 負かす／撃墜する and gobble," said Milly, her mettle roused. "What are you roaring at each other like a pair of demented bulls for, and both 説 you are engaged to Aileen! Why don't you wait till the morning and ask her? She'll he sure to know, unless she's a Mormon."
"Hip-hooray for you, kiddy! It's a pity the senile members of your family 港／避難所't a little of your ありふれた sense."
"You get your mother to take you home this instant," snarled Uncle Jack. "I'll take you in 手渡す tomorrow."
"A lady would have a nice time with him, wouldn't she, Milly?" said Ronald, turning away as he saw the inquisitive Mrs Isaacs waddling his way. Milly also thought it good to go while the going was good, and hid herself from her mother to を待つ Uncle Bert.
Larry and Joanna 棒 away over the new 橋（渡しをする） prognosticating what might happen and filled with excitement about what had already occurred. "Pa will belt the stuffing out of Aileen to get herself into such a mix-up," said Larry.
"She's such a weak-minded fool that she deserves it," agreed Joanna.
*
When Flash Billy 屈服するs had prowled past where Aileen and Ronald were seated, he separated from his companions and went に向かって town. Ronald and Aileen canoodling on a スピードを出す／記録につける against the wishes of old Larry or his old Skinny Guts boss was a juicy morsel, but it could be left to Tommy Roper for the 現在の. Something more 決定的な tormented Billy since Milly had put the Young Whisker filly through her tricks before the （人が）群がる. 追加するd to this was Poole's 展示 with the Corroboree colt. The renowned 無法者, who got rid of all the 割れ目s in fair fight, tamed in the season, fit for 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma Mazere to ride, and not by the invincible Flash Billy himself, but by old Bert Poole, whom he had decried as going barmy with age! There was that 炎上ing colt as 安定した as old Flea Creek! Just to show off, that blooming old crawler of a Poole had put the reins over the animal's neck and he followed him about everywhere like a dog till the —— old woman 手配中の，お尋ね者 to get on him. No, Flash Billy was not happy.
He took the horse he was pacing—the Wamgambril colt—and led him along the 盗品故買者 of the showgrounds and 負かす／撃墜する under the Stanton Street 橋（渡しをする） by the river 跡をつける till he was opposite Three Rivers homestead. He had seen Milly riding there from the new 橋（渡しをする） with her precious Uncle Bert. Everyone making such a fuss about the brat! Billy thought her too flash for anything and 不正に in need of 存在 taken 負かす／撃墜する a peg or two. Where would the filly be, and who would be in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金? They never left the old woman alone now. 支配するs! she was an age, an' drivin' about in four-in-手渡すs with old Prendergast like a two-year-old. These old birds were a —— nuisance. They せねばならない know when it was time to 捕らえる、獲得する their blooming old 長，率いるs.
Flash Billy ran through the stables first: there was no 調印する of the filly there, only Corroboree in a locked 立ち往生させる, and Queen Anne, Poole's big bay 損なう, the stallion's 妊娠している lady-in-waiting, in the next 立ち往生させる to 確実にする his placidity. The filly would be in the orchard. Billy 選ぶd his way の中で the ひどく fruited trees and heard her whinny from the river-味方する. He caught her without difficulty. Ah, the little beauty! Sheer covetous delight in her perfection thrilled him. She would be a fortune to any man. He lit a match, and saw 跡をつけるs where she had been 試みる／企てるing to （疑いを）晴らす the high palings. By gum, she had the old 損なう in her 同様に as the Whisker 緊張する! She could be learnt to do anything but talk. He wrenched away a couple of palings, led her through, 取って代わるd the boards, and went to where his horse was tethered under the trees. He saddled Romp and made her sham dead. 支配するs, she did it for him just as obediently as for young Milly; then he 機動力のある and made sure that she remembered other lessons.
"You little queen! You blooming little pearl!" he breathed in adoration. "Remember everythink I ever learnt you!"
There he had her in his 手渡す, and 手配中の，お尋ね者 her more than he 手配中の，お尋ね者 anything, even the yellow-haired barmaid in Queanbeyan, and he did not know what to do about it. He thought of letting her go 解放する／自由な to be lost, but she was too precious. She would make 支援する to Ten Creeks Bun for a certainty, but someone might 逮捕する her on the way. Lordy, what he would not give to be 安全な in Victoria or Queensland with that little beauty to do what he liked with! She would be a comfortable living for any man. And that —— old Skinny Guts not only had a horse like this but the Corroboree and the Wamgambril and a dozen others. It was not fair, while other fellers just as good, and even better, had not a moke of their own. While he stood there riven by infatuation and covetousness a light turned out of the public 小道／航路 into the 私的な one beside the orchard.
悪口を言う／悪態 it! Someone was coming home 早期に. If he dropped the filly she would follow him and he would be 設立する out. The phaeton lights were 近づくing him in the 狭くする 小道／航路. He took the expedient occurring to his wits, slipped the saddle off and （機の）カム boldly 今後 with the filly, 主要な her by a bridle-rein only. He saw Poole in the light of the lamp as he opened the gate.
"Is that you, Mr Poole?"
"Yes, who's there?"
"Me—Billy 屈服するs. I 設立する this here little lady 負かす／撃墜する by the 橋（渡しをする）. She must have got outer somewhere. Where will I put her?"
"She was in the orchard, but there is no use in putting her there again if she got out."
"Golly, if she got out of the orchard she is a 警告を与える—worse than the ole 損なう!"
"Take her 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to the stable."
"All 権利, Mr Poole. Can I let the horse out for you?"
"No, thank you, Billy. I'm going 支援する to the Hall. Thank you for bringing the filly 支援する. 行方不明になる Milly would have been upset to lose her."
"Yes, it'd be terrible to think how 行方不明になる Milly would take on if anything happened this here filly."
Poole left his 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 at the New House of the old homestead, and as Aileen 抗議するd that she was all 権利, he went straight 支援する with Mrs Isaacs's chariot. He 申し込む／申し出d Billy a 解除する.
"No, thanks, Mr Poole. I left me horse 負かす／撃墜する here."
Billy went away に向かって the river. Why hadn't he brought the filly 支援する to the main 入り口, pondered Poole, as the 古代の 損なう jogged along at her unmendable pace. 屈服するs could not have 設立する the filly unless she was out on the 主要道路. What could he be doing in the river paddocks? However, his thoughts 逆戻りするd to Aileen. What on earth did old Jack mean, jumping into the young people's hash and 事実上の／代理 like—like a death adder. He smiled as he thought of Milly. The little girl was waiting for him when he returned the phaeton to its position. He was amused by her grandmotherly 空気／公表する.
"井戸／弁護士席, Milly, old pal, everything all 権利, I hope."
"Oh yes, Uncle Bert. Ronald and Uncle Jack nearly made a scene. They had a lot of that—I don't know how to pronounce it, but it is （一定の）期間d c-h-o-l-e-r, and they were very rude to me, but I think I 妨げるd a f-r-a-c-a-s—that's what it is, isn't it?"
"So they were rude to you, were they?" He smiled when she 詳細（に述べる）d what had taken place.
"過度に. But I don't mind because of the c-h-o-l-e-r."
"井戸／弁護士席, you know, Milly, it's a good thing to keep out of the other fellow's 列／漕ぐ／騒動s, and to have as few of your own as possible. You'll never get any thanks for jumping in, and you might come a cropper, but that was certainly good sense about settling the 事柄 by asking Aileen."
"Yes, you'd hardly believe that grown men could have been so silly as not to think of that, would you?"
"I'm afraid there are more silly people than the other sort knocking about for us to knock up against, and that 存在 so I want to make a 取引 with you."
"Oh yes, Uncle Bert. Is it something nice and exciting, can we have it for a compact?"
"I should think we could. It is only this: supposing you should ever be in a mess of any sort, a difficulty, it doesn't 事柄 what, and it doesn't 事柄 if it is your own fault, you'll come and tell me all about it, won't you? And no 事柄 how bad it may be, I'll pull you out, if I can, without any croaking. Now do you 約束?"
"Oh yes, Uncle Bert. It sounds more solemn than exciting: that will be a real compact."
"Yes, a compact."
Exhausted by bodily and emotional activity and 補佐官d by a glass of ワイン, Aileen slept ひどく. She awoke a little bewildered to find herself in a tiny white room with a boy's guns and bats on the 塀で囲む and a 苦痛 in her 長，率いる. Recollection 明らかにする／漏らすd her 苦境 between Dice and Stanton. There was bliss in 解任するing the passages with Ronald on the スピードを出す／記録につける beside the river with its song so 甘い and 冷静な／正味の—and wild first kisses. She, thrilled again and again in remembrance. Then 介入するd thoughts of that horrid old Stanton, and Joanna and Larry けん責（する），戒告ing her, and Ronald glaring, and now Pa to be 直面するd. If only she could stay in the little room and be ill with brain fever for months and months so that her father would 身を引く his 反対 to Ronald to save her life; or if Ronald would only come and take her away somewhere so that no one would see them again till they had been comfortably married for ages, and had a beautiful home!
"I see you are awake," said old Mrs Philip, entering the room. "You were nice and 静かな here. How do you feel?"
"It's my 長，率いる. It has such a terrible 苦痛 in it that I can't 解除する it from the pillow."
"嘘（をつく） still, then. I 推定する／予想する you were too much in the sun in your hot riding-habit. It was a very warm day yesterday. I'll send you a nice strong cup of tea."
The tea （機の）カム with Marcia, Charlotte's granddaughter, a girl about Milly's age.
"I say, Aileen," she began, eager to get ahead of that Milly, who assumed the 空気／公表するs of a grown-up. "Wasn't it exciting last night? It must be wonderful to have men loving you as much as that! They looked 殺人 at each other. Ron Dice stayed here last night and has asked Grandma when he can see you. Uncle Jack Stanton （機の）カム すぐに after breakfast and asked how you were, and said he 手配中の，お尋ね者 to see you too. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I should love to see Ronnie."
"I'm glad you like him best. If Ronnie 提案するd to me I could very nearly marry him myself, and he's only a sort of second cousin. Why don't you get dressed and I'll tell Ron to こそこそ動く 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and see you."
Marcia's mother was a niece of SP-over-J, the daughter of his brother. Marcia's father was Philip Mazere, the third of his 指名する, and Bert Poole's 甥. He was now known as young Philip. Charlotte (Poole) and her husband had become old Mr and Mrs Philip, and the 初めの old Mrs Philip was now 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma to all whether they had the 血-権利 to the 肩書を与える or not. Old Mr and Mrs Philip lived in the Big House of the 複合的な／複合企業体 homestead. 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma had retired to the Old House, the erection that had superseded the 開拓する humpy to which she had come from Parramatta in the thirties. Aileen was in a room in the new house built for young Philip when he married. Young Philip had grown up with 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandpa Mazere and had managed the place for him when all his sons left him.
Aileen straightway dressed. The thought of seeing Ronnie banished the 苦痛 in her 長，率いる. Marcia, enchanted to be in such an 事件／事情／状勢, 補助装置d her, talking volubly.
"Everybody said you were the belle last night. Cousin Dot was やめる in the shade. They were tired of her dress because they had seen it before. She danced with your brother Larry, and only danced with Ronnie after you disappeared so mysteriously. Everyone was talking about that. They thought all sorts of things when they 設立する that the belle of the ball had disappeared."
When Aileen was ready Marcia told Ronald. Charlotte returned to the Big House. She had been her brother's messenger and he agreed that the best thing for Aileen was to 嘘（をつく） still for an hour or two longer.
"Aileen has a splitting 頭痛, Uncle Jack," his niece Maud (young Mrs Mazere, wife of Philip the third ) was 報告（する）／憶測ing to him. "Mamma （機の）カム over and saw her this morning and said she was to have a cup of tea and keep 静かな. Mamma thinks she may have been a little too much in the sun yesterday."
"I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 運動 her home today, but the best place is here with you. You'll take care that she is kept 静かな and sees no one."
"Yes, Uncle Jack...There is a good 取引，協定 of talk. Of course I have said nothing, but are you thinking of giving me an aunt?"
SP-over-J, always gauche, looked foolish, nursed his 膝, and replied, "Yes, it's true. I think it's about time I settled 負かす／撃墜する, don't you?"
"井戸／弁護士席—er, of course, we've often wondered why you didn't, long ago. Only Aileen is rather young, isn't she?"
"Oh, I don't know. It's not as if she were a girl in her teens. I was never more grown up than when I was her age."
"What will Aunt Lucy do?"
"Lucy might marry and leave me alone; besides, she could still look after Ten Creeks when I'm not there, or Turrill Turrill the same way. She likes tigrinizing 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス and 前へ／外へ."
While this talk 延長するd in the 前線 room Aileen repledged herself の中で the raspberry 茎s and lilac-bushes at the foot of the garden whither the lovers had fled, and Marcia and Amy tittered together in a handy 退却／保養地.
"Aileen!"
"Ronnie!"
He clasped her to him, 新たにするing the rapture of last night. She was as beautiful in her 削減する habit as she had been in the frilly ball gown.
"How did the old Death Adder get the notion that you are engaged to him?"
"I don't know. He must have misunderstood in some way. I was anxious to get rid of him, because the girls were coming, and he took too much for 認めるd."
"Just like him! You must give him the straight tip the first moment he says anything to you. You will, won't you?"
"Oh yes."
"I'll 発表する our 約束／交戦 at once and that will chuck him out of the field."
"Yes, hut, Ronnie, how soon can we be married?"
"Just as soon as I can 直す／買収する，八百長をする up with Mamma."
"Oh, Ronnie, must you wait for that?"
"I'm afraid I must, but Mamma will soon come 一連の会議、交渉／完成する."
"Then I think we had better say nothing about the...about us 存在 engaged for the 現在の."
"But if we don't you'll have the old Death Adder dancing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する."
"Unless you can marry me and take me away at once. Oh, Ronnie, I'm 脅すd." Aileen melted into 涙／ほころびs.
"Whatever is there to be 脅すd of, darling?" He was all tenderness. She was irresistible in 涙／ほころびs.
"I'm not 脅すd if I could only stay 近づく you all the time, but I've got to 直面する Pa."
"He can't eat you, and you are over twenty-one."
"That doesn't make any difference. You don't know Pa."
"I'll go up and tell him my 計画（する）s—直面する the lion in his den. Do you feel like riding straight off with me now?"
"I couldn't run away from Mrs Mazere like that and get into everybody's 黒人／ボイコット 調書をとる／予約するs. Besides, Mr Poole 約束d Joanna to 運動 me home himself today. She wouldn't have left me else."
"We don't need to drag good old Bert into it now that you are able to ride. We could make Bookaledgeree for dinner and tell Mamma and the girls and get them on our 味方する from the jump."
"I'm sure Mrs Lucy Saunders and Mrs Ned Stanton don't want me either," said Aileen miserably.
"Don't they! That's 罰金, then, because they won't be any help to the old Death Adder."
At this moment Marcia 道具d 負かす／撃墜する the orchard and 警告するd that Mother was coming to see if Aileen was 井戸／弁護士席 enough to talk to Uncle Jack. "Run away and hide, Ronald," exhorted Marcia.
"What for? It's your old Uncle Jack who せねばならない hide his 長，率いる in shame. I wish I could make myself larger and more 目だつ," said Ronald, standing 前へ／外へ defiantly where the summer sun shone dazzlingly on the slope and melted away in 冷静な／正味の 招待するing shade の中で the willows by the singing river where the lazy cattle dozed and the dark-green タバコ grew luxuriantly.
Dice 辞退するd to be banished. He 護衛するd Aileen to the veranda.
Young Mrs Philip had been 後部d in the notion that Uncle Jack was not to be trifled with, and the 態度 in which nieces are 一般に 性質の／したい気がして に向かって rich bachelor uncles. To help him to marriage would end the hope of 相続するing his 所有物／資産／財産, but to …に反対する him would not 前進する her status as a 見込みのある heiress either. The feeling held that Uncle Jack had better not be crossed.
"Dear me, 行方不明になる Healey, I thought your 長，率いる was too bad to 解除する from the pillow." Mrs Mazere's トン was not 同情的な.
"I thought I'd see how it was, and now I'll have to go and 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する again. It's terrible." The girl was 延期するing a direct and conclusive 問題／発行する by 辛勝する／優位ing に向かって the bedroom.
"Uncle Jack is riding up に向かって Neangen today and he thought to take you with him."
"Mr Poole 約束d to 運動 me up. I hardly feel able to ride."
"I hadn't heard of that 協定," said Mrs Philip a little stiffly. Aileen seemed a shilly-shallier, and the Mazere 一族／派閥 did not 深い尊敬の念を抱く that of Healey for the old 活動／戦闘 about Eureurunda. It was a pity Uncle Jack hadn't sense to 選ぶ someone more suitable. However, she'd rather Ronald married Aileen than have her for an aunt. Actuated by this bias she said, "You 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する sensibly and don't be eating hot raspberries on an empty stomach. I'll tell Uncle Jack that probably you won't be going home till tomorrow."
"Oh yes, please, Mrs Mazere, that is very 肉親，親類d of you," said Aileen, straw-clutching. She went to her room. Young Mrs Philip returned to her uncle. Dice disported himself where Stanton could not leave the 前提s without seeing him.
"行方不明になる Healey really has a terrible 長，率いる," 報告（する）／憶測d Mrs Philip. "It's nothing serious, I hope. Does she want a doctor?"
"No. She's a bilious 支配する, I should think, by the look of her. With a bilious person any little excitement always results in one of these attacks. She needs to 嘘（をつく） still and cat nothing."
"Oh 井戸／弁護士席, then, I'll 押し進める along, because I have a busy day. You can...you can give Aileen my love."
"Very 井戸／弁護士席, Uncle. I suppose I せねばならない kiss you and congratulate you. You mustn't forget your old niece wants to be loved too, even when you have a new wife," she said, embracing him.
"Oh no, no, of course not," he said awkwardly, but she could see that he was pleased.
As he 現れるd upon the veranda there was Ronald Dice fooling with Marcia and Amy. Uncle Jack turned 支援する into the passage. "What's he doing here?"
"Every bed in the Big House was 十分な, so they asked us to put him up."
"He could easily have ridden home. I don't think you'll find him a fit companion for the girls."
"He doesn't come here much," she said comfortingly "The いっそう少なく the better. Don't let him worry Aileen."
The sight of Dice put harsher 決意 into the day's 活動／戦闘 for Stanton. He was closeted with the bank 経営者／支配人 for a long 開会／開廷／会期 in 合同 with Arthur Rankin, the lawyer. Then he had dinner at M'Haffety's Hotel, a rare condescension. Skinny Guts was rarely known to 爆撃する out his money for tucker when there were 一族／派閥 members at 手渡す to cosher himself upon.
*
He 進歩d comfortably に向かって Neangen on his 罰金 血 horse, paced by Flash Billy, taking 公式文書，認める of the land as he went. Soon he was riding the 境界 of Bookaledgeree, a 罰金 所有物／資産／財産 when Tim Brennan had sold it to the Dices, but mismanaged ever since. There had been foot-rot in the flocks—it was to be seen from the main road—and would be again as soon as the 干ばつ broke. The old cockatoo 盗品故買者s, perfunctorily topped, wouldn't stop a milking cow, and there were fields of briars dragging the fleeces off the flocks. There must have been hundredweights of wool tufted about the paddocks.
Stanton's mind went 支援する about thirty-five years to when they used to admire the 甘い briar-bush in old Mrs Mazere's garden, which old Mazere prized so much because it was English, and which had been a rare 工場／植物 to the native-born...By Jove! old Mrs Mazere had little dreamt then what a bad thing she was doing for the country.
Beyond the homestead the Yarrabongo showed in 冷静な／正味の beauty between its drapery of shrubs, and ahead was the Bookaledgeree Creek, another 罰金 stream. It was one of the best-watered places in the 植民地 and had a good 取引，協定 of open grazing land. It needed pulling together, though, and instead of doing that Ronald Dice was always dressed up in 膝-breeches and long 刺激（する）s riding about on a flash horse and fooling with the girls. 井戸／弁護士席, there was one girl he wouldn't be able to fool with much longer. Stanton had satisfaction in the 範囲 and 力／強力にする of his mortgages.
The 報告（する）／憶測s from all over the country were of an old-man 干ばつ. The 天候 could break even now, though Stanton had never known a spring 干ばつ to break before autumn. This 気象の experience was 確認するd by every old 手渡す he knew, both those of the Plains and the green grass country. Turrill Turrill was 苦しむing, but he could 転換 黒字／過剰 在庫／株 to the mountains. Bool Bool and all that country from Ten Creeks to the Upper Murrumbidgee and 権利 支援する to Coolooluk and Mungee 経由で Monaro was a world of its own, the value of which could not yet be 計算するd. 未来 世代s would awake to it. A native of the green grass country, the love of these wonderful 範囲s, streams, and valleys held first place in Stanton's affections.
He reached Neangen as Larry, jun., was penning the calves for the night. Old Larry gave 警告 to the women and went to receive him.
"We've been 推定する／予想するing Aileen and Bert Poole all the afternoon. Aileen is all 権利, I hope."
"All but a bilious 頭痛. Young Mrs Philip is in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of her and they talk of 運動ing up tomorrow. Aileen is all 権利 there."
"She couldn't be righter anywhere except with her own mother," 答える／応じるd Larry, 満足させるd for Aileen to be in the famous Mazere （警察，軍隊などの）本部 under the direct guardianship of Stanton's niece. "Come in! Come in! Leave your horse. Larry will put him away for the night."
"I was thinking of riding 支援する in the 冷静な／正味の."
"What's your hurry? 'Twill be 冷静な／正味の enough in the morning."
"I'm rather 押し進めるd for time. This 干ばつ—though we don't feel it much here—terrible in Riverina. I want to get away without 延期する and see the 明言する／公表する of the 在庫／株 and grass, but I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to leave this 事柄 about Aileen 直す／買収する，八百長をするd up."
"Sure, we can talk that over this evening when the family has gone to bed. There's no hurry, and you or the girl might want to change your mind. There's others in the field." Old Larry laughed and showed his long タバコ-stained fangs. He had had time to collect himself and to decide upon the most profitable 手渡す to play. Old Jack was biting hard and greedily.
The 見込みのある bridegroom went inside to be 迎える／歓迎するd by the women, to have a wash in the spare-room, and to sit on the veranda in the 冷静な／正味の の中で the roses till 召喚するd to the evening meal. Afterwards the family engaged in singing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the piano.
"Sure, it's a pity Aileen isn't home. She's our musician," said old Larry. "She can play anything at all and she sings like a canary."
SP-over-J decided to get a new piano for Turril! Turrill and to send the old one up to Ten Creeks Run.
While the evening was still young Mrs Healey ordered the children to bed, and said she would go herself because she had not yet 回復するd from the 橋（渡しをする） 祝賀s. Joanna and Norah murmured something about a （製品，工事材料の）一回分 of bread. Larry, jun., went to look at the horses and did not come 支援する.
SP-over-J was not a word-waster and never bilked a 決定的な 問題／発行する. "井戸／弁護士席, since I'm in a hurry to get away and likely shan't he 支援する till after Christmas, I thought I'd just ride up to 確認する what I put 今後 about Aileen last night."
"That's all 権利, Jack. There's no hurry."
"As a 事柄 of fact there is, rather. I want to get 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス to Riverina 早期に this autumn. I'll just come lip for the wedding, and I'm ready for that in January, as soon as Aileen can get ready."
"Oh my, oh me! a man in love! What a hurry we're in! You must remember I 港／避難所't had time to hear what my little Aily thinks yet."
"She has 受託するd, and you are agreeable. We don't have to consider anyone else as I can see."
"That is very 罰金 as far as it goes, but a young girl in love doesn't look much ahead, and though I've had rather hard hick of late years, and Neangen is not to be compared with Eueurunda, where Aily was born, nor yet with Little River, where my father started, but still an' all we're a very affectionate family and our little Aily is welcome to stay with us for ever unless we could be sure that she was bettering herself."
"I'm 井戸／弁護士席 able to 供給する for a wife and family and to give Aileen as much as she's had with you, and a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 more.
"Oh, sure. I know that, Jack. Your whole family were always thrifty, 企業ing fellows, but it's this way: when I married Aily's mother, the old woman, my mother-in-法律, would not let me have her till I settled a nice little nest-egg upon her, and she always said it was such a blessing that she will 推定する／予想する the same for her daughters."
SP-over-J marvelled that this piece of 商売／仕事 had never 漏れるd out, though what every other husband in the 地区 got with or gave his bride was popular gossip. However, he 推定する／予想するd to have to 負わせる his 規模s against the love in Dice's balance. "I think you'll find me 満足な there. I mean to 供給する for her in my will, and as a wedding 現在の, do you think she would be 満足させるd that I shouldn't 圧力（をかける） the mortgage I 持つ／拘留する on Neangen—for sentimental 推論する／理由s she might like it though it's not very 価値のある; or she might prefer Bookaledgeree..." Stanton smiled slyly in his 耐えるd and watched the 影響 of this.
It winded old Larry, but he was a good poker-player and took some long puffs on his 麻薬を吸う before replying. Then he knocked out the ashes and chose a stalk of the lovely trembling grass nodding its beads by the veranda-地位，任命する and （疑いを）晴らすd the 茎・取り除く and puffed and blew and spat before 信用ing himself to speak, but he didn't deceive SP-over-J.
"井戸／弁護士席, now, that's rather handsome of you, Jack, but there's time—there's plenty of time. We must ask Aily herself. Sure, I've been keeping you up. Meself I had a snooze this afternoon, but probably you've been up all day, and not so young as we used to be, riding after the girls thirty years ago—or getting on forty years, isn't it?—an' the girls not as willing to jump at us as we could have wished." Old Larry got in his dig. SP-over-J did not relish it, but said nothing. Larry warbled on, "An' the girls getting more 独立した・無所属 every 世代. There's no telling them what or who they should marry these times."
"Oh 井戸／弁護士席, suppose we call it a day," said Stanton. "You can let me know in a week's time what you think."
*
From Dice's end the 演劇 proceeded gaily. By noon on the day に引き続いて the ball all the 郡区 discussed it. The notoriety of the happenings at the ball and the attentions of Stanton had 設立するd pretty little Aileen as an exciting beauty. Ronald had 青年, the 人気 of personal charm, and a 鎮圧するing mortgage on his family's 所有物／資産／財産: SP-over-J was never a favourite with men or maids from his 青年, and now age was against him, but he owned much 所有物／資産／財産. Their 障害（者）s and 資産s made the men's 競争 lively entertainment for the onlookers.
As Stanton was riding 支援する to Bool Bool he saw Poole, true to 約束, 行為／行うing Aileen to Neangen. With him in the Three Rivers buggy were his sister Charlotte, Aileen, and Marcia. Behind them 棒 a boy to take the buggy 支援する from Bookaledgeree. The boy was 主要な 行方不明になる Muffet, and Poole's big bay ran tractably on the off-味方する of the fat Three Rivers pair. They met where the main road bounds Bookaledgeree, sloping away to the Yarrabongo on one 味方する and 直面するing the 冷静な／正味の 頂点（に達する）s of the Bogongs up the valley of Bookaledgeree Creek on the other.
"Aileen, are you やめる 井戸／弁護士席?" 問い合わせd SP-over-J, 製図／抽選 to the 支援する seat, where she was sitting.
"Oh yes, thank you, Mr Stanton. It was only a bilious 頭痛. I am going to ride home from Bookaledgeree."
"I left your colt in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of young Philip at Three Rivers. I never 扱うd a better-tempered animal. Anything else was on account of bad 扱うing, whether intentional or さもなければ I don't wish to say without 完全にする 証拠, but I advise you to keep your 注目する，もくろむs open," said Poole.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll have more time to explain when we 会合，会う again."
"I'm off to Turrill Turrill at once," replied SP-over-J, watching the 影響 on Aileen, but she 攻撃するd her parasol, and it was Marcia who was delighted by the radiant 救済 that lit the lovely little 直面する.
"Oh 井戸／弁護士席, it can go for the 現在の. We must be getting on or we'll keep Mrs Dice late for dinner."
SP-over-J did not 認可する of this 降下／家系 upon Bookaledgeree, but in 見解（をとる） of family entrenchments did not know what to say. He thought for a moment of turning in with the buggy, but 欠如（する）d the dash, and let the moment pass. He said nothing, deciding to 許す his mortgages to do the talking with old Healey. He dismounted to shake 手渡すs with old Mrs Philip so that he could also shake 手渡すs with Aileen. She was careful to reach across Marcia for that, and SP-over-J had to be content with, "井戸／弁護士席, good-bye for the 現在の, little girl. Take care of yourself!"
Aileen looked 支援する after him and waved her 手渡す, 救済 in all her 存在. Uncle Jack's words had such delicious significance for Marcia that she kept digging Aileen in the ribs and repeating "Little girl, take care of yourself!" in heated whispers. Aileen 受託するd this without 抗議する, in the spirit in which it was tendered. She was a gentle soul.
Her satisfaction in 存在 rid of Stanton was 減らすd by her 歓迎会 by the Dices. Ronald （機の）カム to 会合，会う the buggy as it approached where he was 負担ing hay from a late 刈る. He could not leave his work for longer than a 迎える／歓迎するing, and when the buggy went on, Marcia's repetition of "Good-bye, little girl!" 増加するd in facetious intensity.
"Dear, oh dear!" murmured Bert to his sister in the 前線 seat, "were we ever as gigglesome as that over nothing when we were young?"
"You and I weren't, for we had so much trouble and 責任／義務 that it made us a pair of old sober-味方するs, but remember how Grandpa Mazere was always snorting about the silly 'skitting' of the young people."
The watch-dogs of Bookaledgeree 発表するd the 訪問者s, and the family streamed 前へ／外へ to the stableyard to 会合，会う them.
"井戸／弁護士席, Charlotte, this is a surprise and honour," said Mrs Dice. "It's not often you 支払う／賃金 us a call. You've only been here once before, 港／避難所't you, when I was ill?" She kissed Marcia and shook 手渡すs with "行方不明になる Healey".
Ida and Olive shook 手渡すs with her laughingly. "We have to congratulate you, 港／避難所't we?" said Ida. "When is the wedding to be?"
Aileen was 溺死するd in blushes, her pulses bounded. Olive's 出資／貢献 原因（となる）d a 減少（する） in her 気温. "You must give us the 領収書 for turning such a 確認するd old bachelor into a gay young lover, dancing at balls."
Marcia spluttered uncontrollably.
"That's what it is to be the belle of the 橋（渡しをする）-開始 ball. Your dress was lovely. No wonder Mr Stanton was finished," 追加するd Ida.
Poole was seeing to the horses. His sister 持続するd her habitual 非，不，無-committal 静める.
"井戸／弁護士席, 行方不明になる Healey, it's not fair to pounce on you like that," said Mrs Dice. "But it is such a surprise. Jack Stanton has had the 評判 of a woman-hater for so long, but you can never 信用 any man where a pretty girl is 関心d. I 推定する／予想する your brother will be the next to 崩壊（する） and startle us," she turned to Charlotte.
"I wish he would," said she 静かに. "If only he got some nice woman of a sensible age to take care of him."
"But there'd be no romance in that, would there, 行方不明になる Healey?" cried Ida.
"Come inside into the 冷静な／正味の. Isn't it a dreadful 干ばつ we're having? I've never seen the garden so 乾燥した，日照りのd up." Mrs Dice went ahead with Charlotte.
Aileen was bewildered. Hadn't Ronald 知らせるd his family, or had they 辞退するd to 受託する the 告示 and were battening 負かす／撃墜する the 約束／交戦 with SP-over-J to get rid of her? What was she to do? "You're all making some mistake or only funning," she said, so 近づく 涙／ほころびs that the murmur was scarcely audible.
She did not see Ronald till they 組み立てる／集結するd in the dining-room. Marcia was curious beyond articulation. Aileen looked に向かって Ronald appealingly. His 直面する 安心させるd her.
"Aileen, you must sit beside me," he said, but Mrs Dice, who （権力などを）行使するd the carving-knife, thought さもなければ.
"No. Charlotte will sit on my left and Bert on my 権利. You will go next to Charlotte..."
"All 権利, and Aileen on the other 味方する."
"Couldn't think of it," cried Ida gaily. "We'd make an enemy of SP-over-J for life."
"We're not going to care about him. He's only a last year's stack of hay." Ronald was gayer than Ida.
"Even that won't be sneezed at if this 干ばつ doesn't break," said Mrs Dice.
"You had better keep me company, Aileen," said Poole kindly, to succour the girl in her evident 苦しめる, and 演習ing the 特権 he enjoyed in all the houses of the 一族／派閥.
"That will be lovely," she 答える／応じるd gratefully, slipping into the seat which Ida had designed for herself, and from which she could not 除去する Aileen as Poole laid his 手渡す protectingly on the 支援する of the 議長，司会を務める.
After dinner Aileen felt that the whole 世帯 was bent on 妨げるing her from seeing Ronald alone. She 主張するd on riding to Neangen, an 協定 that was 受託するd because it permitted Charlotte and Marcia to return to town that afternoon. Ronald put her on her horse, and while placing his 手渡す for her toe managed to say, "Aileen, I'm coming up to see your father the day after tomorrow at 最新の. I must get this bit of hay in first. We are short-手渡すd."
"Oh, Ronnie, then it is all 権利."
"Of course, you silly little chicken, what did you take me for?"
"I'm so tired of 審理，公聴会 about old SP-over-J. They all 行為／法令／行動する as if I was engaged to him."
"Let them have all the fun they want. Our turn is coming."
"But you don't know Pa: and what was SP-over-J doing up this way? He must have been at Neangen."
"井戸／弁護士席, he is off to Turrill Turrill without waiting to say his 祈りs. That looks as if he jolly 井戸／弁護士席 knew his cake is dough."
"Sssh!"
A touch to Aileen's toe and she was 安全に in her saddle and took the reins, which Ronald placed in her fingers with an enveloping 手渡す-clasp that spoke 容積／容量s of 安心. Good-byes were repeated, and Aileen 棒 away in 慰安 with Curradoobidgee Poole.
"A pretty little thing," said his sister, who never said unkind words of any.
"Pretty enough, but dear me, a weak-looking little creature—. doesn't seem as if there was much ballast there. I don't like the 産む／飼育する. I'm surprised at Jack Stanton at his time of life." Mrs Dice had raised her 発言する／表明する so that Ronald should not 行方不明になる a word. He was waving his straw hat to Aileen, looking handsome and appropriate to the 天候 in white ducks, あわてて donned for dinner. He went away to change again for his haymaking, pretending not to hear his mother.
*
Poole and Aileen 旅行d 平和的に through the 炎ing summer afternoon, delightful beside the singing streams in 深い, 冷静な／正味の, fern-覆う？ gullies. 巨大（な）s of the untouched forests shaded the winding bush road 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 刺激（する）s of the Bogongs whence they could see for miles along the Yarrabongo, now become the Mungee. Its course was 示すd by the river gums and draped in blossoming shrubs away beyond the fish-穴を開ける where the Ornithorhyncus paradoxus romped like イルカs 近づく sunset and 後部d their young in the banks.
"I think there can be nothing better than that in the world in natural scenery, as far as I have seen on the stereoscope," 発言／述べるd Poole.
"Yes, it is pretty, but very lonely," replied Aileen. "So many hills always seem to smother me, till I am 脅すd, and the river sonnds like a 広大な／多数の／重要な sad 勝利，勝つd. I like Monaro much better."
"Oh, of course, Monaro （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域s everything else in the world, I am sure."
Conversation between thorn was scrappy. Poole was no talker. Neither was Aileen. She charmed in 存在 softly responsive to the emanations of others. Not only men of al! ages, but old women 設立する her delightful for this 質 alone. Poole wished to help the little girl, surronuded 完全に, as he 裁判官d, by persons neither 同情的な nor helpful, but Aileen gave him no 開始. If young Ronald and she really 手配中の，お尋ね者 each other, he 反映するd, and their attraction was more than a flash in the pan, they were adults and surely could take care of themselves. Jack was a fool at his time of life to come between young people, and deserved to have his whiskers singed. To be off out of the 地区 in such a hurry was a good 調印する, but what had he been doing in the direction of Neangen? Old Jack was a 深い one in a 商売／仕事 取引，協定; not many could outwit him. Perhaps old Larry would let something 減少（する） on the 事柄.
However, Larry could be as の近くに as SP-over-J when it ふさわしい him, and Poole learnt nothing. Aileen arriving with Poole after a couple of days with Stanton's niece put Larry in good humour.
"井戸／弁護士席, my girl, too much excitement and dissipation," he said affectionately. "Sure, you'll only be young once, so you do 井戸／弁護士席 to make the best of it." Aileen was relieved hut not deceived by the family affection 注ぐd ont before Poole. She retired to her little skillion bedroom. Julie, who 株d it with her, went too, carrying her sister's valise.
"How have things been—any ructions with Pa?"
"My, yes! When Larry and Joanna left you behind with Ronald Dice mooching 一連の会議、交渉／完成する we thought the roof would come off, but it's been all seganio since old Skinny Guts （機の）カム up yesterday and 直す／買収する，八百長をするd everything up about marrying you."
"Was he here?"
"Yes. He stayed till this morning."
"直す／買収する，八百長をするd up everything—whatever do you mean?" Aileen felt it would be heavenly if she could faint till everything was 満足な for her and Ronald.
"I listened. I sat inside the door of the drorin'-room in the dark while SP-over-J and Pa was on the veranda. You'll be awful rich. I'm going to live with you. Joanna and Norah will be as jealous as old cats, but I'd rather have Ronald Dice."
Aileen felt as if a steel 逮捕する were 一時停止するd above her.
"Let me have room to dress now, there's a good girl." Julie 出発／死d, desirous of 改善するing her chances with Mr Poole. She hoped he would give her a pony like the one he had given Milly Saunders.
Aileen flung herself on the wallaby-肌 beside her bed, but 慰安 would not come. She did not know how to pray except to repeat something by rote night and morning. What with the 初めの Larry's terrific 列／漕ぐ／騒動 with the Church, which had resulted in excommunication, and the second 世代 having married 異端者s, but without 可決する・採択するing a new 約束, 宗教 in Larry's family had degenerated into 残余 superstitions more 妨害するing than helpful.
Catching at 現在の straws, Aileen was thankful for the presence of Poole for the night and the consequent 延期 of her troubles. All was geniality with old Larry showing off the affection of his 年上の daughters and bidding them sing, though it were better artistically that they first had died. If one daughter had 逮捕（する）d old SP-over-J, the toughest matrimonial nut to 割れ目 in the whole 地区, another might 安全な・保証する Poole. Neither Joanna nor Norah had Aileen's looks, but Poole was not so 厳格な，質素な as Stanton, and one match often helped another.
Aileen said good-bye to Poole next morning with a 沈むing heart, and he had no sooner been lost from sight than her affectionate father called her to an interview. He began all 権利. "井戸／弁護士席, Aily child, you've clone very 井戸／弁護士席 for yourself. It will be a 広大な／多数の／重要な 解除する to us all, and you'll be rollin' in silks and 高級な ahead of the whole 乗組員 that out of jealousy has tried to 無視する，冷たく断わる us."
"What do you mean, Pa?" 問い合わせd Aileen faintly, wishing the 床に打ち倒す would hide her.
"You want to be a little coy about it, do you, but, sure, Mr Stanton hasn't let any grass grow under his feet. He wants ye to 指名する the first day after the New Year. But, sure, ye needn't be too hurried for a week or two, or maybe a month—ye've got him in the palm of your 手渡す, and now's the time to 抽出する the best turrums." Larry showed the least result of the good governesses that his mother had 安全な・保証するd, and in moments of 強調する／ストレス relapsed into the bog-trotter brogue of his parents.
"But, Pa, I never said I'd marry Mr Stanton. I h—I don't like him." Aileen's 発言する／表明する was faint.
"井戸／弁護士席, thin, he's so eager that all ye have to do is sit 静かな while I get the most elegant turrums an old man ever laid out for his darling."
"But, Pa, I don't want any 条件 from Mr Stanton. He must be crazy."
"Sure, he's crazy with love, and that's a 罰金 thing in a lover, 特に if he's old and rich."
"But, Pa, he's a horrid, skinny old man, as old as you are."
"Och, that counts nothing in love's young dream."
"But, Pa...Aileen felt impelled to 主張する upon love's young dream, but 滞るd and left it to Ronald. One day more now and he would be at Neangen. She must 突き破る off talk of Stanton till then.
"Pa, I don't like Mr Stanton. Please don't 疫病／悩ます me about the horrid old creature." Aileen was 救助（する）d by 涙／ほころびs. They had more 影響 than anything even with old Larry when he was not at bay, and brought the 一時的な 救済 so ardently 願望（する）d.
"井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席, now. A little soft excitement is natural. We don't have to （不足などを）補う our minds about the day in a hurry." He let her go to her room and 命令（する）d the others, "Sure, leave the child be for a day or two. She's a bit startled about it all for the 現在の."
"Pooh!" said Julie, as the old man left the sisters together in the kitchen—they had dispensed with a servant 借りがあるing to hard times. "Aileen won't have old Skinny while Ronnie is about, and I don't 非難する her. I wouldn't either, would you, Norah?"
"It would depend on whether I loved him."
"Would you, Joanna?"
"You bet I'd love anyone as rich as old SP-over-J, even if it was Teddy O'Mara. Aileen would be a fool not to jump at such a chance. She could cover the 床に打ち倒す with 君主s if she liked."
"You mean if old Skinny liked," said the astute Julie. "I wish Ronnie had the money. Why is it that nice people have no money and the rich ones are always 汚い?"
"I know lots who arc both poor and 汚い," said Joanna, "and I prefer the rich variety."
*
Aileen restlessly を待つd Saturday. She 推定する／予想するd Ronald about sundown, but the sun was still high when she began to peer 負かす／撃墜する the road that showed for half a mile before it disappeared in the stately 木材／素質 to 再現する as a white gash 一連の会議、交渉／完成するing a 刺激（する） where the trees had been 削減（する） 負かす／撃墜する beside the telegraph line. Her father, enjoying his Saturday-afternoon laze on the veranda, was facetious. "Sure, the mailman will assume 広大な／多数の／重要な importance, though belike an old man will talk more through his cheque-hook and leave the sentimental twaddle to them that has nothing else."
Aileen was relieved to 受託する the mailman as cover. The hoary old rascal on his ambling brumby followed by his piebald screw with the packs did raise the dust 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 刺激（する） an hour before Ronald, and brought Aileen a letter in an unfamiliar 手渡す.
"Sure," said old Larry, "is that what you've been lookin' for, and ye tryin' to 説得する me against me senses?"
Aileen went to her bedroom with the letter, but the curious and indelicate Julie also had 権利 of 入ること／参加（者） there and plumped herself on her bed, 星／主役にするing and unabashed. "Aren't you going to open it? Is it from Ronnie or old Skinny? Show me the 令状ing."
"Do run away and leave me alone."
"I will if you will show me the letter."
Aileen popped it 負かす／撃墜する the 前線 of her gown and ran up the orchard. Julie 追求するd, 麻薬を吸うing shrilly, "Aileen has put her letter 負かす／撃墜する her 前線 and won't open it."
"You come here or I'll give you a 解除する under the ear," said Pa, and Aileen escaped. She got out of the orchard by climbing a quince-tree, thence to the hay-shed on the hill. Hidden in the 甘い new hay she felt safer and opened the letter, every minute raising her 注目する，もくろむs to that streak on the 刺激（する） for a 配達するing horseman.
STANTON'S PLAINS,
Bool Bool
Thursday Night.
My Little Darling,
I hardly know how to begin my first letter to you. There is so much I should like to say to you and tell you but I will make it short as I must be away at daybreak to Riverina. This is not the season for a man to neglect his 商売／仕事 and I must …に出席する to 商売／仕事 more than ever now so that I can give you everything that your little heart 願望（する）s. After you said the wonderful words which made me such a lucky man on Tuesday night, I went home hardly believing it could be true and that I a somewhat older man could have such a prize ahead of young fellows 十分な of poetry and sentimentality.
I was sorry I could not see you next morning but I wasted no time but 棒 straight up to see your father, which I think was the 権利 thing to do. I was on my way 支援する when I met you with the Pooles today and was glad to see that you had やめる 回復するd. 井戸／弁護士席, as you will know before this reaches you, I had a nice talk with your father and you will be happy to know that he 申し込む／申し出s no 反対s at all and was most welcoming to me and willing to 信用 his little girl to me. The only thing now is for you to 指名する the day that will make me an even happier man than I am now, and I want it to be as soon after New Year as possible. I am eager to have my little darling in a position where I can give her all that her little heart 願望（する）s...
There were pages and pages. SP-over-J, like many silent people, babbled like a brook on paper, those uninteresting weedy brooks in flat country. Aileen, looking up for the fifteenth time, saw the 願望（する）d 人物／姿／数字, and slipped behind bushes 安全な from 観察 across the cow paddock to the 主要道路. The approaching horseman flung off his shying beast with extravagant athleticism when he was yet some yards distant.
"Oh, Ronnie, I thought you'd never come! I never want to part from you again," she exclaimed, her cheek against his, her 武器 tight 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck.
"Tell me, darling."
"It has been terrible. You heard them all at Bookaledgeree, and it has been the same ever since. Everyone has it settled that I am engaged to old SP-over-J, and the mailman has brought me a letter from him yards long. Oh, Ronnie, you'd think I was married to him already to read it. What am I to do?"
"Put his old screed in the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 and tell him to go and 捕らえる、獲得する his old 長，率いる. If he can't take a hint he'll have to be given a good bump."
"I've been careful not to 動かす up things, but I'm afraid of trouble with Pa, and your mother did not seem to want me."
"We can't let fathers or mothers stand in our way. We aren't children."
"I'll slip 支援する through the horse paddock now."
"No 恐れる! You aren't ashamed of me, are you?"
"Oh no, but there will be such ructions."
"The more the merrier if only things are settled. Come on, let's gamely open the ball." He tucked her arm in his, but the ewlogs, 受託するing Aileen's introduction, failed to make a noise and no one 証言，証人／目撃するd their approach. They had to go 権利 inside to be seen. Old Healey said "Good evening" cordially. He was never inhospitable. Young Larry 問い合わせd, "Did you put your horse in the stable?"
"No, I hung him up."
"You're not making home tonight?"
"No. I （機の）カム 特に to see Aileen and your father."
"Good! I'll let your horse out." People liked young Larry. He was genial and 強いるing.
Supper was an uneasy meal to Aileen with delight and 恐れる intermingled. Joanna and Norah looked on enviously. The "ructions" element of having a lover one loved would not have 重さを計るd so ひどく on them as did the 欠如（する） of all but dud 適格のs. One such arrived a few minutes later than Dice. He had been teetering 一連の会議、交渉／完成する for ages. The family could not decide whether it was Norah or Joanna he favoured, but Norah had the more patience so to her he was credited. Old Larry said he only 手配中の，お尋ね者 a place whereat to spend Saturday night in the summer. This was Alf Timson, son of old Timson of Wombat Hill, Monaro, a bachelor ten years younger than Larry père, who managed a summer 駅／配置する at Billy-go-Billy twenty miles up the Jenningningahama. He was of the 早期に 開拓する families and better than nothing. He followed all the 動議s of other men, but 欠如（する）d style. He was useful now to 保存する normality, and in the 製図／抽選-room after dinner kept his 結局最後にはーなる by singing "Juanita" in a reedy drawl with his 注目する，もくろむs の近くにd. He stuck to his host after the singing for a good-night 麻薬を吸う. Ronald did likewise. Old Healey talked politics.
"Damn old sleepy sawney Alf! Why the ジュース can't he make himself 不十分な?" thought Dice, but at last was 軍隊d to retire, and to the same room as Alfred, without having put his 事例／患者.
He rose 早期に, but Alf also forwent beauty sleep, while old Healey took a treble 株. Ronald saw that 適切な時期 had to be made. They 棒 out during the morning to see some travelling sheep pass to a 駅／配置する さらに先に up the Jenningningahama and Dice said, "Mr Healey, I （機の）カム up to have a few words with you about an important 事柄. Will you come on ahead, now?"
"Sure, you're 解放する／自由な to say anything to me you like."
"井戸／弁護士席, Mr Healey, Aileen and I have made up our minds to get married and I thought I'd like a talk with you about it."
"You've made up your minds, you say, you don't mean Aileen has?"
"Oh yes, I do. Aileen has made me very happy by returning my affection. I have her 約束 and we want your 好意／親善 so that we can publish the 約束／交戦."
"持つ／拘留する on, now, not so 急速な／放蕩な. What has Aileen said that makes you think this?"
"Everything that is necessary, Mr Healey."
"This is rather 複雑にするd. Stanton of Turrill Turrill has been before you with a very open-手渡すd 申し込む／申し出 to make handsome 準備／条項 for my daughter. What 準備／条項 do you 提案する to make? How much of Bookaledgeree can you settle on your wife?"
"I 港／避難所't had time to 蓄積する old SP-over-J's money-捕らえる、獲得するs yet, but Aileen prefers love in a cottage to begin, and long before I'm old Skinny's age we'll have more than we need."
"You'll soon find that this love in a cottage is no match for the （強制）執行官. Sure, this love they talk about doesn't last over the honeymoon, but a good solid 所有物／資産／財産 and money in the bank is the greatest 慰安 there is to the young and the old all their lives. The longer they're married the more 堅固に they'll find out the truth of that."
"Money is a handy thing to have about the house, all 権利, but it's not the 長，指導者 thing at this 行う／開催する／段階 of the game. It is much more that Aileen and I are 削減（する） out for each other and don't mind how much hard work is ahead of us."
"That sounds very 罰金, but, me lad, have ye anything to call your own at all?" Larry's own 財政上の 苦境 enabled him to put his finger unerringly on Dice's. Foot by foot he exposed the young man's prospects as having nothing more solid than hope behind them, hope 設立するd more on 楽観主義 than 商売／仕事 acumen. Everything was Mrs Dice's, mortgaged over the 限界, and in bad 修理. Even the horse Ronald 棒 could not have been separated from the 広い地所 in the event of foreclosure. The 事例／患者 of Bookaledgeree was that of Neangen only that Mrs Dice's was the more 価値のある 所有物／資産／財産. It was nearer to town and had more detimbered acreage, though where the scrub had been extirpated, briars high as houses and denser than a 塀で囲む with 涙／ほころびing thorns had taken its place.
Driven in a corner, Ronald said, "At any 率, Aileen and I think a tremendous lot of each other. It would be a sin and a shame for either of us to think of anyone else, feeling as we do. Aileen is nearly twenty-three and I am going on for twenty-four, so we hope, even though you think we are foolish, that we shall have your 同意 and good wishes."
"No child of 地雷 would have my 同意 to sacrifice herself to poverty while every 高級な was waiting for her. It is my 義務 as a father to see to that. This talk about love is not 価値（がある） that," said Healey, snapping his fingers. "People せねばならない be held 負かす／撃墜する for such lunacy while ありふれた sense is left to those surrounding them, so I'd thank you to say no more of this to Aileen."
"You surely wouldn't want Aileen to marry without the proper affection, no 事柄 how much money the man had?"
"In this 事例／患者 Aileen will be thankin me a year from now. She is an innocent little gurrl and doesn't know her own mind. There are plenty others, you go 選ぶ one of them now like a sensible fellow. Why not one of those young Saunderses or Stantons with h nice little nest-egg behind them belike, and leave Aily be. 'Tis the chance of her life. Sure, she doesn't know her own mind. She's a trifle bemoidered with all the fuss and attention, a modestly 後部d little gurrl like she is!"
"She's a grown woman. Let us have her tell us herself what she wishes when we go 支援する to the house."
"Sure, 'tis no good of askin' them that's got the fever. 'Tis those lookin' on knows their foolish 明言する／公表する."
He did not forbid Dice the house nor 可決する・採択する an unfriendly 態度 に向かって him. On the contrary Dice now 設立する it as difficult to escape from his host as before it had been to take him aside. The presence of Timson was also unremitting. 悪口を言う／悪態s upon the gawky ばか者!
He managed a few words with Aileen at parting. "Send that silly letter 支援する to the old Death Adder and tell him he is barking up the wrong stump. Your father doesn't believe you care for me and thinks you would be happier with the money-捕らえる、獲得するs. You must 納得させる him."
"Oh, Ronnie, Pa is only pretending. I'd rather live in a salt-shed or a テント with you than at 政府 House with that horrid skinny old thing."
"Then you must be 会社／堅い. Take no notice of the Death Adder's letters after you let him know that he is making a fool of himself. Just wait 根気よく, no 事柄 what anyone says. I could put up a little two-roomed humpy on the other 味方する of the river for us to begin."
"Oh, Ronnie, that would be divine!"
"All 権利, then, you go and 令状 a letter making that as plain as the old strawberry bull and give it to me so we can be sure it is 地位，任命するd."
She did as bidden. She returned SP-over-J's effusion with many thanks and 明言する／公表するd her 悔いる that anything she had said in the 当惑 of 存在 乱すd by Marcia and Amy had made him think what he 表明するd.
Aileen's missive, gently worded, 原因（となる）d SP-over-J to 令状 short incisive 商売／仕事 letters to the bank and old Larry. Woe to young love when old love puts on golden 刺激（する）s.
Stanton 明言する／公表するd his 無（不）能 to understand so inconsistent and heart-breaking an 態度—many sheets. He 詳細（に述べる）d his luxurious 計画（する）s for Aileen—約束s and 申し込む／申し出s that left all other lovers at the starting 地位，任命する.
Aileen wrote to Ronald. Her father 迎撃するd the letter. There was in that locality no 中心存在-box with the 政府 as 共犯者. Aileen had to depend upon others, and learnt how undependable others could be from her point of 見解（をとる）, how careless of the axiom about a shut mouth and the 飛行機で行くs. Her father forbade her to 令状 to Stanton unless the letter met his ideas. He took her to Monaro and put her in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of his sister Joanna.
This change was better for Aileen and she got a letter 地位，任命するd. Ronald was making a desperate 成果／努力 to pull Bookaledgeree together. The season favoured him. Even Bookaledgeree was 乾燥した，日照りの, the creeks lower than they had been for years, but 在庫／株 can 持つ／拘留する out 無期限に／不明確に in hot 天候 with plenty of water, and the wicked briars 証明するd a stand-by. The brassy unyielding skies were spreading an old-man 干ばつ on Old Man Plain, and all the plains north and west of Riverina to Bourke and Broken Hill and the 広大な／多数の／重要な nor'-west. This meant 利益（をあげる）s from agistment to those who held runs in the mountain country, and the Dices 利益d, though only わずかに compared with their 義務／負債s.
The place 存在 在庫／株d to the 限界, the young men were 十分な-手渡すd. Ronald slogged all the week. The dilapidated dog-脚 盗品故買者s, which had not been 取って代わるd by 分裂（する） rail nor even stud 盗品故買者s, while the 進歩／革新的な had taken to 地位，任命するs and wire, entailed vigilant 境界-riding to keep sojourning 在庫／株 from 侵略するing 隣人ing runs. But on Saturday afternoon arrived the 週刊誌 かみそり hour and dressing-up 事前の to gallivanting, and there was nothing to 妨げる a hardy energetic young man in love from taking the 跡をつける beaten years before when other Monaro or Bool Bool lovers had come and gone by the channel of the Jenningningahama.
By starting すぐに after dinner on the Saturday に引き続いて Aileen's 除去, Ronald arrived under Poole's window by daylight.
"How's Aileen?" he 問い合わせd after waking his host.
"Asleep, I reckon, unless she's listening for you."
"広大な／多数の／重要な Scott! is she here? That's luck."
Aileen had 主張するd upon 支払う／賃金ing her 尊敬（する）・点s to old Mrs Poole, now nearly eighty-six, since Mr Poole had been so 肉親，親類d as to wait in Bool Bool and bring her home after the ball. She 設立する her cousin Sheila amenable to her 目的, for she had a fancy for one of the young Pooles. Both girls revelled in their luck in 存在 許すd to spend the week-end at Curradoobidgee.
"Have you knocked SP-over-J out of the running?"
"He's never been in as far as I am 関心d. Aileen can't がまんする the old Death Adder. Old Larry is after the money-捕らえる、獲得するs, of course. Let him go and marry 'em himself, if he wants 'em."
"Yes," said Poole equably. "You and Aileen are both of age, and if you care for each other in the 権利 way you need not let anything 封鎖する you."
"We don't mean to."
"More 力／強力にする to you! Old Jack, I reckon, will 回復する. There are plenty 候補者s for the 職業 of missus of Turrill Turrill, much nearer his own age. I reckon an old man takes no end of a jump in the dark to marry a young girl. Don't you want some grub? And turn in till breakfast. There's a spare bed in the next room."
"Thanks! I put the horses in the orchard. I'm awfully glad you are on my 味方する. Would you mind not について言及するing my visit or Aileen's to anyone who would take it 支援する to Neangen or the old Death Adder."
"I shan't spread the news. There will be plenty others to spare me the trouble. So long! See you at breakfast."
The young folks had a merry Sunday and in the evening Dice had the felicity of riding part of the way with Aileen に向かって her aunt Joanna. Sheila did not について言及する Dice's presence at Curradoobidgee. The lovers were 安全な for the moment.
The に引き続いて Saturday Ronald followed the same 手続き. Aileen was not at Curradoobidgee this time, so after breakfast Ronald 棒 over to Aunt Joanna's. Joanna Healey had married one of the Gilberts, and the pair had settled on the outward flanges of Gowandale, which 隣接するd Poole's. Aileen had had a letter asking her to 会合，会う Ronald without the family's cognizance, but the exigencies of bush homes were such that she could not wander 前へ／外へ for hours without 存在 行方不明になるd and 誘発するing microscopic curiosity. Ronald had to ride boldly up to the 選択 and call upon the family.
He was received cordially enough. Aileen appeared without any fuss の中で her cousins and with her Aunt Joanna—特に with her Aunt Joanna, who had received 指示／教授／教育s. Aileen was chaperoned to look at the flower garden and perambulate the orchard. Ronald 欠如（する）d the training to carry on an 情熱的な yet 私的な 宣言 in the teeth of a duenna as Latin beaux can do. He had to be content with whispering over a rose-bush, "You'll have to 令状 to me."
"I'm afraid Pa has got on to us and there is no hope. Aunt Joanna is on his 味方する."
Alf Timson had 認めるd the 跡をつけるs of Dice's horse up past Billy-go-Billy, and, sheepish though he was, 設立する it amusing to について言及する at Neangen. Young Larry, too, was yet 無傷の so had neither sentimentality nor sympathy 関心ing young love. The money-捕らえる、獲得するs were more attractive to him and he did not enjoin silence upon Alf, so when for the third time Ronald 実験（する）d his horse with that stiff 旅行 he did not find Aileen.
*
It was not so simple as Poole 示唆するd. The 橋（渡しをする） was opened in the middle of November, and by Christmas Ronald and Aileen's love 事件／事情／状勢 had become succulent news from Monaro to Bool Bool. The male wits had bets on it; the women took 味方するs, and most of them were for Ronald and against SP-over-J for 干渉するing with young love's dream. The Stantons 反対するd to the Healeys. The Dices were also 堅固に against having Aileen in the family. Aileen's mother, the second Mrs Larry, was only a 境界-rider's daughter. Worse, her father had been demented in his later clays, and his wife had had to take a 在庫／株-whip to him to get him out of bed. He grew violent and there were gruesome stories of the numbers of men it had taken to 持つ／拘留する him に向かって the end. His madness was せいにするd to the 影響s of drink on a 長，率いる 不正に 損失d by sun-一打／打撃, and he was 安全に dead, but there were 同志／支持者s to point out now that Mrs Healey's brother, a drover 負かす／撃墜する the Bland, was a weird 見本／標本 too, as mad as a meat-axe though he had never been sun-struck. Some said Mrs Healey herself was a poor weak sort of a creature, others 持続するd that that was all anyone could be with old Larry. Some detractors said that Aileen was 欠如（する）ing in get-up-and-go, but these were all over thirty, and women at that. Aileen had 単に to appear in one of the fairy dresses she made so cleverly and her 非武装の gentleness 始める，決める men and younger maids a-raving.
There was little unknown to those two high priestesses of family history in Bool Bool, the Mayoress and Mrs Isaacs, their penchant for news 存在 補佐官d by their 各々の callings. What one did not hear by way of gossip at the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業 when whisky let discretion out, the other discovered or had 確認するd in friendly 信用／信任 in the 支援する room where accounts were settled over ワイン and cake—Mrs Isaacs always kept this part of the 商売／仕事 in her own 手渡すs. Thus everything （機の）カム to light as authentically as possible with mutable human 事件／事情／状勢s. There was also a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of gossip の中で the 市長 and 会社／団体.
"Sure, they've been tellin' me that ould Larry has sint Aileen off to Sydney to his brother Dinny," 観察するd Mrs M'Haffety to Mrs Isaacs. "Young Ronald was trapesing up to Monaro 病弱な Saturday night afther the other."
"Aileen will be able to 令状 to Ronald from Sydney, unless they keep her under lock and 重要な."
"That's there. I wonder will the young people 勝利，勝つ."
"Not they. They'd make a nice pair if they had everything laid out for them, but they 欠如（する） the backbone. I was told for a fact that SP-over-J has the mortgages on both Neangen and Bookaledgeree, and that puts old Larry against Ronald."
"You don't mean to say the ould jew lizard is quoite as mean as that!"
"You don't know as much as I do about people when it's a 事柄 of money. Old Healey would sell his mother, and the Dices are not going to be turned out of house and home for a girl they are dead against in any 事例／患者. Old Jack has both families 適切に 保釈（金）d up."
"What a pity for the young people. Poor darlints!"
"They could run away if they liked. Look at me and Jacob. We hadn't a penny and had to help keep our parents and the younger ones. Jacob started out with a 続けざまに猛撃する's 価値（がある） of goods on his 支援する in a box, and look at us today!"
"But thim days has gone. Sure, Aileen and Ronald couldn't start on a 続けざまに猛撃する 強硬派ing a few rags."
"井戸／弁護士席 then, let them put up with the other circumstances," said Rebecca 堅固に. "If people are above making their own fortune they will have to do as they are told by those with money."
Aileen 設立する alleviation in her banishment to Sydney. Aunt Dennis was not averse from having her: she was a dainty bait in the hotel 貿易（する）. She spoke to her niece solidly. "If the old Death Adder, as you call him, makes you sick in spite of his money, and the young one hasn't a penny, and seems to be a thriftless sort who will never put much together, now is your chance to forget him and escape the old lizard, or whatever he is, by choosing a young one that you can marry with 楽しみ, 同様に as him having the spondulics."
"Oh, I couldn't forget Ronnie!"
"That's what all the girls think at first, but looking 支援する after a few years I bet the half of them wonder why; and all this fuss about old Stanton's money—-has he got so much when all is said and done? I suppose your father thinks anything big above a spring-cart and those wombat 穴を開けるs about Little River, and I believe Neangen is much worse. Some of those old 無断占拠者s, who are such big potatoes in the bush, are only very mangy cockatoos in Sydney or Melbourne. When I was in 商売／仕事 in Goulburn"—she had been barmaid at the 商業の, the smart hotel of its day—"I thought the Healeys were somebody, 特に when they bought Eueurunda, the talk of the day. God save me, I was never in such a forlorn 穴を開ける in my life. As for those old frumps at Gowandale and Curradoobidgee, horrors 保存する me from them! My Ellie and Aileen have both made 罰金 town matches, and I advise you to do the same. Two of my barmaids also married real rich fellows—one of them living in a mansion at Potts Point, and neither of those girls, nor my own either, had half your good looks. Wake up! You don't want to be a bushwhacker all your life."
Mrs Healey was an 独立した・無所属 mind. She had earned her own living before she married, and supported her family after her husband's 衝突，墜落 (old Denny was a pitiable 難破させる, with a male attendant), not in a noble way of life it is true, but she had a good 指名する in a 合法と認めるd 商売／仕事, one of few open to her sex at that date.
"Marry if you get the chance," she continued. "I shouldn't worry about saving the family. They're all big and strong enough to look after themselves, and if SP-over-J is like a lot of old 爆撃する-支援するs I've seen in my time, the family may not get anything out of him in any 事例／患者."
Aileen said little in 返答 to this plain 知恵. In spite of 非常に／多数の admirers of her beauty and the excitement of her first experience of city life in lively surroundings, she was heartsick for Ronald. He wrote her 情熱的な screeds and she replied in 類似の 重要な, but he could not leave the 在庫／株 in the 現在の season to visit her.
From this point of vantage, and adjured by Ronald, she also wrote something to SP-over-J. He 即時に put the screw on old Larry, who wrote ひどく to Mrs Dennis for 許すing Aileen to carry on a correspondence, but she had the truculent independence of sisters-in-法律 who feel their marriage has not been the 取引 they fancied, and told Larry she was not a jailer, and if he was not 満足させるd with Aileen's behaviour he was 解放する／自由な to superintend it himself.
Aileen returned to Neangen after a 事柄 of days; she had not the backbone to 受託する her aunt's 申し込む／申し出 to remain in the hotel and 反抗する her parents, and craved only to be in the neighbourhood of Ronald.
*
Ronald 設立する it impossible to see her or communicate with her at Neangen. Gossip grew to a 嵐／襲撃する. Tommy Roper, horse-fancier and raconteur, returned to Ten Creeks from Riverina, whither he had gone to 除去する 在庫／株 for Stanton, and had a good yarn with Flash Billy, who was minding his bits and training 取り組む carefully these days to the end that 確かな things might blow over now that the boss was away at Turrill Turrill and had his mind さもなければ 占領するd.
Billy hoped for his part that the old man pulled it off with the Healey jam-puff. "She wouldn't he so —— 干渉するing as that long-nosed old hag of a Lucy."
"It won't help you the littlest bit," said Tommy. "Might be outer the fryin' pan into the —— 解雇する／砲火／射撃. Ole Lucy has raised such —— hell with old Skinny Guts about the Healey filly—'fraid she would lose her nosebag and roof—that I heerd ole Skinny got her to call her dogs off of him by swearin' that she shall allers be left to poke her nose の間の things on Ten Creeks while the happy married couple is at Turrill Turrill, and vizzy-versa, as the cove said. Old Skinny had to butter her up about bein' a 広大な／多数の／重要な 経営者／支配人—as good as Mrs Labosseer at Coolooluk by his make-out—an' she is to save him from the thieves and robbers by which he is surrounded, them bein' you and Long Billy. It stan's to 推論する／理由 that ole Skinny will want to cart his new missus 負かす／撃墜する to Riverina to be outer reach of Ron Dice—the dandy bloke—an' you'll have ole Lucy summer an' winter to make your 哀れな little life happy."
"Blind him! I hope he can't git her. I hope she elopes with young Ron the night afore the weddin'."
"The night after would be more fun to them lookin' on."
"I think it's pretty stinkin' of a man to git a girl by holdin' his mortgages over the 長，率いる of her family and the family of her lover, straight wire, I do. Serve him 権利 if he fell off his horse an' broke his neck."
"No —— 恐れる of him loin' that. It's the sort of thing that happens to innercent little blokes like you an' me."
"I heard that everyone has tried to call ole Skinny off. They even tol' ole 広大な／多数の／重要な-gran'ma Mazere, an' they don't worry her about much these days, an' she's a reel ole daisy, 申し込む／申し出d to help Ron with one of her farms or somethink, but his ma is the old lady's niece and put her off, as they don't want Ron tied up with the Healeys and old mother Healey's lunatic taint."
"Good アイロンをかける wingey! for the ole woman. I wonder if she'd help me if I pitched a pitiful skyte. But it's ole Larry is the pill to swaller. It would take thousan's to pull him outer the 穴を開ける an keep him above water."
"Mv cripes, I wonder why Ronald doesn't carry Aileen off. I heerd the ole man keeps her locked up an' （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 her, an' that she's got a fever. He might send her off her chump. Ron's been ridin' up to Neangen every night, an' old Larry comes out with a gun to him. Things is pretty hot, all 権利."
"My cripes! You're 権利! I heerd as I come through Bool Bool that Ron took no notice er the old goanna, thought he wouldn't pull the 誘発する／引き起こす, but he 発射 the horse from under him, an' 脅すd he would shoot him just as quick if he come again."
"My cripes, you don't mean it!"
"It's a fact. My —— 大陸の, it is."
"When did this happen?"
"The night afore last."
"What horse was it?"
"Spondulix."
"Spondulix! My cripes, what a loss. What did young Ron do about it?"
"He couldn't do nothink. Had to leave him there."
"He was reel dead?"
"Dead as mutton when it's in the 樽 a week. Ron 選ぶd up his saddle an' walked away. The old goanna didn't shoot while he was walkin' away."
"Did he hoof it all the way to Bookaledgeree?"
"I don't know about that, but the other come through ole Alf Timson. He was 負かす／撃墜する in Bool Bool to 会合，会う some sheep."
"Sly ole sawney, Alf; is he still after Joanna?"
"Norah, ain't it?"
"How the devil do I know? He don't know himself. What is ole Skinny doin' to keep his 結局最後にはーなる?"
"Sendin' fat letters every week to the girl an' thin little ones to the ole man. The mailman let it out to ole Billy Prendergast."
"I'll betcher there's more 商売／仕事 in one of them little letters to ole Larry than in all the fat ones put together."
"We ain't got any way of provin' it."
"What'll be the end, do you think?"
"If Ron can't git some way of takin' the girl by 軍隊, like a feller I onct saw in a play-actin' piece in Sydney, when I took them Cuppinbingle horses 負かす／撃墜する to Kiss's Bazaar, ole Skinny an' Larry between them has the weddin' arranged to take place under the nose of everyone in Bool Bool at New Year."
"Go on! You don't mean it! It'd be a lark if the two ole blokes could only marry each other, as they're so shook on it. My cripes, that would be fun! If there could only be some way of palmin' ole Larry off on ole Skinny instead of the filly, an' when they got to their room...Good アイロンをかける wingey! Ha! Ha! Ha! Hal Haw! Haw! Haw! Haw! He! He! He! He! He! He! He! 売春婦! 売春婦! I could 破産した／（警察が）手入れする me 味方するs thinkin' er that!"
"What's the good er thinkin' er what won't never happen. After all, ole Skinny deserves to 勝利，勝つ in a way: he's made up his 地雷."
"My cripes, you're 権利! If I 手配中の，お尋ね者 a girl that had, I'd have her anyway. I can't understand anyone gettin' so worked up over ole Joanna or Norah, can you?"
"No. Women an' horses is jes' the same. It's this way..." Their 信用／信任s of equine amours grew unfit to chronicle and beyond the 即座の 活動／戦闘 of this narrative.
The romance of Bool Bool had ripened richly in the short time between Aileen's return from Sydney and the afternoon that Tommy Roper and Flash Billy discussed it on the meat 封鎖するs 近づく Ten Creeks stables. It was true that Ronald had put his 事例／患者 before old Mrs Mazere, and that his mother had checkmated him there. She withheld mercy on account of the impecuniosity of the Healeys and because the 産む／飼育する was in bad odour with the 一族／派閥. She worked upon 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma with regard to the 申し立てられた／疑わしい mental taint on Aileen's maternal 味方する. Jane Dice was not so 同情的な to young love that she would 危険 存在 turned out of Bookaledgeree by crossing the mortgagor and 存在 left with a distasteful daughter-in-法律 in 新規加入 to her other worries.
The 干ばつ in Riverina was not so 緊急の to SP-over-J as his personal 事件／事情／状勢s, so he returned to Bool Bool. Old Mrs Mazere 召喚するd him to her. She was a fearless old mother of her tribe and servant of the Lord, によれば her lights, and spoke plainly about the danger of perpetuating a bad mental 緊張する.
"I am afraid you have been listening to spiteful gossip," said Stanton calmly and respectfully. It was not the custom 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Bool Bool to resent old Mrs Mazere's advice. "I have 調査／捜査するd the 事柄, and it seems plain to me that Mrs Healey's father went off his 長，率いる only because of delirium tremens and a sun-一打／打撃. That sort of thing can't be 相続するd. Even so, it might skip Aileen. She would have more chance with me than dragging along in poverty and worry..."
"It's the children. Parents take on a 激しい 責任／義務 before God."
"I come from a hardy practical 緊張する, and it would take a lot to send old Larry Healey off his 長，率いる, I should 裁判官."
"The Healeys have いつかs failed in moral 原則 and are irreligious—they are neither fish nor herrings. Yoke not yourself with the ungodly, my boy."
"I should never think of calling Aileen ungodly. I'm sure she will make a 広大な／多数の／重要な little churchgoer as soon as we are married."
"Marriage, my boy, is for better or worse."
"If it should be worse instead of better I am better placed than a thriftless fellow to 直面する things."
"But you surely wouldn't 軍隊 a girl to marry you against her will?"
"I am sorry you have been told malicious tales. Aileen 受託するd me before there was any thought of Ronald. He had every chance, and there was never a squeak out of him till f had 直す／買収する，八百長をするd it all tip both with the girl and her father. I watched them together at Ten Creeks during the 召集（する） and they took no 利益／興味 in each other, but as soon as I honourably 発表する my 意向s, he goes off his onion like a dog with a bait. You notice his mother doesn't take him 本気で!"
"I'm sure, John, I only know what I've been told. You must excuse an old woman for 干渉, but I have seen you grow tip, and we are nearly all gone now—your mother and father..."
"I am glad you have spoken to me, because I am able to tell you about the facts. You've been told fish-yarns. I mean to do everything for the little girl."
The old lady, her 直面する criss-crossed by sun-削減（する） wrinkles 深くするd by nearly fourscore years, looked at him out of honest 注目する，もくろむs that had never 問題／発行するd a furtive ちらりと見ること, and placed her frail knotted 手渡す, brown as a mummy's, on his sleeve. "Ronald （機の）カム to rue in 苦しめる, so I sent for you, and you have been good enough to come too: there is only one thing more. I should like the girl to come and stay with me here, and tell me the truth, so that I could 裁判官 if this thing is seemly or not. I should like her to be with me in the presence of both you and Ronald. Will you bring her to me and leave her with me for a few days?"
"I should like to, but it depends upon the girl herself and her parents. At any 率, thank you, Mrs Mazere."
"Good-bye, John. The Lord bless you and keep you always, and guide you and yours in His way."
SP-over-J 支援するd out. He 機動力のある his 罰金 horse and 棒 out of town, not に向かって Stanton's Plains. He 手配中の，お尋ね者 a longer, harder ride, and felt too ruffled to go to Neangen. He decided to ride straight through to Ten Creeks though the day was already far gone. It would 控訴 his mood to surprise that lot of crawlers and sharks, sponging on him and eating their mutton 長，率いるs off.
Old Mrs Mazere was too 本物の, too 肉親，親類d for anything but 尊敬（する）・点. It was that はうing, whining, squealing mongrel Dice that incensed him. Stanton's awakened 血 seethed with the fury of senile passion after 長引いた quiescence. Mrs Mazere's intercession 常習的な his 決意 to 怒り／怒る. Aileen he would have, alive or dead, willing or 抗議するing.
He reviewed his sex loves. Adolescent fancy had first been awakened by Rachel Mazere of Three Rivers, her of Coolooluk these days, Simon Labosseer's 未亡人. Losing her to Simon left no scar. Deeper emotions had speedily been stirred by Mary Brennan of The Gap, sister of old Tim, who 統治するd there now.
Ah, that was a different 事件／事情／状勢! He could still picture Mary, regal, glowing, altogether lovely with her 栄冠を与える of hair like new 巡査 tinged with red, and generous disposition to match her splendid 割合s; and oh, the 親切 of her soft Irish heart that warmed and melted him like the sun! There never was another like Mary. She could turn a man into a saint.
Yet she would not be 肉親，親類d to him. It was Bert Poole of Curradoobidgee that she had loved. With all her generous warm nature she would not be 肉親，親類d to him, Jack Stanton, no, not even after all hope in Bert's direction had been killed by his 約束／交戦 to Emily Mazere. No, rather than take him, Jack, she became a 修道女, forsook the world and died young, the legend for all to read on her headstone at The Gap.
After that there had been episodes with other women, sordid episodes out of which he never （機の）カム with credit or satisfaction, 存在 too 用心深い and 欠如（する）ing in generosity, so he had given the king of indoor sports a 残り／休憩（する） this good ten years till a sudden conflagration was started by Aileen Healey. This tormenting madness had not racked him for years, and honour, friendship, mercy—it 事柄d not what—could go into the discard so long as he could 満足させる 願望（する）.
解任するing his past 敗北・負かすs he felt savage. He would not in his old days again he の中で the ruck and a laughing 在庫／株, no 事柄 what it cost in mercy and money. Of the old folks who had seen him go a-法廷，裁判所ing nearly forty years before, only old Mrs Mazere and the M'Haffetys, the Isaacs, and a few tradespeople 生き残るd. There remained his 即座の 同時代のs, who had ridden with him where welcome lights of tallow candles and 広大な／多数の／重要な スピードを出す／記録につける 解雇する／砲火／射撃s and 有望な 注目する，もくろむs shone from the old homesteads at the 十分な or dark of the moon, in the heat of summer or the nipping 霜s of winter. 真っ先の of these had been Poole. He too was still unwed, but it was much more romantic that one's bride should have been 溺死するd just after the 約束／交戦 was 発表するd, than for one's love to take the 隠す rather than 受託する him; and Poole seemed obtuse to matrimonial 適切な時期 or sensual 勧める, and content to fool about as uncle-in-general to the younger 世代.
He laughed aloud, 脅すing a drove of wallabies from Wamgambril Flats, and whistled once more to his muzzled dogs that 固執するd in calling attention to the endless possums in endless trees till they were hoarse and footsore. Curlews and plovers wailed about the bridle-跡をつけるs, and away up the 深い cleft that let Corroboree Creek through from 開始する Corroboree, 黒人／ボイコット and forbidding, he could hear the dingoes howling. The night was 冷静な／正味の and crisp, heaven after the heat of Riverina, purified by the aroma of hundreds of miles of undespoiled eucalyptus forests with a rippling creek every mile or two—his native habitat, no other country to compare with it! 干ばつ could not reach here. In years to come this would be the choicest part of Australia. All the night 発言する／表明するs ふさわしい his mood, from the 勝利，勝つd-like music of the streams to the howl of the dingoes and the clack of his horse's hoofs striking 解雇する／砲火／射撃 on the flinty ledges.
He thought of Aileen, and what old Mrs Mazere 示唆するd about taking her to Three Rivers for 観察. Hang it all, they 行為／法令／行動するd as if he were an ogre, while all the time he was giving the girl the 適切な時期 of a 世代. A dozen other women would leap at it. Not for any money would he 危険 招待するing either Joanna or Norah Healey, nor yet Ida or Olive Dice, or half a dozen others about Bool Bool to be his wife; and there was a 未亡人 隣接するing Turrill Turrill who had done everything but ask him point-blank to marry her. Rose and Flora Farquharson, too, of Keba, were always riding up the Coolgarbilli to see their friend, Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く Milford, because her girlhood's home 隣接するd theirs, but SP-over-J slyly 公式文書，認めるd that they invariably （機の）カム 経由で Ten Creeks Run, though over the river there was a better 跡をつける direct to Jinninjinninbong. にもかかわらず, behind this 十分な field of 可能性s again rose Mary Brennan's ghost. Mary would not have him on any 条件 when he was young, and Rachel Mazere, pretty as a fairy in those days, had laughed at him too, and taken Simon Labosseer, the Dutchman, who had been considered inconceivably 古代の at thirty. He had thought of Mrs Labosseer again during her 早期に widowhood when she was still in the thirties, but instinct had 警告するd him that she would be no more amenable than she had been in her teens, and he had 説得するd himself that the 障壁 was the children. He was not the 肉親，親類d of softy to sweat his eyeballs out for another man's brats!
He was often swept by 激怒（する） against Aileen. In his sane moments he 概算の that all the 非難する could not be laid on Dice's caterwaulings. He and the public must have some 燃料 for their 解雇する／砲火／射撃 in Aileen's 態度. Mary Brennan would not take him when young, Aileen was considered a 殉教者 to be taken by him though he was not yet sixty, as active as anyone, and rich. His heart 常習的な. He would not 許す her to escape and fool him now as he had been fooled when callow. To do his better 味方する 司法（官）, he would then be 打ち勝つ by senile fondness. He would make such a pet of the little thing, dress her like a doll, make a queen of her, so that she could not help 存在 happy, and the envy of the country.
Ten Creeks homestead spread before him in the 夜明け. The season's foals and their dams were waking on the river flats, and perfumed blue smoke was curling from the kitchen chimney of rough スピードを出す／記録につけるs. Long Billy was saving his 評判 by 乱すing the milking cows from their beauty sleep on the clover patches. The sun kissed the 頂点（に達する）s over the river and threw 支援する the reflection の上に 開始する Corroboree as he descended a little stiffly from the saddle, flung the reins to the waiting rouseabout and went inside to see if Lucy and Milly were up.
*
Ronald put his 事例／患者 before Poole and 控訴，上告d for his 影響（力） in saving Aileen. Poole had also seen Aileen's 涙／ほころびs. He knew the Healey 味方する of the 事例／患者 intimately, and had the temperament to make a more just and 穏健な 見積（る） of it than anyone, and he so little liked the 態度 of his 青年's companion, that にもかかわらず 原則s against 干渉 he felt impelled to say something to him. 審理，公聴会 that Stanton was 支援する in the 地区 he 設立する 商売／仕事 to bring him to Bool Bool and then thought it would be nice to see how Milly was getting on at Ten Creeks, and 棒 一連の会議、交渉／完成する that way. He was alone with his host in the evening when Milly had been banished to bed and Mr Blenkinsop was setting her a literary 演習 in the schoolroom.
"Don't you think, Jack, that you and I have left it so long that we had better leave marriage alone altogether now? Aileen's a taking little thing, but rather a child."
"What the devil have my 事件／事情／状勢s to do with you?"
"Nothing at all to do with me, Jack, 単に an 利益／興味d bystander. I've known you for a good many years, and, of course, I can't shut my ears to all the talk. Some of it isn't nice."
"If you are going soft, and like to make a billy-goat of yourself listening to the old women."
"It's not only the old women, it's the 世代 that has grown up since our day. They have a 権利 to their point of 見解（をとる） about those of their own age. If the girl was willing, I should not say anything about the difference in age."
"That mongrel has been squealing to you. If I 申し込む／申し出d him a few quid I bet you'd hear no more about his love 事件／事情／状勢s—not with Aileen. He needn't think he's 取引，協定ing with an old woman with 軟化するing of the brain."
"You are only possuming, Jack. Can you tell me honestly that you're not putting the screw on old Larry, and letting Jane Dice know that you could put the screw on there too if you liked?"
"Go to hell and mind your own 商売／仕事," said SP-over-J with the snap of a dingo 罠（にかける）.
"Sorry to have put you out, Jack. It is 非，不，無 of my 商売／仕事 of course, only I hope you will be able to keep your noddle later if things don't turn out 正確に／まさに 楽園. Chickens have a way of going home to roost. It is いつかs better to squabash things in the egg 行う／開催する／段階."
"Keep your advice for yourself. You may want it."
"I may. 井戸／弁護士席, old man, it's not 価値（がある） quarrelling about. I'll say no more."
SP-over-J 回復するing himself said, "If you're anxious for a 職業 in the 事件／事情／状勢, why don't you come and lend me a 手渡す as best man at the wedding?"
"I should be glad to under different circumstances."
"What's the 事柄—jealous?"
"Perhaps I am. If you could 保証する me that the girl is willing I'd 喜んで stand up with you." With that they called it a day.
*
Poole, にもかかわらず, was not at all 満足させるd that Stanton was not putting the screw on. Ronald's tale could not all be the result of overheated imagination. The coming marriage was the スキャンダル of Monaro 同様に as Bool Bool. 行方不明になる Jessie M'Eachern asked her old friend for the facts, as he believed them, next time he 棒 over. 行方不明になる M'Eachern was famous in those days as the first native spinster of the 地区s, and earned その上の notoriety by 統治するing alone on Gowandale, the 初めの 開拓する 持つ／拘留するing, and making of it one of the most thriftily managed 所有物／資産／財産s in the Southern 地区. She was a spry dame in the 早期に fifties and by her ability as a grazier and her 無視（する） of the 条約s was accounted eccentric.
Only 行方不明になる M'Eachern knew why she was not Mrs Herbert Poole. It was a long-standing puzzle to Poole upon which he cogitated even now. Her 指名する had been unfailingly coupled with his in their young days and there were still some who betted that they would end their days as man and wife.
"What is going to happen?" she 問い合わせd of the Stanton-Dice Healey entanglement.
"The wedding is coining off after the New Year unless some 奇蹟 介入するs."
"Why don't the young people elope and have done with it? They could get a 寝台／地位 as man and wife.
"Aileen is no match for her family, and Dice's folks have the whip-end of him too. SP-over-J is 有能な of foreclosing on both places if he doesn't get his way, and Larry has shut the girl up and beaten her, unless the talk is all lies."
"Most talk is. The girl is over twenty-one. She can do what she likes."
"But you don't know old Larry's methods."
"I think I can 見積（る） them. You must remember he tried to marry half a dozen of us before poor Sissy Gilbert was simple enough to take him, so he must have shown some of his 質s."
"But you didn't 受託する any of us, Jessie. You 辞退するd Hugh Mazere after 存在 engaged to him for months, and you 辞退するd me twice. Did you put me in the same box as Larry?"
"Surely you heard the ありふれた talk of why I broke with Hugh. It was nearly as noisy as the 衝突／不一致 about Aileen and young Dice today."
"井戸／弁護士席, the talk was, the talk was..."
"Why do you hesitate?"
"井戸／弁護士席, they used to chaff me, and when I was fool enough to believe I had a chance I 設立する you were only pulling my 脚, so you see how far from the 船体's-注目する，もくろむ talk can he. Now that I've the pluck to tell you the truth, why don't you tell me why you gave me, 同様に as Larry, a slice of turnip?"
"井戸／弁護士席, the first time, I could see you didn't want me very much. If you had 手配中の，お尋ね者 me a little more, I should have taken you then."
"By Jove, Jessie M'Eachern, do you mean that I have 行方不明になるd all these years just because I was ぎこちない! I've never been much at laying on the soft soap."
行方不明になる M'Eachern rose and went clown the 狭くする old 製図／抽選-room where they had danced together long ago, and where the 弾丸 穴を開ける put in the 塀で囲む by the bushrangers to 警告する the men was plainly 明白な. She stepped out on the veranda where the roses still clung—yellow, white, pink, and deepest purple-redwhere she had taken him one Leap Year night to 演習 her prerogative and had met humiliation. In the 高さ of summer glory the perfume of the roses filled the hot afternoon. A zephyr from Cootapatamba softly swept the grasses, girth-high in the homestead enclosures, and rippled the tussocks on the undulating plains に向かって Curradoobidgee. Poole rose too and stood with her on the 辛勝する／優位 of the old veranda where he remembered sitting with her one night under the 星／主役にするs while the ダンサーs whirled past the windows to the skirl of old Bab M'Intosh's bagpipes.
Rab, the Eueurunda shepherd, had gone with Mrs Labosseer over the 範囲s but had always pined for Monaro and had come 支援する there—to the M'Eacherns—to die. He had requested to be buried 近づく his old hut, but it had been in inimical 所有権 at that date so the good M'Eacherns had 妥協d by putting him on a dainty 山の尾根 at the 味方する of the orchard with a 罰金 見解（をとる） of the 広範囲にわたる plains where mile upon mile of gowans waved in summer beauty, and to which he had transferred his Scottish affections. The ripening grasses were high on the 塚 with its carved 木造の 長，率いる-board; the palings grey with years of 炎ing sun and whipping winter sleet and 勝利，勝つd. The old man had been wont to muse that the long-legged 黒人／ボイコット callant from Curradoobidgee was 捜し出すing 行方不明になる Jessie for the other 味方する of his hearth against the time that Stepmother Poole should he gone to the land of the leal. But old Mrs Poole was still very much mistress of the Curradoobidgee fireside and 行方不明になる Jessie and the long-legged callant—still a bachelor—were talking on the exact 位置／汚点／見つけ出す where they had talked a 世代 past.
The old shepherd with all his second sight could never puzzle out what had gone wrong between them. Neither could Poole, and he was still curious. That was a braw run stretching 一連の会議、交渉／完成する for miles, and in spite of the parching season, 供給するd plenty of 選ぶing for the dots 代表するing plentiful flocks and herds, mud fat. All these years those miles might have marched with his 部分 of Curradoobidgee, but he had 行方不明になるd through 存在 a little too slow. He could hardly 受託する that.
He looked at Jessie 批判的に. She seemed unnecessarily shrivelled. She had lost some of her teeth and her longish nose was too 近づく her chin: he had not remembered her 注目する，もくろむs 存在 so small in the old days, and she had a 傾向 to whiskers, but Gowandale was a beautiful 所有物／資産／財産. Nearly all the 初めの run was Jessie's now. She had 保持するd it 損なわれていない by 支払う／賃金ing off the family 株 year after year.
Yes, Gowandale was a beautiful 所有物／資産／財産 and Jessie a smart 商売／仕事 woman.
"Jessie, you say I failed the first time because I didn't seem to care enough. I suppose I was just as stupid the second time in 表明するing what I felt, but surely the fact that I （機の）カム up to scratch a second time was 証拠 that I cared all 権利. What was wrong with me the second time?"
"There was nothing wrong with you, laddie; it was 簡単に that you didn't care for me, and I could see it."
"You saw wrong, Jessie. What made you think I didn't care?"
"You only （機の）カム asking me because Rachel Labosseer said no."
"What made you think I had asked her?"
"I knew by a word here and there while you were putting the 事柄 before me."
Poole 反映するd that women were the devil to find things out. Keep the mouth shut tight, yet from a grunt or an ahem they would know everything.
"I don't see why you would have nothing to do with me because of that. I told you honestly about poor Emily Mazere."
"I didn't mind about Emily, but you only （機の）カム to me because Mrs Labosseer wouldn't have you."
"That doesn't 持つ／拘留する water. There must have been something up with me as 非，不，無 of you would have me, only poor Emily. Perhaps I'm as bad as Larry Healey, and Emily had a lucky escape to be 溺死するd."
"Now you are havering, laddie." He did not know how 近づく to sobs was the little old-looking woman, her withered 直面する as brown as leather by half a century's suns. It was a 非難する to his vanity to learn that he had made such a hash of 提案s, he, 恐らく such a 殺し屋 の中で the girls in his heyday. He had not done as 井戸／弁護士席 as the obnoxious Larry, who had a second wife and might have a third the way things were going.
"井戸／弁護士席, Jessie, it's not too late yet, and you can't 告発する／非難する me of caring for anyone else now. My 記録，記録的な／記録する for the last thirty years せねばならない 納得させる you. We are very good friends and could keep each other from 存在 lonely old willies in our last days."
She was silent. He was apprehensive, but the plains were more than beautiful to him. There was a long stretch ahead of him yet, unless he broke his neck or a tree fell on him. It would still take a good horse to get rid of him, only he had long since learnt better horse-taming methods than to 服従させる／提出する his osseous parts to unwarrantable 緊張する. Good old Ma could not last much longer. Even now she was a bit off, though her presence made the retention of younger women as maids or 訪問者s convenable. When she was gone he would be in a 直す／買収する，八百長をする. A man, if he had not a mother or sister, needed a wife. Old Jack had a sister, but was not 満足させるd. It was not a housekeeper however that old Jack was after, but that fever that had 掴むd them all years ago. He 抑えるd a smile to realize how far it was from that に向かって Jessie; but those plains were wonderful and Jessie had made them 支払う／賃金 like hell.
"It's not too late yet," he 繰り返し言うd. "We've wasted a lot of time. There is no sense in wasting any more..."
By a gesture she stopped him. Her weatherbeaten features did not 伝える her 抑えるd emotion. "Yes, it is too late, Bert," she said in a low 発言する／表明する. "Just about twenty or thirty years too late. I'm too 始める，決める in my ways now. I could never settle 負かす／撃墜する to 国内の work 完全に. The 駅／配置する and the 在庫／株 and buying and selling are my life now." She was the acutest person on Monaro in a horse or cattle 取引，協定, and even made money out of fowls and pigs and fruit.
"You needn't give that up, Jessie," he said, relieved by her 拒絶. She did look old, and no bridal 人物／姿／数字. She saw his 救済 and it 傷つける again as of yore. He had always been relieved by her 拒絶s, and pride now, as in days gone by, stood between her and a union of 静める friendship.
"井戸／弁護士席, then, Jessie," he said with his old winning smile, now 待ち伏せ／迎撃するd by the 無断占拠者's 耐えるd, 井戸／弁護士席 kept, with very little grey まっただ中に the 黒人／ボイコット. "As you won't have me at any price, young or old, and we have both for one 推論する／理由 or another got nothing from the marriage basket, what do you say to helping along the love 事件／事情／状勢 of the young people who don't seem able to pull themselves out of the lickhole?"
"Have you a 計画（する）?"
"I thought if you were 熟した for another 投資 you might do something to turn the screws off Dice or old Larry. That part must 増加する in value as 救済 駅／配置するs as the country gets 在庫／株d up."
Jessie M'Eachern was happy 蓄積するing and then 投資するing. She asked searching and technical questions that only the bank or lawyer could answer.
"I have put myself into a corner with both old Larry and Jack and can say no more, but you were always 肉親，親類d to the Healeys and might begin afresh and see if you have any 影響（力）."
*
The gossip of the hotel verandas was that old 足緒 M'Eachern of Gowandale was in Bool Bool on a special visit of 尊敬（する）・点 to 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma Mazere because she had been unable to …に出席する the 橋（渡しをする） 開始 借りがあるing to wool-washing and shearing. She had ridden clown with one of her 甥s and stayed the night with Alf Timson at Billy-go-Billy on a Friday. During Saturday morning she pointed out how the place could be made to 支払う／賃金 twice 同様に as it did, Alf with meek stubbornness seeming to agree, then he saddled-up and arrived with her at Neangen about sundown.
The three were made welcome and 行方不明になる Jessie 充てるd particular attention to Aileen on the strength of the girl's 最近の visit to Monaro and a night she had spent at Gowandale. Aileen was looking wonderful. The brilliance of excitement 高めるd her delicate beauty. 行方不明になる Jessie kept her talking in her room whither Aileen had been the one to 操縦する her.
"So, Aily lass," she said. "You're going to be married soon after the New Year, I understand."
"Yes, 行方不明になる Jessie," said Aileen with no self-conscious radiance of a bride, but a startled furtive 空気／公表する.
"Now, what would ye like me to gie ye as a 現在の?"
"Thank you, 行方不明になる Jessie. You are too 肉親，親類d." There was an absence of normal enthusiasm.
"井戸／弁護士席, 井戸／弁護士席! Here's every lassie in the world going to be married but mysel'. I'm the only lonely one. Can ye tell me the 権利s o' that?"
"They all say, 行方不明になる Jessie, that when you were a girl you had ever so many more beaux than any girl has now; didn't you like any of them?" said Aily, always kindly.
"But, lassie, love's a game in which there must be two to do the likin' and lovin', and baith must be awfu' sure, or it's a bad 広い地所. Are you sure now that you love with all your heart that auld man, auld enough to be your grandfather almost; is there not some nice young laddie ridin' aboot the country keekin' at your bonny 少しの 直面する? Ah, but lassie, it's good to be young and bonny and have some braw young laddie worshippin' the ground you walk on. It wouldn't 事柄 gin you had your 手渡す in his, if you had only the 星／主役にするs above you for roof and the bracken for a pillow, that would be heaven, and everything else would come."
"That's what I think too," said the girl, and 停止（させる）d upon realizing her admission.
"Then, lassie, why not 持つ／拘留する 急速な／放蕩な to the 権利 and let the Lord take care of the 残り／休憩（する）. You don't know who may be on your 味方する."
"Oh, but it's not myself, 行方不明になる Jessie. I have to think of—" Aileen 停止（させる）d apprehensively. She （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd movement in the room 隣接するing. The 塀で囲む was of 厚板s and some of the wide 割れ目s were の近くにd only with （土地などの）細長い一片s of unbleached calico, papered over. Every whisper could be heard by an ear on the other 味方する. Aileen began to do something unnecessary for 行方不明になる Jessie. She was 明白に terrified of 存在 overheard.
"井戸／弁護士席," said 行方不明になる Jessie in a low murmur, making a noise to cover it, "only be sure, lassie, that you love your laddie—anything else is wicked and will bring no happiness because it can have no blessing."
They were not permitted to be alone together during the 残りの人，物 of the evening, so 行方不明になる M'Eachern forsook romance and talked 商売／仕事 with her host. She let Larry gather that she was 捜し出すing 投資s 同様に as 支払う／賃金ing a 明言する／公表する cal! on old Mrs Mazere.
"By cripes, old Jessie is a real jew—she'd make a 取引 of her grandmother's 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な. She must he bursting with spondulics—chance for you, Alf, riding about with you and staying the night with you."
"Perhaps she'd no more think of takin' me than she did you when you asked her," drawled Alf. Larry scrutinized his 訪問者's profile against the night where they were smoking a final 麻薬を吸う on the veranda, but could not （悪事，秘密などを）発見する intentional malice.
"Remember what I tell you, lassie," said 行方不明になる Jessie as she kissed Aileen in 出発／死ing on Sunday afternoon to spend the night at Bookaledgeree.
She 進歩d in the high and brilliant sun, the 空気／公表する irradiating like an electric river along the 跡をつける, which to practised 注目する，もくろむs showed that many a wallaby 小衝突, lyre-bird, goanna, or snake had written the tale of its passage in the soft grey dust.
"Poor country and 十分な of dingoes," 発言／述べるd 行方不明になる Jessie to her 甥. "It's a stand-by in 干ばつs. さもなければ it would take a terrible-sized run to make a living, and too many horses and men to 境界-ride."
All was delightful まっただ中に the 広大な／多数の／重要な trees but for the stench of the dead cattle—Tommy Roper's 暴徒—that 示すd the 大勝する like milestones as they had succumbed to かわき and 餓死 on the way to the land of 避難 from the 干ばつ-smitten western slopes. 境界-riders had taken advantage of the carcasses, and in the area from which the brands had been 削減（する） had deposited staggering doses of strychnine. All dogs went tightly muzzled.
行方不明になる Jessie けん責（する），戒告d her corpulent old 損なう for shying at a bovine 死体, and broke into a canter on a level stretch above the river that she remembered from the days of her 青年, when the world had had a different complexion. It 解任するd to her that she had had to 格闘する with a 状況／情勢 more difficult than Aileen's. Loving Poole deathlessly without 返答, she had weakly given in to Hugh Mazere, and then, after the 約束／交戦 had held for months with satisfaction to both families, had had to find courage to break it. Aileen needed a 類似の spirit and her problem would soon be solved, 行方不明になる Jessie 反映するd as she 棒 along over thirty years later の中で the tormenting 飛行機で行くs and the palpitant drumming of cicadas, and, reaching the valley of the Bookaledgeree, turned into the Dice homestead.
The Dice family had come to Bookaledgeree fifteen years before, and the only members of it to whom 行方不明になる M'Eachern was known 本人自身で were Ronald and Matt, but this did not detract from her welcome. She spoke of riding on later to Three Rivers, but Mrs Dice said, "It would never do to let Aunt Rachel Mazere see you desecrating the Sabbath by unnecessary travel." So 行方不明になる Jessie 同意d to stay the night.
Ronald took her to look at the yearlings in a paddock below the orchard, and there they 始める，決める to the topic of the hour.
"I'm surprised to hear you have let old Jack Stanton take little Aily Healey away from you, laddie. When I saw you at Gowandale a few weeks ago I thought..."
"井戸／弁護士席, you see, 行方不明になる Jessie, he has a wagon-負担 of money-捕らえる、獲得するs and all I have is a 二塁打 mortgage on my mother's 所有物／資産／財産, and old SP-over-J has got in here too."
"But laddie, you're strong and young and handsome and have your intellect; the world's big 財政上の men often started from いっそう少なく."
"It's not me, 行方不明になる Jessie, it's poor little Aileen."
"She's a grown woman of 合法的な age—it may sound bitter to say so and too bad to 耐える at the time—I've been young and in love, so believe me, laddie, I know—but a lassie who does not think more of love than the bawbees is not 価値（がある） 迎える／歓迎するing for." As she got on in years 行方不明になる Jessie forsook the locutions of her governesses for her parents' vocabulary.
"Little Aily doesn't care for the bawbees, 行方不明になる Jessie. Old Larry shuts her up and wallops her. He 発射 my best horse dead under me, so you see it's more of a 包囲 than you think. My family too are against Aily, and dying to get her away from me by marrying the old Death Adder, so I couldn't bring her here."
"I'll give you a 職業 for a beginning on Gowandale. I'm losing my brother Bruce's boy at Christmas. I'll want an overseer, and you know the work. I could put you in the old wing where my brothers used to sleep—one room could be turned into a kitchen."
"行方不明になる Jessie! Do you mean it! Is this a fair and square 申し込む／申し出?"
"It is the 申し込む／申し出 of a sentimental old maid who wants to help young love, and it is good 商売／仕事 too for both of us. Your brother Matt is old enough to take on the 管理／経営 here."
"When does that 申し込む／申し出 start?"
"From the day you 始める，決める foot on Gowandale, and I'll give you a month's 給料 for your honeymoon—that means I'll 持つ／拘留する the place for you till the beginning of February."
Ronald threw his hat in the 空気／公表する and was about to whirl 行方不明になる Jessie in his 武器 when interrupted by other members of the family 発表するing the evening meal. He whispered, "I'm off up after tea to try to see Aily, and you won't start for Bool Bool in the morning till I can tell you my luck."
行方不明になる Jessie laughed. "That's 権利 laddie, a man that isn't enthusiastic about his love 事件／事情／状勢s is only half a man. Give Aily my love and tell her to he 勇敢に立ち向かう."
"Ronnie seems in a terrible hurry all of a sudden," 観察するd Ida, as her brother 丸天井d the orchard 盗品故買者 of stout 分裂（する） rails and disappeared.
"A young man is 一般に in a hurry except to say good night to his dawtie."
"Ronald doesn't get any chance of seeing his lassie these days. I suppose you heard about his infatuation for Aileen Healey?"
"Yes. She's a bonny 少しの thing."
"She's pretty in a way, but there's not much in her. We'll all he glad when SP-over-J marries her and takes her away to Turrill Turrill so that Ronald can forget her."
"There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip in love 事件／事情／状勢s. Ronald may..."
"Oh, but 行方不明になる Jessie, we don't want him to. We wish he would marry someone nicer."
行方不明になる Jessie コースを変えるd attention to acreage and briars and clips and 中心的要素s and 干ばつ, and her hosts said she talked just like a man and did not care for anything but 商売／仕事 and money.
一方／合間 the lover sped along the way 行方不明になる Jessie had come. He could not 危険 another horse; besides, a 弾丸 that could 減少（する） his horse under him was a cogent 警告, so he tethered Spondulix's 後継者 about half a mile from the house and approached on foot. The Neangen dogs were 顕著に efficient, and a man on foot an 反対する to 誘発する 疑惑 in dogs of whatever standing. They made a 広大な／多数の／重要な ゆすり but 非，不，無 was off chain, thanks to the 自由主義の bait-laying, and Ronald put them off his 目的 by fully passing the house and featly returning. He had a juicy bait 用意が出来ている for the fat old bitch who always lay about the house because she was of a famous line of children's 後見人s. No lights showed in the windows and Ronald arrived 安全に outside Aileen's skillion. He knew this was 株d by the gimlet-注目する，もくろむd Julie, but he 残り／休憩（する）d on her 存在 of an age to sleep like a lost 適切な時期. Here he 設立する the old nurse dog chained but he was a favourite with her and by fondling 削減（する） short her welcoming yelp and withheld the bait. The window was の近くにd, so he stood 支援する in the 影をつくる／尾行するs and waited. Soon a snore or two through the flimsy 塀で囲むs 発表するd that some of the four 女性（の）s were asleep. Some were not accounted for. Awful should Aileen be の中で the snorers and those awake, the enemy! There was a wide 割れ目 in Aileen's 塀で囲む beside her bed with a piece of tin tacked over. A stout penknife soon made an 開始. Ronald paused again. The moon was high enough above the feathery 頂点（に達する）s of the 範囲s to illuminate the little room. With the 援助（する） of a switch he could have placed his missive on Aileen's chest, but 恐れるing it might come first to Julie's 注目する，もくろむ, he called softly "Aily! Aily! It is Ronnie."
She sat up as from a dream. "It's Ronnie. Be careful." He was now encouraged by Julie's whole-hearted and 声の slumber.
"Where are you? Are you 傷つける?"
"No. Don't move or say a word. Here is a letter." The girl clasped his fingers through the aperture and rained kisses upon them till a movement in the night startled them. They 停止（させる）d petrified for a moment, but it was not an inmate.
"Good night, darling!" he whispered presently. "Read your letter. Nail up this 割れ目 in the morning."
She listened, breathless while he moved away softly. A willywagtail chirped, "甘い pretty creature! 甘い pretty creature!" Old Bessy gave a sleepy yelp and some thuds as she 乱すd the tormenting fleas. A mopoke called. A plover clicked by the creek. All was 静かな.
Aileen 静かに 適用するd a match to the candle and read of 行方不明になる M'Eachern's 申し込む／申し出 and the 指示／教授／教育s for placing her reply in a mortice 穴を開ける in an old 地位，任命する 負かす／撃墜する where the road 負傷させる 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 刺激（する）.
会合，会う me, darling, some night. Send me word what night and where I shall 会合，会う you. I shall have a couple of horses waiting and we can ride straight through to Gowandale without stopping. 行方不明になる Mac will take care of you and stick to us about getting married, and we'll have a good home 権利 from scratch. Be 勇敢に立ち向かう, my own love, and we soon shall be all in all to each other. I'll ride up every night for your answer.
Here was deliverance! If Ronald had reached the house in spite of the watch-dogs it would be much easier for her to get away from it. Her family followed no way of life nor mind to 産む／飼育する insomnia. The 負わせる of the mortgages might have kept old Larry awake but he had 設立する a 王室の road away from them. Aileen's silly clamour about Dice never gave him a qualm, and so long as Pa was not venting his undisciplined disposition 直接／まっすぐに upon her, Mrs Healeys somnolent soul 設立する ready unconsciousness.
Aileen lay awake thinking over her reply to that wonderful letter and how she could privily deposit it in the old 地位，任命する. In the morning it seemed いっそう少なく 平易な than during the night.
Ronald 報告（する）／憶測d his 進歩 to 行方不明になる M'Eachern before she left next morning. "You want to be sure that you love each other better than anything else in the world and then go ahead," she said. "You've only to tap on my window some night and I'll take the lassie in till we can all away to the 大臣."
A few days later she 詳細（に述べる）d her 申し込む／申し出 to her friend of Curradoobidgee, who had ridden over to spend Saturday night and hear the news.
"I could see that the girl is 存在 軍隊d to marry Stanton against her heart, but there is little that 部外者s can do by 干渉 if the main parties can't settle their own 事件／事情／状勢s.
"Talk about doing nothing, Jessie, you have pulled the whole thing out of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃. We have only to wait the next move.
"We'll see! We'll see! If the girl hasn't the strength of will to help herself now, she must take the consequences. These are not old clays when girls can be locked in a keep. She could slip out any night and take a horse and away to her laddie."
"But poor little Aily, she's such a gentle little creature. She's like a bird in a 逮捕する."
"That sort of woman can often work a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 of 悲しみ for herself and others by her 欠如（する） of stamina," 固執するd 行方不明になる Jessie, in what Poole thought an 冷淡な トン. 行方不明になる Jessie was thinking of days gone by and the courage she had needed both one Leap Year night and later to 解放する／自由な herself from a big mistake.
On Monday night Ronald 棒 to the old 地位，任命する, but there was no message in it. On the second night he retired ostentatiously and when Matt was snoring crept to the stable for his horse and 棒 静かに away in the moonlight. The third day he had to go for cattle up Bookaledgeree Creek, and by a bit of stiff riding 含むd his 巡礼の旅 in the day's work. The next day he packed salt in the same direction and again made the detour. The fifth day he 残り／休憩（する）d his horse and worked 近づく the homestead. On Saturday night he took French leave of Matt's horse, and on Sunday—playday—存在 解放する／自由な of his time, in the afternoon he 棒 に向かって Bool Bool and when 安全な 二塁打d on his 跡をつけるs and once more sought a message.
He went in 幅の広い daylight, but could find no trace of anyone but himself in the bracken at the base of the 地位，任命する. A beautiful bush of "old man" almost hid it and the aromatic putty-grey flowers and viscid leaves 残り／休憩（する）d without a disarranged twig. There was no shred of paper anywhere.
Each day, on finding no message, Ronald gre more disappointed, but hoped valiantly. It would be ぎこちない for Aileen to escape the vigilance of her family, and she was not of the mould to slip out in the night and go so far alone. He wished he had asked her to ride away to Bookaledgeree without a message and then he could have taken her with him to Gowandale. He was worried lest he should 行方不明になる a message about an 任命するd tryst.
He was 訂正する about the difficulties besetting Aileen. She got away 近づく the end of the week on the pretext of special broom-stuff that grew 近づく the 刺激（する）. Julie was 詳細（に述べる）d to …を伴って her, but Aileen galloped ahead while Julie was 格闘するing with her old neddy, and so reached the 地位，任命する with time to spare.
She left 行方不明になる Muffet on the road and went on foot. As she was about to 挿入する her missive in the 深い mortice 穴を開ける she caught the glitter of a 黒人／ボイコット snake coiled in the 休会. It almost 小衝突d her 直面する in making its 出口 and was joined by a second. They disappeared in a 穴を開ける at the base of the 地位，任命する. Aileen with a 叫び声をあげる of terror fled to her horse and was riding along the road by the time Julie overtook her. Aileen had the 異常な terror of poisonous snakes inculcated in bush children. She was too 脅すd to approach the horrible 位置／汚点／見つけ出す again. The prospect of marriage with SP-over-J grew いっそう少なく repellent by comparison. Larry's ceaseless exordiums about the 義務 she bore her mother and sisters were working, and, imbued with the superstitions of her forebears, and nervously overwrought, she took this as a powerful omen against what she 熟視する／熟考するd. The whole family were unfeelingly against her, even Norah was not so 肉親，親類d as usual. No luck could ever …に出席する her, Larry 持続するd, if she forsook the saving of her family and for her own selfish 楽しみ 連合した herself with thriftlessness. This the 重荷（を負わせる） of every aspersion day after day.
She had prayed to God for 指導／手引 by some 調印する or happening, and to her 恐れる-重荷（を負わせる）d soul the deadly 黒人／ボイコット snakes were the 返答. She longed wildly to 会合，会う Ronald somewhere and tell him this mental and spiritual angle of her ordeal, but this wish remained unanswered. There were only the serpents, which multiplied in her dreams. She was continually springing from bed tormented by a nightmare in which she was 追求するd by reptiles, and there was no one to help the distraught little soul.
It seemed at length to her fevered imagination that the way to absolution was by sacrificing herself for her family's good.
Gossip received fresh life from the 招待s. It was to be a 十分な-sized wedding. People said that SP-over-J must be 支払う／賃金ing for everything, and grinned to think that whatever the 権利s of the romance, old Larry was selling dear.
"There ain't no 飛行機で行くs on old Larry!" commented Tommy Roper.
Aileen pleaded for a 静かな wedding from her Aunt Denny's in Sydney, but Stanton was not to be fobbed off like that. The hardness and cruelty in him, the 結果 of sensibilities 死なせる／死ぬd in 青年, 需要・要求するd 十分な 勝利. His own 始める，決める and circle, subscribing to the legend that his 早期に love preferred a nunnery to him, should 公然と 証言，証人／目撃する his success with the prettiest girl of the 地区.
Some still pitied the girl, but these were mostly young and sentimental and of no 商売／仕事 約束. Now that the wedding was 発表するd general opinion was that the girl had done "雷鳴ing 井戸／弁護士席 for herself". "When she gets past the first fever of spooniness," said Ida Dice, "she will be very glad to find herself in the （競技場の）トラック一周 of 高級な instead of in a stringybark bed in some 境界-rider's hut."
Everyone of any standing, and many without, known either to the bride or bridegroom's family, was 招待するd. 行方不明になる M'Eachern of Gowandale was one of the few who 辞退するd. She could not be absent from home so soon again. She wrote to Dice to know the 権利s of the 事例／患者. He replied with bitter words about Aileen. The cynicism of his associates had （名声などを）汚すd his 約束 in her.
"All this fuss about old Larry and Stanton is ridiculous," said Ida. "If Aileen had 手配中の，お尋ね者 you she could easily escape. I think myself she is a weak-minded, selfish creature. She would have liked you best if you had money. Any girl would prefer a young man to an old scrag if things were equal; but she hasn't got the courage to take you without anything."
"Yes," agreed his sister Olive, "and if she felt one-tenth what you imagine about marrying old Stanton she would not want all this big wedding waved in your 直面する."
"That isn't Aileen's wish, I'm sure."
"I don't know: she is very fond of pretty 着せる／賦与するs. Old Larry wouldn't 危険 a rumpus or 決裂／故障 if they were marrying her by 軍隊, neither would old Jack. The show wedding must be to please Aileen because she is a young girl and wants it. Old Jack wouldn't spend an extra penny if only he was 関心d; he's never for society fuss and feathers."
Ronald saw that he would make a fool of himself to 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する under his 敗北・負かす. He took it recklessly with more drinks than he should have had, with everyone and anyone, from Tommy Roper to Mr Eustace Blenkinsop, to whom he muttered misanthropic platitudes about women.
The Dices received a 十分な and formal 招待. This smote Ronald as brazen insolence, which he did not know whether to せいにする to SP-over-J or old Larry. His sisters 主張するd that it showed Aileen was not so unwilling as her weak amiability led him to suppose.
"You go," advised Ida, "and show that you don't care any more than she does; plenty better girls than she is, ready to go with you."
"I'll march 権利 up to the altar and 公然と非難する old Skinny Guts. When they ask about the 妨害 I'll say that any fool could see he was one, and that they locked the girl up and walloped her and 発射 my horse under me; and she can speak the truth then."
"If you think she would have the pluck to stick to you then, you would make an unholy fool of yourself," said Ida.
"Yes, she'd faint or cry, and you'd be looked upon as a brute, and then she'd be hustled away and married 静かに out of sight."
"I'll give her the chance anyhow, and then I shan't have anything to be sorry for afterwards."
"You'd have a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 more to be sorry for if you made a fool of yourself like that."
The wedding was to be in the new church of St Matthew, but lately 献身的な by the bishop. It was 大部分は 予定 to old Mrs Mazere that the church had gone ahead so vigorously in the 地区. The new structure was to have a spire in memory of Philip and Rachel Mazere, for which 目的 the 初めの Philip had apportioned &続けざまに猛撃する;300 in the famous will, which he had changed every time a family member crossed him. The 早期に church of the sixties, now known as the Church Hall, was to 含む／封じ込める the wedding breakfast, and M'Haffety's Hotel and Isaacs's 王室の Drapery 市場 between them were the providers. Mrs Isaacs was enchanted to be where the news was made, and gave personal attention to the bunting and such 乾燥した，日照りの eatables as the 市場 could 供給（する）, while the M'Haffety end of the 突発／発生 was effulgent as effulgence was in the surroundings.
Each fresh 詳細（に述べる） was more exciting than the last.
"I hear that Milly Saunders is to be bridesmaid with Julie," 発言／述べるd Rebecca to Norah.
"Is that so? Sure, then, Lucy Saunders must have given in."
"There's more than that: Bert Poole is to be best man,"
"Who would believe that, whin I heard he did iverything he could to call ould Stanton off. Sure, if he comes 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, it shows that the gurrul Aileen must he やめる happy to marry, and all this fuss of Ronald Dice's, phwat do ye make of that?"
"Aw, young men in love can make an awful noise one week and forget all about it the next. They say he drinks more than he ought now, and that would account for his capers."
"But sure, he might have been dhruv to it by 失望."
"My opinion is that people aren't drove to things unless they have a mind that way."
"That's thrue, too, Rebecca. At anny 率, ould Jack will he glad to have Poole standin' up with him. They went coortin' together often enough long ago. I wonder now who will Poole be takin'? He might be the next."
"I hear that Ronald is going to 公然と非難する old Stanton in church."
"Och, that would be マリファナ-valiant. Whisky 会談 like that."
"I 推定する／予想する old Larry and old Jack will be glad when it's 安全に over."
*
The day arrived. It was a droughty summer even for Bool Bool, that valley of the blest. The Yarrabongo had never been so low in the memory of the 世代 in 所有／入手. The dust was 深い on every road and 小道／航路, upon every roof and ornamental tree that stood by the wayside. The January Wednesday 夜明けd in brazen splendour. By nine o'clock the hydrangea bushes and pumpkin vines were drooping in the heat and the fowls had their wings spread for 空気／公表する in the shade of the drays and blacksmiths' sheds. People converged upon the church from every 味方する. Buggy-負担 after buggy-負担 of women in voluminous silk dust-coats and almost opaque gossamers were 護衛するd by men also in dust-coats and with 飛行機で行く-隠すs on their panama hats. Not only the church and vicarage grounds, but 小道／航路s 隣接するing, were peopled by harness horses stamping and switching against the tormenting 飛行機で行くs. The 早期に arrivals 熱望して watched the 外見 of 確かな persons and families. It was not only the largest but the most exciting wedding the new edifice had known.
"There's Lucy Saunders. She hates it like 毒（薬）, too, but we all had to come 一連の会議、交渉／完成する," whispered Mrs Ned Saunders.
"There are the Labosseers!"
The 未亡人 and Emily, two of the sons and a married daughter followed the lady of Coolooluk to a pew. Anything she did created 利益／興味 in the little town where the family had high standing.
"I didn't think she'd come, did you? I'm sure she doesn't think the Healeys much chop," said Rebecca.
"No, but they are all rolling up to stick to ould SP-over-J. Sure, they're as clannish as cockatoos.
"Dot Saunders can have Ron Dice now that Aileen will be salted 負かす／撃墜する. Not much of a match for her, but she has 注目する，もくろむs for no one else."
"There's herself! Sure, I didn't think she would come. I heard the ould lady told SP-over-J..." This was 押し寄せる／沼地d by a more 利益／興味ing murmur.
"The Dices!"
"As large as life! Don't look 一連の会議、交渉／完成する."
All 注目する，もくろむs turned upon these arrivals. 存在 近づく town, they had their 正規の／正選手 pew. Mrs Dice leant on the arm of her eldest son, who was walking straight and 反抗的な, handsome and young in a smart new 控訴. He settled the others and took the end seat on the aisle. The bridegroom appeared すぐに afterwards …を伴ってd by Poole. Stanton was expensively tailored but looked nervous and tired. Poole looked splendid and unruffled.
"Do you think Ronnie will really make a howl?" whispered Marcia Mazere to her cousin, Dot Saunders, in the choir. Dot hardly knew one 空気／公表する from another, but it was the 訂正する thing for the young women of the 一族／派閥s to sing in the choir of St Matthew's. "No! That's all nonsense. He 設立する out long ago that Aileen didn't really want him. Look at Bert Poole standing up there with Uncle Jack; he wouldn't be there if it wasn't all ship-形態／調整."
The church was profusely decorated and the flowers were wilting in the heat. The scent of roses and honeysuckle and a dozen other perfumes intermingled, and the 空気／公表する was made heavier by orange blossom from the 避難所 of the 幅の広い chimneys at Three Rivers.
Stanton took one ちらりと見ること 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the congregation to find Dice glaring balefully at him, and did not dare look up again. The assemblage fell throbbingly 静かな を待つing the bride. Dozens of young women in (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する summer gowns with bustles and panniers and flounces almost held their breath with excitement. In the 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d and drowsy 空気／公表する the song of the Yarrabongo as it fell over a cliff beyond the Glebe filled all the day with the suggestion of 冷静な／正味の 甘い peace.
The bridegroom 苦しむd an agony of 神経s. The 静かな に引き続いて his 入ること／参加（者） grew into restlessness again. People fidgeted and whispered and turned their 長，率いるs to look for the bride.
"Perhaps she's not coining at all," whispered Marcia to Dot.
"Don't be silly. Her mother is here."
"Won't it be awful if Ronnie makes a fuss?" 固執するd Marcia.
"He won't do any such thing. He wasn't as much in love as all that."
People could no longer surmise that Aileen had eloped with Dice, as they had been 予報するing to within an hour of the 儀式, when here he was for all to see, and though SP-over-J would not have ちらりと見ることd に向かって him again for the price of the Corroboree and Wamgambril colts 連合させるd, it was 価値（がある） 二塁打 that to know that Ronald was inside the building. He had sent Poole to the hotel 早期に in the morning to ascertain that Aileen was 井戸／弁護士席.
The ordeal of waiting wore away to 救済. Mrs Arthur Rankin (Fanny Mazere) started her 組織／臓器. Welcome sound! Aileen had not eloped; she had not fallen sick of brain fever; she had not even fainted; she was only ten minutes late. She approached along the aisle on her father's arm, a fairy apparition in intricate bridal finery of satin duchesse or marchioness, or whatever it was called in that １０年間, and tulle and lace and orange blossoms.
"The prettiest bride I ever did see," whispered Mrs Isaacs to Mrs M'Haffety.
"Not as pretty as Rachel Mazere that was."
"She was darker and smaller."
"And she couldn't hould a candle to poor Emily that was drownded."
"But we never saw Emily as a bride."
"She was just like a bride that night of her birthday ball." Faithfulness to the past showed that Norah and Rebecca were growing old. "Ah, look! Did ye see the look the poor pet cast on Ronnie Dice, like a 脅すd angel!"
As Aileen （機の）カム up the aisle Ronald turned of 審議 and glared at her. She was clutching her father's arm gazing at her feet, but as though mesmerized she 解除するd her 長，率いる as she （機の）カム 近づく Ronald. That look was salted away in sentimentality by Bool Bool, and is a legend today with 部外者s, when the 主要な／長／主犯s have forgotten the emotions from which it sprang. There are old folks thereaway, when the 冷笑的な say there is no true love to 競う that they saw it naked in the 注目する，もくろむs of Aileen Healey that sweltering day, and matched in the 注目する，もくろむs of Ronald Dice, careless of onlookers; but people imagine what pleases them of amorous romance, unconvinced by 証拠 that 性の love per se is a transient emotion.
As that may be. Aileen's foot in its white satin slipper tripped in the coconut matting, but the 警報 Larry 解除するd her 安全に along. She was closely followed by her two half-sisters as bridesmaids, who の近くにd up the space behind her, and next （機の）カム Milly and Julie, Milly delicious in self-importance, with the whole 負わせる of the 儀式 as a public 関心 on her shoulders, and a model faithfully copied by Julie. It was Stanton who paid for the (a)手の込んだ／(v)詳述する 衣装s of the two little girls and the bracelets they wore with orgulous 空気／公表する becoming the Garter.
It was no light thing for Milly to be 支持するing her uncle as bridesmaid. Her sympathies at first were with Ronald, but such aspersions as Death Adder and Skinny had put her on her 親族's 味方する. By 主張するing that Aileen 似ているd the beautiful 行方不明になる Severn, later the Marchioness of Salterton, Mr Blenkinsop had made her a 人物／姿／数字 of romance to Milly, 反して Ronald had failed in not carrying off the lady by 軍隊, and when her Uncle Bert was （米）棚上げする／（英）提議するd as best man, Milly was eager to be a bridesmaid.
SP-over-J was immensely encouraged by the child's support and became so indulgent that her mother was unable to 施行する discipline. Lucy Saunders had strenuously 反対するd to Milly's taking part, but when she 設立する the tide against her, 可決する・採択するd a more 中立の manner. The Stantons were clannish, and if Aileen could not he kept out of the family she should be 受託するd and made the best of. Poole 存在 best man その上の reconciled the 未亡人 to Milly's 参加.
Mrs Dice put her 手渡す on her son's arm as old Healey 解除するd his daughter along. That gesture also became history.
"Aily is like Cinderella and the ugly sisters," whispered Mrs Raymond Poole (Rhoda Mazere).
The bride and her father reached the altar rail. The bridesmaids fidgeted with their finery and flowers and jewellery'. A hush fell upon the congregation. Inside, the 飛行機で行くs buzzed in the perfumed heat; outside, the cicadas' hirrient filled the heavens; horses could be heard stamping in torment; a 乗り物 rumbled over the 橋（渡しをする） and clattered up the stony main street; a clog barked; the song of the Yarrabongo floated in as 冷静な／正味の and （疑いを）晴らす as a sigh from 楽園. Poole, 観察するing the ethereal loveliness of the bride—old Jack's young bride—was carried by that song of the river 支援する to the funeral of his own bride-to-be, nearly thirty-two years gone. He remembered that river song for ever. All this （人が）群がる and heat and perfume and undercurrent of 緊張する brought a sense of unreality, only the faint 冷静な／正味の music of the river remained.
Dearly beloved, we are gathered together...
First, it was 任命するd for the procreation of children...
Secondly, it was 任命するd for a 治療（薬） against sin, and to 避ける fornication...
The pronouncement was squeezed affectedly in the Oxford brogue from the throat of the clergyman, and many, in the circumstances of the old man and the young woman, reputedly unwilling, were shocked by its grossness.
Thirdly...Therefore, if any man can show any just 原因（となる） why, etc., etc., let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever 持つ／拘留する his peace.
The clergyman paused. 緊張 強化するd. Stanton felt beads of perspiration coursing 負かす／撃墜する his forehead and wilting his high stiff collar. Aileen was not conscious of the service. Everyone looked at Ronald Dice, but the mesmerism of the 暴徒, more powerful than any police 軍隊, had him in its 支配する.
Dot Saunders watched the 演劇 spellbound from the choir. If one could be loved, even hopelessly, by the 権利 man, it would be happier than not to be loved at all by him!
緊張 relaxed. The clergyman was 訴訟／進行: I 要求する and 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 you both, as ye will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be 公表する／暴露するd...
There 存在 no 妨害, the betrothal words were murmured and then: Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?
Larry's 発言する／表明する, 確信して and loud, rang out, "I do."
People almost smiled. It became a normal wedding, 異常な only in size and showiness.
Soon all was chatter and laughter. There was a 急ぐ to congratulate and kiss the bride and to まき散らす roses in her pathway. On the arm of her husband she looked more lovely than ever. Excitement lent colour to her delicate cheeks and starriness to her translucent Irish 注目する，もくろむs. Aileen was not a thinker. Her own volition was in （一時的）停止: she moved in 一致 with the 計画（する） 軍隊d upon her, her overwrought emotions blurred.
Ronald was やめる normal. There was nothing else he could be, without making a sorry show of himself, and any normal young man would rather 削減（する） himself off from heaven than make a fool of himself before a （人が）群がる of his associates.
It fell out conveniently for him to 申し込む／申し出 his arm to Dot and proceed to the wedding breakfast. That was altogether 回復するing from foolishness as he was the envy of half a dozen 適格のs who 追求するd that popular beauty.
"Old Larry looks as pleased as a cat licking his whiskers after a 料金d of Christmas turkey," he 発言／述べるd, "and Uncle Skinny as if he had been to the dentist and got it over; isn't it dead funny?"
"Too funny for words," said Dot. "Aren't you coming over with me to kiss my new aunt?" She was singularly deficient in a sense of humour, but Ronald amused her.
"I'll leave the kissing to you. I'm afraid Uncle Death Adder might kiss me by mistake."
He was in a gay and 無謀な mood. "Look at Ronald Dice," they whispered. "He （機の）カム to the wedding after all. He's with Dot Saunders—a much better match for him.'
"All that talk about him and the bride must have been yarns."
"Yes, you never can believe a word you hear."
Others, who said that they never took their 注目する，もくろむs off him, 記録，記録的な／記録するd that he did not speak to the bride or bridegroom nor to any of the Healey family.
Stanton was so nervous that had old Larry palmed Norah or Joanna off on him he could not have （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd it until afterwards, but with Aileen's 手渡す on his arm, with all the clatter and joyous excitement of the young people and the 正統派の behaviour of their 年上のs, 救済 and gratification were his. He had not been fooled by Aileen's 非，不，無-外見, as his 緊張するd imagination had 恐れるd, and was glad now that he had 主張するd upon a show wedding.
勝利 and satisfaction were 平等に old Larry's. He had the elation of the gambler when chance has favoured him, and was more than genial. SP-over-J was almost genial too. Life had never been better. Ghosts of the past were banished by this summer festival, by this rebirth of passion in Indian summer.
The wedding breakfast burst. The bride and groom were in the centre seats, the bride's parents 慣例的に placed. The bridegroom's parents 存在 in the 共同墓地, his sister Lucy and other 近づく 親族s の近くにd up the 階級s to support him. Milly and Julie were seated on either 味方する of Poole, who （許可，名誉などを）与えるd them the deference 予定 their exalted 明言する／公表する. There were older bridesmaids as 井戸／弁護士席 as lay maids and 未亡人s who would fain have had the little girls' places.
The toasts were long and florid and in execrable taste in some instances, and in others singularly short but 適する. The bridegroom mumbled for the bride; the bride's father and the clergyman did their 義務; the field was thrown open. Mr Blenkinsop, always a pattern and an ornament upon such occasions, repeated his 言及／関連 to the Marchioness of Salterton. Souls いっそう少なく felicitous said it was to be hoped that others would now follow the example of SP-over-J and take themselves off the shelf. Poole of Curradoobidgee was 概して について言及するd. He was unperturbed. He had had thirty years of it.
Milly, feeling for him, whispered in his ear, "Uncle Bert, if you feel embarrassed, you can について言及する that I'm waiting for you. What do you think?"
Poole 本気で and graciously whispered in reply, "Thank you, Milly, that's 罰金. I'm counting on it. But perhaps we had better not make ourselves 目だつ now, just a hint will save my bacon." He had already officiated for the bridesmaids, he rose again to 答える／応じる to the toast of the bachelors and to explain why he remained one. He was 迎える／歓迎するd by hearty 賞賛 and said little, but he was sure of 評価 in that audience. He 嘆き悲しむd that he was not a favourite with the ladies except when they were too young to marry, and liked him as an uncle. ( Laughter and cries of 否定.) He had now 直す／買収する，八百長をするd his hopes on the grandniece class, and if several young ladies he had 約束d to wait for did not all disappoint him and run off with younger cavaliers, as several had already done, he still lived in hopes! (Laughter.) SP-over-J and he had been boys together. They had gone possuming many a night. ( A 発言する／表明する: "Was that all you did?")
"井戸／弁護士席, we may have ridden a buckjumper or two by daylight and had a polka or two by night." (Hearty laughter.) "SP-over-J, I have known so long that if he has any serious faults I have forgotten them, and as for the bride, one of the loveliest I have seen in a long and wide experience as an uncle, I've carried her on my shoulder when she was not so tall as she is today, and now wish her and her husband all luck and 繁栄 on に代わって of the envious bachelors. I call upon Mr Alistair Farquharson and some of the others to 答える／応じる on に代わって of bachelors who are not so long in the horn as myself."
Those who kept an 注目する，もくろむ on Dice said that never a toast did he drink, but threw ワイン or シャンペン酒 out of the window beside him. At any 率, Dot Saunders, now that Aileen was out of the way, 安全な・保証するd him as a partner to ride at Gundagai and other 農業の shows.
Everything went without a hitch. In the afternoon the bride and groom left for Gundagai, thence to Cootamundra to catch the Southern Mail for Melbourne. Old Larry kissed his daughter in 洪水ing mood. "Sure, what you've done is so 権利 and 十分な of ありふれた sense that I can see good luck shinin' ahead of ye like a 広大な／多数の／重要な white road."
Aileen wept becomingly—the best of good form for a bride. She could not confide in her 年上の half-sisters, nor her careless half-brother, Larry, nor in her silly mother, puffed like a frog with pride and satisfaction. The Healeys were 井戸／弁護士席 pleased with their attainment financially and socially.
Not only the Bool Bool 特使 記録，記録的な／記録するd every jam-spoon and antimacassar 現在のd to the happy couple, but the Town and Country 定期刊行物 had nearly a column.
Old 法案 Prendergast had been （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限d to do his best and 答える／応じるd with a newly painted carriage and his peerless greys in ひどく plated harness. Very 罰金 the 人出／投票者数 looked clipping clown Stanton Street and across the 橋（渡しをする） and the flats in the direction of Saunders Plains, to rise on a さらに先に eminence and disappear in the glittering day on the grey 略章 of road に向かって the Nanda 範囲s.
Bool Bool returned to its stewed fruit and junket—popular summer fare. Its 橋（渡しをする） 開始 and ball, the spree of rumours 先行する its grand wedding, the wedding itself, had been 頂点（に達する）s of 利益／興味 in the prosaic flats of everyday 存在.
Ronald's love 事件／事情／状勢 faded. Many of his 年上のs had had an equal or greater 逆転する and now as ageing patresfamilias or 拡大するing grandmammas were 非，不，無 the worse. Old Larry Healey himself had had several, and two wives. Tim Brennan of The Gap had had a whopper, so had Ned Stanton, brother of the 最新の bridegroom, and Hugh Mazere, son of 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma, had been thrown over, after public 約束／交戦, by old 行方不明になる M'Eachern; and goodness me, to look at her now she did not seem much to 行方不明になる. Old Mrs 法案 Prendergast, now a shapeless waddling 集まり, for all she was upholstered in wonderful silks and hung with jewellery, and always with such a squint that it （判決などを）下すd her almost 非，不，無-human, had にもかかわらず on a lower stratum once wrought desolation の中で stockmen and bullockies from Mungee to Gundagai.
Ronald did not expose his heart. He would have 設立する no sympathy at home and did not want to be a butt abroad. He was too busy and too much under his family's 注目する，もくろむ to take to drink, though in spite of drinking no toasts he had been very drunk the night of the wedding, but so were Dan Spires and Tommy Roper and Cross-注目する，もくろむd Prendergast and Billings and a few more. Mr Eustace Blenkinsop, English gentleman 捕まらないで, and Teddy O'Mara, untamed horse-breaker, sat 負かす／撃墜する and wept together on the 前線 veranda of M'Haffety's Hotel, 関わりなく social codes or 証言，証人／目撃するs, for the simple 推論する／理由 that they could not stand up either singly or arm-in-arm, but it was all of trivial rather than 悲劇の 輸入する, and ludicrous in the consequences to Mr Blenkinsop.
That was the start of a spree upon which he spent the last of his 年４回の remittance on whisky, a tin of boiled lollies, and a 捕らえる、獲得する of onions. The 甘いs were to propitiate society, the onions to 慰安 a tongue debauched. His delirium was 支えるd till he spilt the 甘いs along the aisle at Sunday service and solemnly 申し込む／申し出d the onions at さまざまな 製図／抽選-rooms 含むing the vicarage, the bank, and Three Rivers, to the delight of the wags that abound in bush 郡区s. However, in a circle 慣れさせるd to 類似の family 骸骨／概要s, and in 見解（をとる） of the occasion, it was 最小限に減らすd as his first 突発／発生 of such magnitude, and opportunely he was retiring to Ten Creeks, 除去するd from 誘惑. "Such a gentlemanly old feller even when he's drunk that it's impossible to help liking him!"
The 干ばつ continued. The 団体／死体s of sheep 落ちるing as they reached the 約束d land punctuated the 大勝する even as the earlier beeves, whose hides were now 乾燥した，日照りの and empty. The crows and dingoes had a good season, the drovers and their 雇用者s a hard one. The 雇用者s had 粉々にするing losses. The drovers had plenty of work with all the world of 転換ing 在庫／株 but it was in a world of 転換ing sand and stinging 飛行機で行くs, and disheartening to はう all day long 拷問d by sandy blight behind weak 苦しむing animals on a 大勝する already littered with stinking carcasses, to the accompaniment of a devil's chorus of crows, to 配達する half the flock with which they started.
借りがあるing to the severity of the 干ばつ, SP-over-J did not 延長する his honeymoon to Tasmania. Aileen did not seem to care whether she travelled or not. She acquiesced in every suggestion in a way that was paradisiacal to the shah that is in all men, even in old SP-over-J. It was a novelty after his experience of the Stanton-Saunders-Mazere 一族／派閥s, who were mostly stiff-necked and spirited 女性（の）s and mule-stubborn males. After a while it bewildered him. There seemed nothing to catch 持つ／拘留する of. He 解任するd with 救済 the 早期に 対立 of his sisters. There was something natural in that. He was glad to hear from Lucy that she was 準備するing the house at Ten Creeks for the bride. The heat was so 激しい that he ーするつもりであるd to return there.
He bought Aileen extravagant 着せる／賦与するs 収集するd by 流行の／上流の dressmakers and was proud of the sensation 原因（となる）d by her beauty, but it 含む／封じ込めるd the sting that 年輩の bridegrooms with 購入（する）d wives unfailingly 苦しむ. Even the most tactful shop and hotel attendants would mistake him for Pa, while dashing fellows were 審議する／熟考する with the thrust. SP-over-J was relieved that Bool Boolians did not 証言，証人／目撃する his discomfiture, and the apathetic Aileen did not seem to be aware of it. He wished it had been practical politics to have Milly with them. The youngster must have changed, he 反映するd, under the 影響（力） of old Blenkinsop. Not long since he felt she had 長所d 要約 是正, but she was surprisingly nice about his wedding. She had been at the carriage door at the 出発. "You know, Uncle Jack and Aunt Aileen, you can count on me when you come home if you want me to keep you company at Ten Creeks Run, or anything."
"Would you like Milly to keep you company when we go home?" Stanton 問い合わせd one day as he and his bride were strolling in the Botanic Gardens.
"It would be nice, but just as you like."
"井戸／弁護士席, we'll have her, then." It would be refreshing to hear Milly 宣言するing as きっぱりと as a smoothing-アイロンをかける whether she did or did not like a 提案.
It was the second day of the Bool Bool Show.
The hall where the ball had been held was 十分な of fruit and 穀物 and vegetables, 見本s of women's needlework and cooking and children's school 演習s. （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する decorations that had won prizes the day before were wilted now. The draught-horses and bulls and 押し通すs had won their blue 略章s, as had also the farm produce, the cockadoodles and ducks and canaries, and old Mrs Mazere's マリファナ 工場／植物s and honey and 保存するs. The merry-go-一連の会議、交渉／完成する was doing a stirring 商売／仕事. Many hundreds of watermelons had been 消費するd in 広大な／多数の／重要な pink slices on Watermelon Hill and どこかよそで.
Old Tom Saunders's prize 酪農場 cow had been milked in the morning, and Diamond, son of Nanko, one of the aboriginal old 手渡すs, had requested a drink. He had been ordered to 持つ／拘留する his hat. There was more than he could swallow; he passed some to his friend, Teddy O'Mara. It was also too much for him and the silly creatures put on their hats, milk and all, with the result that their 耐えるd when 乾燥した，日照りの were as if dipped in 冷淡な starch, and 追求するd by the 飛行機で行くs like honey.
The wits had not 回復するd from this 味方する-splitting fun when they were enlivened by a shindy between old Parsons and Porter, 農業者s on the Three River flats. For several years Porter had 出身の first prize for the best 捕らえる、獲得する and sheaf wheat with the same 見本／標本s. Celebrating at the Show the previous year, Parsons, carrying his アルコール飲料 better, had 扱う／治療するd the prizewinner till he was dead drunk and then 購入（する）d from him the prize 見本／標本s. This year, when 穀物 was pinched with 干ばつ, Parsons took both prizes with Porter's 古代の 展示（する）. Ferocious language 続いて起こるd in the hall. Porter with a stout stick threshed the prize sheaf forthwith before the company. He then gathered up the straw and striding across the （犯罪の）一味 to the 裁判官s' box まき散らすd it upon the gentlemen, 地元の and 輸入するd, complacently smoking there, with his opinion of them as fools and duffers and liars and hypocrites, etc., who would not know oats from barley.
Pillaloo!
Porter next fed the prize 捕らえる、獲得する wheat to the prize 女／おっせかい屋s and turkeys of the Riddalls and Browns, and from their pens 抽出するd eggs to paint his perfidious 競争相手's hat and 耐えるd till he was more distinguished than Teddy and Diamond.
A most コースを変えるing forenoon!
Mr Blenkinsop, English aristocrat and kindly soul その上, sought to 援助（する） peace by 招待するing the belligerents to a 冷静な／正味の drink with him. Porter and Parsons were flattered, but one of them spoke contemptuously of shandygaff, and Mr Blenkinsop felt constrained to take them to the Woolpack where real spirits could be procured. They 始める，決める off in Parsons's old buggy unnoticed except by the 群衆 about the gates.
All seats were 占領するd 関わりなく the sun to watch the "lady jumpers", first on the afternoon programme.
"Dot Saunders is the best lady jumper in the 植民地," said Mrs Isaacs, in her 前線 seat in the grandstand.
"Sure, I wonder annyone bothers to compete against her annywhere after what the 知事 himself said about her last year," said Mrs M'Haffety.
"Mostly it's the smallest waist, not the best rider, takes the prize," said Isaacs.
"That's thrue! Ould Richard Mazere, whin he is 裁判官ing, has a weak of for the woman rayther than the horse."
"There's more like him," 観察するd the Mayoress.
"But Dot is the best jumper 同様に as having the smallest waist," 競うd Mrs Isaacs.
Dot was taking her turn in the ladies' hunters, on one of Poole's 本人自身で gentled thoroughbreds. He took his 障害物s with economy of 活動／戦闘, and never clouted the rails, a perfectly mannered beast, but ahead of his day. More popular with the （人が）群がる was the chestnut of 行方不明になる Polly M'Ginty of Mungee Crossing Hotel, who stood on her hind 脚s and pawed the 空気／公表する at the 入り口 and 支援するd and bucked away from the leap. It took a couple of men to lead her into the （犯罪の）一味. Polly was of lower social stratum and vociferously barracked for by all the 境界-riders and drovers and breakers and 売買業者s and spielers that the 会合 attracted. She was a heavier woman than Dot and laced to the last インチ in a 肌-tight habit. From her bosom, harnessed to the contour of a stuffed Christmas turkey, protruded her gold watch-chain, and a horseshoe brooch fastened her choking collar. A (v)策を弄する／(n)騎手's cap let the sun 燃やす her 直面する crimson, and was not nearly so becoming as Dot's bell-topper with its floating white 隠す.
At last Polly's 宝くじ went at her 障害物 with such fury that the sleeve of her rider's habit was torn from the armhole, and there extruded something white like a calico shirt—wonderful how women lived and breathed and 棒 terrific horses in the stays and 層s of rags that the mentality of that day conceived as God-課すd on womanly 女性（の）s!
行方不明になる M'Ginty was 拍手喝采する as 適切に modest that a white petticoat, much befrilled, could be discerned inside her skirt. Dot the practical, it could be （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd, wore やめる mannish breeks beneath her taut skirt, and wantonly 展示（する）d her 形態／調整. It was such an attractive contour that "nuff said", as the wags of her prime 表明するd it. There was certainly enough said at the time by the 裁判官s of virtue and 条約.
宝くじ, in her excitement, struck the rails, jarring her rider's 支援する and knocking many points off her chances. Dot, 冷静な／正味の and わずかな／ほっそりした, was coming 一連の会議、交渉／完成する a second time on Princess, her own celebrated 損なう. She popped over so neatly that it was impossible without carefully calculated points to tell whether this or Poole's Oedipus was the better. Poole's horse had been 指名するd by his old stepmother, and many of the squattocracy thought the 指名する referred to a 種類 of frog.
Another rider had a treasure in Larry Healey's 損なう The Bird, and yet another in Beeswing, belonging to Ronald Dice. There were a dozen others 同様に, and while the 裁判官s were walking the horses 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and walking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the horses and 手段ing and 見積（る）ing, Milly, 扇動するd by youthful admirers, slipped into the （犯罪の）一味 and ran Romp at the stiff four-railed jump 始める，決める for the men's hunters. The little roan （疑いを）晴らすd it with インチs to spare, licking her chops to be at it again. まっただ中に 元気づけるs there were cries of, "Give all the prizes for the ladies to the youngster: she's won 'em by long chalks." "Give her a special prize, one for herself and another for the filly!" "Send 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the hat!"
"That settles it!" said Milly's mother to her sister. "She is getting やめる out of 手渡す. She must go to a good stiff school for a couple of years to take the nonsense out of her. She does what she likes with poor old Mr Blenkinsop."
"Has he been on the spree since?"
"He hasn't had the chance, but I think it 穴をあけるd his 宙に浮く a little."
By order of her mother in the grandstand and her 広大な／多数の／重要な-uncle in the 裁判官s' box, その上の 展示s by Milly were stopped, but two pairs of 注目する，もくろむs were directed, one に向かって the filly and the other に向かって her rider, with 激しい 賞賛 as they left the （犯罪の）一味. The first was Jack 屈服するs, the second young Larry Healey.
A column of dust like a smoke 一斉射撃，（質問などの）連発／ダム 発表するd the approach of a 乗り物 from the fiats across the 橋（渡しをする） and soon it was whispered that SP-over-J and his new wife had returned from the honeymoon. They proceeded 直接／まっすぐに to the grandstand, the 動かす of their passage for a time （太陽，月の）食／失墜ing the 演劇 in the （犯罪の）一味. Dot relaxed 利益／興味 in the points of the ladies' hunters to 公式文書，認める if Aileen's arrival 乱すd Ronald, but she could （悪事，秘密などを）発見する no 調印する. Milly 召喚するd the nearest vassal to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of Romp. It was Billy 屈服するs, but they were at loggerheads, and Larry sprang 今後, so to him Milly ゆだねるd her adored.
She reached the space before the grandstand and kissed her uncle and aunt, all 注目する，もくろむs upon them, some for the smart Melbourne bonnet the size of a cup with a sash tied under the bride's chin, and others to see how the wearer looked, and if there were 指示，表示する物s of a broken heart or approaching motherhood, and how old Jack might be 天候ing it. Aileen was amiable as ever, and やめる animated for her.
"What is on?" she asked, taking her seat.
"Gentlemen's hunters, just starting," said Norah.
"There goes Tommy Roper on old Albatross, see him 急に上がるing over the sticks like a bird."
"There's young Larry on Abracadabra, a devil of a horse, but Larry could ride a steam engine."
"Is Dice entering Spondulix this year?" 問い合わせd someone in a 発言する／表明する purposely loud.
"Ssssh! He was 発射 under him: didn't you hear?"
"Here comes Dice now on a horse of Poole's."
Some of the curious saw, or thought they saw, Aileen's 直面する pale as though she were going to faint, and said that her heart was in her 注目する，もくろむs as she looked に向かって the best of riders on the best of beasts, all natural grace and unstudied efficiency, but others said that some people were so weak-minded and sentimental that they could see anything in any 直面する that they 手配中の，お尋ね者 to. 非，不，無 could （悪事，秘密などを）発見する that Ronald ちらりと見ることd in the direction of Aileen, and he was in the （犯罪の）一味 longer than any other rider. He won in the pairs with Dot, and に引き続いて that they seemed to enjoy each other tremendously. They 棒 on the merry-go-一連の会議、交渉／完成する, they ate watermelon together, and all was as it should have been—a young man who had caterwauled after one beauty 除去するd from him by a wealthier suitor, was seemingly just as taken with another, a sight and 出来事/事件 far commoner than a prize bull at an 農業の show.
"Sure, look at Ronald and Dot," 観察するd Mrs M'Haffety. "'Tis plain to be seen he's forgotten Aileen 完全に."
"He couldn't have thought much of her, then," said Rebecca. "Ah, 'tis Aileen will be glad now that she did not listen to his noise. Sure, anny gurrul who depinds on a man's affections is not knowing much of thim."
"They're all 権利 if they're everlasting looked after, but you cannot afford to let them slip."
"Lord save us, what's this!"
This had 言及／関連 to the two 農業者s with Mr Blenkinsop, Diamond, and Teddy O'Mara, who had returned from the hotel in a 明言する／公表する of 完全にする equality—no, not 正確に／まさに 完全にする; Parsons and Porter still had the sanity to 売春婦 their own furrow, however unsteadily, but the two naturals were as a 選び出す／独身 thought under Mr Blenkinsop's baton.
Uncle Jack was taking Milly and her new aunt, his sister and several other 一族／派閥 members for refreshments when they were 直面するd by a changed mortal. Gone was the exquisitely 従来の surface. Mr Blenkinsop's 着せる／賦与するs were covered with dust, his hat over his ear, his 直面する ゆらめくing red as he reeled precariously from 味方する to 味方する, a 捕らえる、獲得する of onions under one arm and a tin of boiled lollies under the other.
He swayed up to Aileen, with one 手渡す on Diamond and the other on Teddy O'Mara, his 商品／売買する escaping him. He tried to 選ぶ it up, so did his 補佐官s-de-（軍の）野営地，陣営, and all three rolled together. Teddy sat up and laughed, his stiff white 耐えるd now encrusted with dust like a statue, and 詠唱するd:
"Me feyther and mother were Irish, And I was Irish, too; We bought a tin kettle for ninepence, And knocked up an Irish stoo!"
Diamond wiggled on his belly after the onions, boys grabbed fistfuls of the 甘いs, 元気づける and calling, "Go it, Diamond!" "Go it, Teddy O'Mara!"
"Three 元気づけるs for Eusty Blenkinsop, esquire, two ends of a rogue and a liar!"
Porter and Parsons, carrying themselves better, helped their comrade to his feet and he 演説（する）／住所d Aileen, "Ah, Marchioness, I'll see you tonight in the 温室 when we can get away from this 群衆. You needn't pretend you don't want to—you had a different tale till your clod of a husband （機の）カム along with his money and 肩書を与える."
Stanton drew his wife aside. "You are not yourself, Blenkinsop, you'd better go to bed."
"Yes, leave the young lady alone," said Parsons, "she's married the old feller now and there's no use in playing up about it."
The lamb had become a lion. "How dare you 演説（する）／住所 me! Serfs, clods, 子孫s of 犯罪のs and menials, fellows with neither education nor 産む／飼育するing—and I, Eustace Blenkinsop Osgood—to think that this is my lot year after year, to associate year after year with inferiors—people more ignorant than my father's （強制）執行官 and tradesmen...Stand up, Diamond and Teddy O'Mara, I am associating with you to show what I think of the society to which I am 減ずるd. I shall take you both to call on all the first families 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Bool Bool—you are just as worthy to enjoy my society as these other grooms and galoots. To think that I must spend my days in such a milieu! I, Eustace. Up, Diamond! Come on, O'Mara, I of 古代の lineage will..."
Such a （人が）群がる had collected that Stanton took his wife out of it while the wits enjoyed the 協会 of Diamond and Teddy with the blooming English swell. A constable （機の）カム to 回復する order. Parsons and Porter were （人命などを）奪う，主張するd by their embarrassed families. The constable would have locked the other two up but for the 介入 of Mrs Labosseer.
"Teddy O'Mara, get up at once! Go and sit in the shade of my buggy till you are able to sit on your horse and then ride straight home to Coolooluk. You hear what I say!" Teddy 認めるd the 発言する／表明する of 当局 and staggered off obediently. "Diamond, you せねばならない be whipped. You go straight 支援する to （軍の）野営地，陣営 at once." The constable 護衛するd one of the last of a 消えるing tribe outside the gates and let him 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する under a tree to be eaten by the 飛行機で行くs till he should be able to travel, and 警告するd the boys not to touch them.
"Those poor creatures 港／避難所't sense, but what are we to think of those who sell アルコール飲料 to them or those who laugh at their 明言する／公表する," said Mrs Labosseer. "I hope I shall live to see the day that those who sell アルコール飲料 to the simple and those who jeer at them are horsewhipped." Such was her rectitude and personality that the wags slunk away, 瓶／封じ込めるing their delight in the 出来事/事件 for reminiscence.
The downfall of Mr Blenkinsop was a sensation. There was no one but himself to whom it 事柄d, so Mrs Labosseer, with a sense of Christian 責任／義務, again （機の）カム to the 救助（する）. She got her son Eric to take him to Three Rivers. "Poor old man has no one to take care of him. Ask Charlotte to take him in, and as soon as he is fit to travel I'll take him to Coolooluk till he 回復するs, unless, of course, Jack Stanton is 用意が出来ている to take him to Ten Creeks, though he is no fit 教える for Milly after this."
"Glory be! Who'd have thought it!" said Mrs M'Haffety. "Sure, perhaps 'tis to be seen whoi his family 荷を降ろすd him on the 植民地s."
"Didn't I tell you! Men may seem lambs, but it's wives who know their own sorrer with them."
"This beloike is the ind of his career as a 罰金 gentleman の中で us. The ould scut! Who'd have thought he could be so insultin'!"
*
Milly went home to Ten Creeks with her new aunt, much against her mother's wish, but she was in such favour with her uncle that Mrs Saunders's wishes were outweighed. Milly's older 親族s considered she was getting out of 手渡す, and would become an oddity if steps were not taken to tame her. In 直面する of the 崩壊（する） of Mr Blenkinsop she was the 支配する of family discussion.
In a different circle she might have been あられ／賞賛するd as a prodigy, but in hers any 優れた character or 知能 was disparaged as eccentricity. She might find 範囲 for unusual energy in prodigies of 世帯 操作／手術s that 危険にさらすd the peace of her associates, or she could be the horsewoman and whip of the age; though her cousin Dot did not escape aspersions of horsiness, and the opinion that what she needed to settle her was a husband and half a dozen children.
As the months passed, Mrs Saunders liked いっそう少なく and いっそう少なく Milly's 協会 with the Healey boys, one of whom was always at Ten Creeks, while Milly herself did not care for Joanna, who also took up her 住居 there to keep Aileen company. Aileen, in Booth, needed a companion for herself and to relieve SP-over-J. Approaching motherhood made her a 苦しむing and impossible sleeping companion. に向かって the end of the year she was for ever waking up 叫び声をあげるing because of snakes that 追求するd her in all guises, and the marriage bed in the last century was a pen from which a spouse could not lightly 砂漠. Stanton, in whom habits of 孤独 and singleness were 深く，強烈に ingrained, was glad to abdicate to a sister-in-法律. Even he agreed that Milly was growing too old-fashioned, and at New Year helped with the wherewithal to send her to 行方不明になる Lisset's most select 設立 for young ladies at Edgecliff, Woollahra, where 非，不，無 but the daughters of pure merinos were catered for. Milly was 適格の because there was no unpunctuality in her 料金s and she belonged to one of the oldest and most 尊敬（する）・点d 開拓する 一族／派閥s in the Southern 地区s.
When her 出発 was settled she asked Uncle Bert to take care of Romp during her absence. Poole 棒 from Curradoobidgee to say good-bye to Milly and to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the pony 本人自身で. Milly laid upon him a 会社／堅い （裁判所の）禁止（強制）命令, "Don't let that awful Flash Billy touch a hair of her 長，率いる or tail or he would be sure to spoil her in some way."
Milly was absent nearly two years. Her mother, to keep her from the Healeys, went to Sydney during some of her vacations, and Milly had spent others with school friends.
Life from Bool Bool to Monaro and Ten Creeks Run and thereabouts pottered along. The 干ばつ had been followed by such wet years that 瓶／封じ込める and fluke and all the ills of too much rain were 流布している. Norah and Joanna Healey were both 範囲d. Propinquity with Joanna had done for Dan Spires, the overseer. Dan had selected に向かって Wamgambril Springs and they were dragging to make a home. Norah's 見えなくなるs from Neangen, to stay at Ten Creeks with Aily, seeing what had come to Joanna, had stirred Alf Timson at last, and he and Norah were 設立するd comfortably enough at Billy-go-Billy. Old Mrs Poole, Bert's stepmother, had died high in her eighties, and Bert was without a 永久の housekeeper. Aileen's baby was in his second year, a 罰金 child, but his mother did not 回復する from his advent. She was listless and backachy, and the child seemed too much for her even with the 援助（する） of the best nurse girls procurable. She could not 耐える the heat of Riverina and so Ten Creeks saw more of the family than usual. SP-over-J was 内密に mortified to have made a 難破させる of his bride, and for pride's sake spared no expense for 試みる／企てるd 医療の 再建.
Poole's 明言する／公表する had been discussed by the oracles of Bool Bool. "He'll be sure to marry now. While the old lady was there she was a 広大な／多数の／重要な boss, they say, but now we'll see what will happen. There may be a chance for old 行方不明になる M'Eachern yet, and there's the two Farquharsons at Keba and the Dice girls at Bookaledgeree."
"He'll be dhruv to marry now, but it will take a lot of dhriving to get him に向かって Lucy Saunders or anny of thim others. He'll surprise us by bringing home some flibbertigibbet from the town. Whin they get ould in the horn they are niver contint with 病弱な of their own age. Look at ould Jack Stanton."
Milly arrived in Bool Bool one morning unwarrantedly, but に先行するd by 非常に長い telegraphic communications from 行方不明になる Lisset. The 推論する／理由 of this 外見 was the news received from Uncle Bert that Romp was lost, though she had been stabled every night or kept in the orchard with a six-foot paling 盗品故買者, as she had already shown the 傾向s of her high-飛行機で行くing dam. It was an appalling 大災害 to Milly. Without 許可 she left すぐに for Bool Bool. Poole met her at Goulburn, so 深く，強烈に did he feel this end to the guardianship of the sacred filly. When morning （機の）カム and Milly disinterred herself from her rug and stepped out on the 壇・綱領・公約, he was startled to find her no longer a child.
"Uncle Bert," she said, after the sleepiness had 消えるd, "I do so 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる your thoughtfulness in coming to 会合，会う me like this. I know it has been an 避けられない 事故. I am inclined to think there is something underneath. Where is Flash Billy?"
"Droving 負かす／撃墜する the Bland the last I heard of him. He and Tommy Roper had a 契約 to go to Queensland."
"How did he come to leave Ten Creeks?"
"He and your Uncle Jack fell out over Billy's methods with young 'uns. I 警告するd Billy the time of the 召集（する） when he taught Corroboree and the filly bad tricks."
"I bet he has done something with Romp for spite."
"That would be rather roundabout, wouldn't it? Romp never meant anything to your Uncle Jack."
"Yes but it was through Romp and me that Billy got 設立する out. I was the one who always said straight out what I thought of him."
"You must be careful never to let prejudice make you 不公平な, Milly old girl. Billy, I reckon, behaved 同様に as he knew how; he never had much of a bringing up."
"I shan't say a word to anyone but you."
"That reminds me, the night of the 橋（渡しをする） 開始, Billy brought Romp 支援する to Three Rivers. She had broken out of the orchard and would have got away only for Billy."
"You never told me."
"Forgot it till this brought it up."
"I'm sorry if I've had wrongful thoughts of Billy. If Romp hasn't been stolen she would make 支援する to Ten Creeks."
Poole could not keep his ちらりと見ることs from his young friend, and her general 外見 and composed vivacity of manner attracted 賞賛 from strangers. She was assuredly a young woman, though her hair was still in a plait and her skirts short. Her velvet hat was tipped away from her 直面する and had a smart 屈服する dangling at the 支援する; her dress was to the 最高の，を越すs of her neat buttoned boots and made with the 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるing bustle at the 支援する; the sleeves 輪郭（を描く）d her 一連の会議、交渉／完成する young 武器 snugly, and were met with gloves half-way to the 肘; the 構成要素s were 静かな but good, the ensemble decidedly 流行の／上流の. She had a "人物／姿／数字", with the わずかな／ほっそりした waist and other 一連の会議、交渉／完成するd lines, 不可欠の to beauty in her day, already plainly 示すd. 行方不明になる Lisset's was renowned for deportment, and all Milly's 活動／戦闘s were instinct with energy and grace. Her features were 不規律な, but her 注目する，もくろむs and mouth were frank, expressive, and winning; her complexion, rooted in radiant health, and now rid of freckles, was rosy, and her 誠実 and freedom from affectation or unreasonableness made her a favourite. Poole 公式文書，認めるd that her collar was fastened with a childish brooch he had given her, and decided to 現在の her with another befitting her budding womanhood.
She 主張するd upon going straight to Ten Creeks though only men were there, it 存在 August and the worst winter 天候 still to run. Poole felt this ぎこちない now that Milly seemed so grown up, but to break this to her was not possible inside delicacy. Aileen and SP-over-J were at Turrill Turrill. Lucy Saunders was at Stanton's Plains, and as a married 管理人 was on the Run, she volunteered with such 乗り気 to go up with Milly, that Poole sensed here a fresh, or rather an old danger. This he obviated by 示唆するing that the （警察，軍隊などの）本部 of the 追跡（する） should be Jinninjinninbong over the river. This held. The Mesdames Milford were glad of 訪問者s to enliven the 孤立／分離 of their winter season when often weeks passed without a fresh 直面する appearing, while the Milford brothers, in Poole's idea, were 価値（がある） half a dozen of the rouseabouts or 境界-riders that operated on Ten Creeks Run.
Poole had 申し込む／申し出d a reward of &続けざまに猛撃する;50, but Romp had not yet been traced. The night of her 見えなくなる had been 示すd by 豪雪, wiping out all 可能性 of 跡をつけるing her. The 疑惑 was that she had been stolen by someone who had を待つd such 天候. If not, it was argued that she would make 支援する to where she had been bred.
A tremendous search began. Bushmen thought nothing of a few 得点する／非難する／２０ miles to serve an old crone or a bearded and blasphemous brother, and 青年 and beauty in feminine form was enough to send them riding a thousand miles in their dreams. Several blades were there because they had caught a glimpse of the new Milly in 過程 of 存在 turned out by 行方不明になる Lisset. 真っ先の was Larry Healey, who had seen her arrive at Bool Bool, where he hung about Dot Saunders, which he assumed the 権利 to do since his sister had entered the 一族／派閥. Another was Cross-注目する，もくろむd Prendergast, who saw Milly take the coach at Gundagai, and his crony Billings to whom he had imparted the news. Someone going for the mail had told the Farquharsons and Cuppinbingle, and, things 存在 slack, old Mick Muldoon thought he might 同様に take a turn up, so did his master, who was always 利益／興味d in a 約束ing filly, equine or human, 特に human, and the whisper of Milly's points had reached him. He and Alistair Farquharson travelled together. 審理，公聴会 that Poole and Cuppinbingle Potter were to be members of the search, Rose Farquharson said she would …を伴って her brother and 支払う／賃金 a call on Mrs Milford.
When the 追跡（する） had been out a number of days Long Billy, the 上級の Ten Creeks rouseabout, 発表するd that he had 選ぶd up the 跡をつけるs of a shod horse の中で the brumbies out by Gyang Gyang Creek at the 支援する of 開始する Corroboree, where the 黒人／ボイコット-fellows' Borah （犯罪の）一味s faintly 存在する to this day. He 固執するd in this story though he could not find the 跡をつけるs again for others to 診察する.
"Sure, he couldn't thrack a fowl!" said Mick Muldoon. "He couldn't tell the difference betune the thrack of the filly and a bull in spring tearin' up the scrub with his horns and pawin' dhrains all 一連の会議、交渉／完成する."
But as there was no other 追跡する, the 探検者s proceeded in that direction, and Long Billy and Teddy O'Mara were led by crows to the remains of Romp. She lay 近づく the Corroboree （犯罪の）一味s under a cliff of granite; the fissures of which had of old harboured トンs of bogongs for the feasts of the aborigines in their 儀式の 退却／保養地s. Crows and dingoes had done their work, but it was a shod horse with a hogged 黒人／ボイコット mane and tail, and enough of the hide remaining to 設立する that it was blue roan, and blue roans were scarcer than red roans or piebalds or 黒人／ボイコット-dappled greys.
It was a depressed party that 召集（する）d at Jinninjinninbong that disagreeable sleeting evening. To Teddy O'Mara was left the breaking of the news. Milly 辞退するd to be 満足させるd. She 手配中の，お尋ね者 the hide for tanning, but the scavengers of the bush had spoiled that. "She was in a flinty gully, missy, under a 広大な／多数の／重要な 塀で囲む, and must have lost her 地盤 and broke her neck," said Teddy.
"Someone must have 押し進めるd her over," sobbed Milly. "She'd never be so clumsy as to lose her 地盤. She was bred there."
"Ah, but the horse that doesn't lose his 地盤 いつかs hasn't been foaled yet," said Alistair Farquharson.
"Yes, but Romp wouldn't 落ちる over that precipice, she knew the place. Horses don't make mistakes like that. I want to go out and see her myself. If she had been some old screw that didn't know the mountains it would be different. Did you leave her there, just as she was? Poor little thing, to be torn to pieces by dingoes and those vile old crows!"
Milly was all child again before this bereavement. The men felt 罪人／有罪を宣告するd of barbarity to have left the remains unburnt or unburied. Alistair volunteered to carry out this 義務, while Milly had to go 支援する to school すぐに. This she 同意d to, meekly, also to contrite 陳謝s to 行方不明になる Lisset for her highhanded 活動／戦闘 in leaving her 設立. 行方不明になる Lisset, however, understood Milly and was a friend in this 危機. Milly never gave the trouble 生成するd by some of the meek 見本／標本s who were all and more than 条約 需要・要求するd.
Thus Milly was banished again till the に引き続いて Christmas twelve-months, when she was to return home to （問題を）取り上げる life on the 計画（する） of an adult of seventeen.
Ronald Dice had not seemed to be aware of Aileen at the fool Bool Show the day she returned from her honeymoon, and no word or message of any sort passed between the young people thereafter. すぐに afterwards Dice left the 地区. He 自然に 願望（する）d a change. He went to the Macfarlanes of Junee, who had summered their 在庫／株 on Bookaledgeree and who gave him a 地位，任命する as 経営者／支配人 of one of their 駅／配置するs 負かす／撃墜する the river.
It was during the winter that Romp was lost that SP-over-J sent Aileen to Melbourne to a specialist renowned in such 事例／患者s. Norah took 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the baby at Turrill Turrill, and Aileen was やめる 井戸／弁護士席 enough to travel alone after 存在 put carefully into her carriage at Wagga Wagga, with the guard aware that it would be to his 利益／興味 to see her through the customs and intransigent change of trains at Albury.
Aileen, with a cup of horrible tea and her own breakfast, was comfortably seated when an agile young man dashed into her compartment and banged the door after him. Aileen looked up startled. It was Ronald Dice.
How handsome and young he looked belting into the moving train in the 無謀な way he swung on and off a horse; so different from SP-over-J, riding 血 horses too spirited for his years and hop-hop-hopping with one 脚 and 粘着するing to the 鞍馬 till at last he clambered up.
"Oh, Ronnie!" she breathed, her pale 直面する flooding with unusual colour.
"広大な／多数の／重要な Scott! It's you! How the ジュース...井戸／弁護士席, it can't be helped! I never dreamt of finding you here. I'll get out at the first stop. Don't be 脅すd. I shan't eat you."
"Oh, Ronnie, I'm not 脅すd. How could I be, of you!" she breathed, joy lighting her frail 直面する, irresistibly 控訴，上告ing. She had nothing else to say. She was not a talker, nor was she embarrassed その為に. She just looked at her vis-à-vis and smiled.
"Have some of my breakfast."
"No, thanks...Say, Aileen, just tell me one thing, and then I'll never bother you again."
"What is it?" She was so gentle, so defenceless, that stricture 緩和するd in him. He was casting off something that had 絶えず pricked for more than two years.
"Why didn't you answer the letter I left with you that night? You might have had the decency to do that. You led me on to think you cared as much as I did. I was dead in earnest, and that was a good square 申し込む／申し出, and you were twenty-one and had the 権利 to 反抗する your parents if you 手配中の，お尋ね者 to. You might have known how serious it was to me. Why did you let me go on till Spondulix was 発射 under me, 危険ing my life and making a fool of myself before the whole country? Just one word that you had changed your mind would have been enough."
"Oh, but I never changed my mind. I did care just like you did," said Aileen, 真面目に, spontaneously candid. Then she paled with 狼狽, to realize the 不正行為 of this 自白 now that she was a wife and mother.
"That's what you led me to believe! 井戸／弁護士席, you might have left a little 公式文書，認める, not let me ride the tails off all the horses night after night for nothing till I was sick at heart."
"Oh, but Ronnie, I did—I tried, I mean. I got away at last and wrote a letter to say I would 会合，会う you, and when I got to the old 地位，任命する"—she recoiled in horror in the recollection—"I was just putting my 手渡す into the big mortice 穴を開ける when a monster 黒人／ボイコット snake whizzed past. I thought it had bitten me at first, and I jumped 支援する nearly on to another. Oh, Ronnie, it was terrible! It seemed like an omen. I never could try again, and they all took 罰金 care I had no chance of sending you a letter. It seemed as if luck was against me." She was weeping now, hopelessly, uncontrolledly, relievedly. They had the world to themselves—a world of bushland with queenly trees, their silver-green foliage glinting in the morning sun. They were 調印（する）d in their own company for hours unless some 事故 stopped the train. 運命／宿命 was giving them the 適切な時期 that the snakes had 失望させるd, thought Dice; he had not Aileen's hesitancies.
"Is that true?"
"Yes. I've dreamt of those snakes ever since. Snakes come after me when I try to sleep till they are 運動ing me mad. The doctors, I know, think I am mental, and talk about hallucinations and curing me of my 'obsession'."
"You needn't worry about the bally snakes any more. I'm sure they will be killed. I'm glad you have told me, but if you felt like that, why didn't you just slip out and come to me? The day you got as far as the old 地位，任命する, were you riding?"
"Yes."
"Oh dear, dear! Why didn't you gallop straight on to me? All we had to do was （疑いを）晴らす out to 行方不明になる Mac. She was waiting to stand by us."
"Oh, Ronnie, I couldn't do such a thing! I had Julie with me. She would have gone 支援する and told Pa and they would have given chase and perhaps have 発射 us both."
"No damn' 恐れる! Julie would have followed you most of the way and by the time she got 支援する to tell them we would have had a good start."
"But supposing you had been away from home. Oh, Ronnie, you don't 非難する me, do you?"
"No, I don't 非難する you, but you've made a hell of a mess of everything by not playing up to me ever so little." He could not be cruel now. He knew that the 活動／戦闘 he 輪郭（を描く）d had been beyond Aileen's timorous nature. His gorge rose against the ogres who had surrounded her. He would 喜んで have strangled both Larrys, and as for old Skinny Guts—臆病な／卑劣な old death adder to 罠（にかける） a girl—he deserved to be thrown in a 炭坑，オーケストラ席 十分な of tiger snakes and adders. There was no hope of his dying yet. He was not much past sixty and like all useless old crawlers took superb care of himself.
Aileen continued to weep so pitifully that Dice 恐れるd she would be ill on his 手渡すs. He had heard tales of her hysteria and delicacy, from home, not without comments on her tainted 遺伝 and what he had luckily 行方不明になるd. He saw now that there was nothing wrong with the poor little girl, as gentle as an angel and unfitted to 対処する with the sharks の中で which 運命／宿命 had pitched her.
"元気づける up!" he said, wrenching himself from 猛烈な／残忍な 悔いる and wiping her 注目する，もくろむs on his handkerchief, hers 存在 不十分な. "I'm glad you have told me this. It has 解除するd a hundred thousand トンs off me to know you weren't pulling my 脚."
"I never thought of doing such a terrible thing," she sobbed. "井戸／弁護士席 then, there's no need to cry. I feel like throwing up my hat."
"But it's all too late now. I might 同様に be dead," she wailed.
"Don't you believe it. A live dog is better any day than an ark 十分な of dead lions. 元気づける up, we can still see each other. There is no 法律 in the world to 妨げる that."
"Yes, we can see each other, that will be nice." She 元気づけるd perceptibly すぐに.
"You bet your 底（に届く） dollar it will be nice." The young man was 反映するing savagely that he 借りがあるd no 忠義 to any person around Aileen. They brought on themselves anything that might happen. As for the old Death Adder, he was a symbol of the snakes that had worked on his 味方する, and relentless 決意 overcame young Dice, so gay and good-natured that he was a byword.
Aileen's 長，率いる 残り／休憩（する）d on Ronald's shoulder as he soothed her. Soon he had her smiling at his 観察s. Later they had a jolly picnic meal together. Dice got tea at a 駅／配置する and 賄賂d the guard to keep people away from their compartment. Aileen, rapt in the bliss of the passing hour, felt the despair of years 分散させる. Just to have Ronald 近づく once more was balm to her frazzled 神経s. The past fell away, the 未来 was unshaped. She had no thought of impropriety. With Ronald it was a different 事柄. His 目的 was devoid of qualms, but 欠如（する） of illicit experience would 抑制する him more than he could 見積（る）.
The heavenly hours 消えるd and the 郊外s of Melbourne were outside the windows.
"We're nearly there. Oh, Ronnie, when shall I see you again? There can be no 害（を与える） in us just seeing each other?" Her words were a quivering 嘆願.
"No 害（を与える） at all! Of course we'll see each other all we jolly 井戸／弁護士席 want to. I reckon I had better not 乱す you in Melbourne. You hang on to that old specialist johnny and get strong. I'm only 負かす／撃墜する with a few special fats that have gone on ahead in トラックで運ぶs and shan't have more than a night or perhaps two in Melbourne. Are you going up to Ten Creeks this spring?"
"Yes. The heat at Turrill Turrill knocks me out 完全に."
"All 権利, I'll see you up there. Macfarlane has Goraig Flats for the summer and gave me the 申し込む／申し出 of managing. I'll be 権利 on your way to Stanton's Plains, you can stay and have midday grub with inc. I might have one of the girls to housekeep."
"That will be heaven!"
"You bet it will! I'll 減少（する） over some Saturday nights. Now, remember, no more snakes or any tommy-rot like that."
Aileen was smiling radiantly. Dice stooped and kissed her. "There, I had a 権利 to kiss the bride on the wedding day, so I'll do it now. Better late than never."
He 選ぶd up his valise and had gone before Aileen was met and taken away in a carriage. She went like one in a dream, a comfortable glowing dream 解放する／自由な from snakes and death adders. Melbourne was a lovely city.
The year of the loss of the Young Whisker filly, a new スキャンダル entertained the curious about Bool Bool.
The Saunderses were a 狭くする-minded 従来の family. In 早期に days there had been rumours that the 初めの Saunders need not have been condescending to ticket-of-leave men, but never more than rumours. Old James Saunders had 設立するd a family of 広大な／多数の／重要な rectitude, 特に as 関心d the straitlaced virtue of its women. Against any of the daughters or daughters' daughters there had never been a suggestion of 不正行為 till now there were whispers about Dot. These were not long in reaching the two arch-priestesses of the 地元の news service.
"港／避難所't you noticed?" Mrs Isaacs bent 今後 and whispered portentously, though they were やめる alone in the 私的な parlour of the hotel.
"Mother of God prayserve us!" exclaimed Norah M'Haffety. "Is there anny thruth in what ye're sayin'?"
"Jacob said to me, 'Where are the 注目する，もくろむs of all you old married women that you couldn't notice? Are you all asleep?'"
"But how could the like of that be thrue, and her with 注目する，もくろむs for 非，不，無 but Ronnie Dice, an' sure they'd have made a nice pair, but what under the hivens has Larry but his ould hat?"
"Jacob says that old Larry done so 井戸／弁護士席 holdin' up old Jack Stanton that young Larry thought there might be money in the same sort of capers. Isn't it terrible, and Dot could have married anyone.
"Now, who could be thinkin' out the wickedness of people. God hilp us all with families of our own."
"We can be thankful we have them all 後部d and married."
"Our grandchildren aren't rared or all married yet—an' 病弱な of the Saunders! Afther that it would seem we were niver to be 安全な till we're all in our 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大なs buried and the tombstones rared upon us and 集まりs bein' said for us, Rebecca!"
"It will be a terrible blow to them all, they so stuck-up. It will bring them 負かす／撃墜する a peg or two."
"Sure, 病弱な gineration builds up and the other pulls 負かす／撃墜する with both 手渡すs; doesn't it seem as if that is what it was to be with the ould families about here?"
"Don't say a thing to anyone or we might get into trouble."
"We can keep our mouths shut, we in public positions in the town, but it's not sayin' we have to do the same with our ears and 注目する，もくろむs."
There was a 悲劇 熟した in the family of Tom Saunders, sen., eldest son of the old 初めの. To 確かな families it does not seem that 確かな classes of 不名誉 can appertain till one sad morning there it is, in the same way that it might happen to the most obvious sinner.
When Dot's 落ちる became known to her family, old Tom horsewhipped her and flung her out the door one night. Only her mother's 介入 saved her from 存在 kicked while she was 負かす／撃墜する, with perhaps intensification of 悲劇. に引き続いて that there had been difficulty in 妨げるing Dot, the gay and fearless rider, the darling of many hearts, from doing away with herself. Her brother and sister guarded her through the night. Mrs Saunders, wearing and 執拗な, pointed out to her 激怒（する）ing spouse that it was no help to blare their 不名誉 to the whole 地区 by casting the girl out. Things were not yet beyond mending. Dot did not 否定する her paramour. He could be made to marry her and if they 始める，決める up out of the 地区 dates could be cloaked and 事柄s patched.
Old Tom sent a letter to Larry Healey, jun., 需要・要求するing his 外見. This also was Mrs Saunders's counsel. Young Tom had been for putting a 弾丸 in Larry.
Contrary to 期待s, Larry appeared at Saunders Plains without 延期する. Old Saunders 行為／行うd him to the 製図／抽選-room for the interview. Mrs Saunders and Tom were の近くに at 手渡す in 事例／患者 of need, another brother guarded Dot and a sister saw that the one maid who was in for the day was kept 深い in 一面に覆う／毛布-washing and spreading-out far up the orchard.
Neangen had gone up in the stirrups since the profitable 処分 of Aileen, and Larry was spruce and 井戸／弁護士席 turned out. He had the 演説（する）／住所 and 罰金 features of his Uncle Dennis, the once debonair and engaging. He could hardly believe what had resulted from his intrepidity, but under the surface was 地震ing as he （機の）カム before old Tom, lean and 厳格な，質素な. When old Tom looked at him, he so boiled with 激怒（する） that he could scarcely breathe, and had to clench his 手渡すs to keep from 解除するing a 激しい 議長，司会を務める with murderous 意図. He could in that hour like a Spartan father have killed his daughter for having brought this upon him.
"You know what I have brought you here for," he gulped.
"I can't say that I do," said Larry, off-handedly.
"By God, if you 否定する it, you bastard son of a lag."
"I didn't come here to be 侮辱d," said Larry, getting to his feet. "You're the son of a lag yourself, if all was known. I'll stand no such aspersions against my mother who was as good a woman as ever lived and of as good family, and it is for all to know." This was true. His mother had been Sissy Gilbert of Maryville, Monaro, and the Gilberts had the same standing in 開拓する 始める，決めるs as the Saunderses and Stantons.
"Yes, Pa, we have nothing to do with his mother," said young Tom.
"If you will 明言する／公表する your 商売／仕事 civilly," said Larry.
"My daughter Dorothy," stammered the old man, the humiliation more bitter than death. Larry said nothing. "There is no need for me to say any more. You must do the straight thing at once."
"And what have I to do with your daughter Dorothy?" Larry had felt exhilarated, riding along, to think of himself on one occasion with Dot, when the Saunderses were so hoity-toity and snubbed his sisters and himself.
"God, if you 否定する it, I'll leave you to my son, and you don't go out of here alive."
Young Tom took up a 負担d gun.
"So! You've 罠にかける me like bushrangers in a lair and would 軍隊 me to make a decent woman of your —— of a daughter to save my life. If I had known I was coming to such a den I could have come 武装した too." Larry was 井戸／弁護士席 within the 条約s in the 罰金 contempt he felt for Dot to have "lowered" herself.
"Have a care," said Tom, jun.
"Give him a chance," said the old man. "My daughter says you are the man; do you 収容する／認める it?"
"I 収容する／認める I may have been one of them."
"Take that 支援する, you swine, or you die," roared Tom, jun., levelling his piece. The younger man's 怒らせる had the 影響 of 支配（する）／統制する on his father.
"Now, this mud-slinging will help neither 味方する. I think it will be 一般に 認める that my daughter was not in any other man's company."
"What about Ronald Dice? She made herself the talk of the country with him, and he （機の）カム bothering my sister to such an extent that my father was compelled to shoot the horse under him as a 警告."
"You've been 警告するd once," growled young Tom.
"Dice has left the 地区 this two years and more. You'll stay here under guard till 事柄s are arranged," said old Tom.
"You needn't try to come the Tsar to such an extent," said Larry, who was やめる startled inwardly. "If I had any 手渡す in it—if Dot thinks I'm the 主要な／長／主犯 one, I'm willing to marry her for a consideration, but I have no means these hard times, and don't want a woman and youngsters tied 一連の会議、交渉／完成する my neck in poverty."
They swallowed the 侮辱 and turned to 条件. No thought of what the girl was 苦しむing occurred to them. An adult, she deserved her 罰. All was 訴訟／進行 without 言及／関連 to a wilful young woman whose 苦しむing and shame were beyond endurance. She could hear through the 木造の 塀で囲むs all that was passing and could not be 抑制するd. Thrusting past her mother and brother she appeared behind young Tom and 掴むd his fowling-piece. Direct at her betrayer she pointed, and pulled the 誘発する／引き起こす. Her brother had the presence of mind to strike up her arm. Only an atrocious family group above the mantelpiece was 損失d. Larry, seeing the 火山の 決意 in his fellow fallen-one's 注目する，もくろむs, leapt to escape, but old Tom got between him and the door. Young Torn was 格闘するing with his sister against the 発射する／解雇する of the second バーレル／樽. His mother （機の）カム to his 援助（する）. Dot 放棄するd the gun and 直面するd Larry.
"You'd marry me, would you—for a consideration. You would, would you! You'll never have the chance. I wouldn't marry you, not if I was paid a thousand 続けざまに猛撃するs a minute for the first year. You were one of the men, were you, one of them! My God! It serves me 権利! A thing like that, a 哀れな crawler that I wouldn't have wiped my hoots on. It's no use of croaking and groaning to a 哀れな nincompoop like you to patch things up. The thing is to wipe them out so there is nothing left. I'll follow you, Larry Healey, till I マリファナ you, it doesn't 事柄 where you run, I'll wait if necessary—one 弾丸 for you and another for me. That will settle the 得点する／非難する／２０. I don't want 裁判官 or 陪審／陪審員団. I know the 司法（官） of it. Another man!" she cried with bitter abandon. "Do you think if there had been another man that I cared for that I would have...oh, what is the good of talking! Marry me! I'd like to see you get the chance. You can go. I'll wait my time—a 弾丸 for you, no argument about the 権利s of it with me."
打ち勝つ with vertigo, Dot was taken away and laid upon her bed by Mrs Saunders and Tom, jun. Mrs Saunders presently returned 捜し出すing some medicament. "It is her 条件," she took 適切な時期 of 発言／述べるing to Larry. "It is to be 推定する／予想するd. She will be more reasonable later."
Larry was not 慰安d. He was inexperienced in the hysteria of Dot's special 条件. She had always been the upper spirit both from natural 特徴 and because of her more 保証するd social position. Her 決定するd glare 納得させるd Larry her 目的, and she was a 有能な 運動競技の girl who could reach any 退却／保養地 possible to him. 脅しs from his own sex might be 割引d as fifty per cent bluster, but the 冷淡な reality of 女性（の） deadliness struck new terror to Larry so that he would have abjectly わびるd to old Saunders and married Dot that afternoon had she been willing.
"If Dot feels so 不正に about it, I couldn't see her 苦しむ so terribly sorry for what's happened and what I said. I leave it to you and her, but I 警告する you I 港／避難所't a stiver in the world," he said with natural humanity and manliness.
Mrs Saunders 報告（する）／憶測d later that Dot had gone into one faint after another.
"It will most likely kill her," 発言／述べるd old Saunders, hoping it would.
"We'd better send for the doctor, or we may he in worse trouble," said Tom, jun.
"No, we'll wait a while." Mrs Saunders wished to keep the 事件／事情／状勢 secret, and had had much experience of pregnancy in herself, her daughters, and her 隣人s.
Larry said he would wait too. "As soon as she is able, tell her I don't want to 苦しめる her. I was always ready to do the 権利 thing by her, but having a gun held to my 長，率いる without 警告 raised my dander."
Old Saunders was a harder man than young Healey yet had time to be or would ever be. He saw that Larry meant what he said. He 受託するd his 陳謝 and sat with him on the veranda. Tom, jun., put Larry's horse in the stable. Mrs Healey let the serving girl hear her explain that there had nearly been a terrible 事故 through the gun going off accidentally and that it had given 行方不明になる Dot such a turn that she was prostrated.
Midday dinner was a difficult meal for all. Mrs Saunders did not appear, 存在 in 出席 upon Dot, and her other daughter disappeared at intervals to 増強する her. In the afternoon Mrs Saunders 報告（する）／憶測d that Dot was much better. Larry's request for an interview was 認めるd. He 設立する it 特に 土台を崩すing to see Dot pale and in bed—Dot always so tireless and 決定的な.
"Dot, I'm sorry," he began. "But they held a gun to my 長，率いる and of course I wasn't going to sit clown under that without giving better than they sent. Why didn't you let me know, yourself?"
Dot 単に raised her 長，率いる and spoke in a low 発言する／表明する that should not carry to the 世帯, but there was more 冷淡な fury in it than in her earlier 最終提案, of which it was a reiteration.
"You'd marry me, would you? You'll never get the chance. The taste I've had of 不名誉 is enough for me."
"There needn't be any 不名誉. We could （疑いを）晴らす out to some place where we're not known."
"You're one of the men, are you! You can't wipe that out, you cur! No, I have given you fair 警告. I don't care if it takes till I'm eighty, I'll wipe the whole thing out."
"But Dot..." Mrs Saunders, 審理，公聴会 Dot's トンs rising deliriously, beckoned Larry to her.
"You must not excite her now. It's not 安全な. You must wait till she is herself," she said soothingly. To have Larry eager to mend the 違反 was such a 救済 that the trouble seemed almost over. Dot was beside herself for the 現在の, but she would simmer 負かす／撃墜する. Mrs Saunders felt herself in 命令（する） of the 状況／情勢.
"We'll send you word as soon as she is herself."
"Only let me know," said the contrite Larry, その上の brought to his proper 割合s by the 激怒（する） in Dot's final ちらりと見ること as she 直す／買収する，八百長をするd it on him as he left her. The Saunderses had to let him 出発／死.
"Don't try to get out of the 地区," 警告するd Tom, jun., "or I shan't save you from a second 発射. I'll tell the police to keep an 注目する，もくろむ on you if you try any gerrymandering with me."
Larry, feeling as limp as chewed string, averred that no such 意向 was his. The fury breathed by Dot, of whom he had thought swaggeringly as his mere donah, was 崩壊するing.
*
As the days passed and he received no 召喚するs he grew more and more uneasy. He 恐れるd Dot behind every tree and heard her horse's 追求するing hoofs in each turn of the road. He was no seasoned villain, but 単に a bumptious yokel 圧倒するd by a conflagration he had by some hazard started. Another week passed and he began to 恐れる Dot would shoot him in his bed on a moonlit night. He took to sleeping in 半端物 places where he could not be 設立する, and as Saturday （機の）カム said he would spend Sunday with Norah and old Alf and take a couple of days' （一定の）期間, for he was feeling so off he believed he had a touch of the sun.
He 設立する Alf and Norah in a depressed 明言する／公表する of mind. They too bad had a 失望 in the premature birth of a child some little time before. Norah had been to Monaro for a 残り／休憩（する） with the Timsons and Healeys and had 協議するd the famous Dr Brady of Cooma, an oracle の中で the women. His opinion was that Mrs Alfred Timson would never have another chance of motherhood. This was calamity to the pair. Their breathless 期待 of a child had been touching. They were not beautiful, nor young, nor 特に 有能な, nor ambitious, the simplest of folk, a child to them would have been the apex of romance and fulfilment.
So real was their 失望 that Norah 勇敢に立ち向かうd 条約 and confided in Larry. As his 大災害 resulted from the 状況／情勢 逆転するd, he blurted out, "Hell! Did you ever hear of anything like that! I wish to God some others couldn't have a child!"
Norah was so 肉親，親類d, Larry's 苦しめる so 圧力（をかける）ing, that he 自白するd the mess he was in, how he was in terror of Dot 存在 on his 跡をつけるs and that he really had come to Billy-go-Billy to hide himself.
"A beautiful child to be born in sin and not 手配中の，お尋ね者—the 悲惨 of it, and my poor darling born dead!" breathed Norah. "Glory be! Why should things happen so topsy-turvy? It would seem that the Lord has made a mistake in this. Larry boy, tell me more about it. Surely to God you would jump at the chance to marry a 罰金 young woman like Dot Saunders, the belle of the whole 地区, and so much above us all. How did such a thing happen at all? How could it be true?"
"God knows! I hardly could tell myself till it happened, and then it couldn't be undone."
"But you could marry her at once and not wait a day."
"Damn it, ain't I telling you she won't have me at any price and is going to shoot me. You bet she means it, too."
"The poor girl is distraught with the 不名誉. Oh, Larry, if only I could have had that baby. A little baby all my darling own, how happy I should be—a blessing to me and a 悪口を言う／悪態 to that other poor girl."
Norah's 非，不，無 too brilliant mind took 持つ／拘留する of this idea, and later she put 今後 a 計画（する） to Larry that shone like sunlight on her large ungainly features. "Larry, I could help with that baby. Couldn't Dot come here and I could pretend it was 地雷? She could pretend she （機の）カム to take care of me."
"Dot Saunders take care of you! Too thin! Some of these old scandalmongers would see that sort of thing through a ten-インチ board, and how could Dot disguise herself," but he was touched by the 親切.
Norah reapplied her mind. She took Alf into her 信用／信任, and laid their 連合させるd 知恵 before Larry, the light of noble 目的 illuminating her. "Larry, I want you to take me to Bool Bool with you at once to see Dot Saunders and her mother. Alf and I have thought it all out. I'm not 残り／休憩（する）ing on Dr Brady's opinion, and I want to 協議する Dr Byng."
"You can't do anything with Dot, I'm sure.
"You leave that to me. You never know where the blessing of God may 残り／休憩（する）. He never shuts one door without 開始 another." Norah had such 信用／信任 that Larry took hope and bent to her will. Alf had already done so, and when morning （機の）カム trembled like a child as he saddled up; this, to the shyness bred of 独房監禁 sequestered years, was a dangerous 共謀, but Norah was 向こうずねing with 約束 and 目的.
"Not one word even to the folks at Neangen," she counselled. "Do they know of your trouble, Larry?"
"It hasn't 漏れるd out yet, but it soon will, if Dot stays mad." Dot, by her wild intransigence, had put the big boot on her own foot with a hardiness becoming the Baron Sir Robert Shurland, of Ingoldsby Legends.
"Then God be 賞賛するd for that! Not one word to anyone!"
Norah's stepmother was 完全に deceived by the 巡礼の旅. "Once you start going to doctors, you'll never stop," she 観察するd. "They'll take all your money and do no good. I'm sure I'd never worry about not having children. The other way about is worse."
Larry said that he was feeling so "cronk" that he would 協議する Dr Byng, too, so the three 棒 away from Neangen together to Saunders Plains, Alf and Larry both 扶養家族 for courage upon Norah. Mrs Saunders received her civilly enough and she 広げるd her simple 提案. Mrs Saunders 明言する／公表するd that it had been necessary to guard Dot night and day and they were at their wits' end. Dot would not 同意 to see Norah, so Norah dispensed with 同意 and went bravely to Dot, while 確かな family members stood to in 事例／患者 of necessity. 非，不，無 arose.
They at times （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd the sound of sobs and then murmuring 発言する／表明するs, and waited with 開始するing curiosity. Dot at first was hard and bitter and not to be reached by any sister of Larry's, certainly not by poor unbeautiful old Norah, whose love 事件／事情／状勢 had been a 的 of ribaldry for years, and whose 失敗 in motherhood also had been 扱う／治療するd with いっそう少なく sympathy than ridicule. But the warm sympathy, the first Dot had experienced since her 落ちる, melted the despair and hate in the distracted young woman, and soon Norah had her in her 武器.
"You must think of that beautiful little baby that is coming; for its sake you must pray to keep 静める and have a tranquil mind. Larry is wild to marry you any moment."
At this Dot 強化するd to vengefulness again.
"井戸／弁護士席, then, never mind. He must take his 罰 and be left out of his 株 of the lovely little baby. I want you to give it to me. You could 信用 it to me, couldn't you, dearie, and then if it ever happened that you 手配中の，お尋ね者 it 支援する..."
Dot was now 近づく to sobs.
"You could 信用 it to me, couldn't you, dearie?" wheedled Norah with 知恵 生成するd in love.
Dot was shamed to 解任する how she had mimicked Norah on horseback, sitting askew with the reins untidy as she get-upped her つまずくing old 損なう with a quince switch. The lowly Norah had hitherto received little notice except as a butt for 詐欺師 wits, yet （機の）カム now to show a way from the 苦しむing of weeks. Dot relaxed into 涙／ほころびs, as saving as rain on a 干ばつ-scorched plain.
"I could pad myself to deceive people," said Norah, fertile in 詳細（に述べる）. "You can go away somewhere for a 残り／休憩（する）. This 事故 that nearly happened with the gun has shaken your 神経s. You could hide at Billy-go-Billy. Winter is coming and Alf and I often don't see a soul for weeks, and you'd be beautiful company for us."
When Norah 再結合させるd the others, Dot was sleeping. It was a 事例／患者 of any port to the family. After the last week or two with Dot they were in no mind to cavil at the callow 簡単 of the 提案. Father and son were for 小衝突ing it aside, 存在 怪しげな of a 深い-laid 陰謀（を企てる） to ゆすり，恐喝 later on. Old Saunders was a 慣例的に 宗教的な man as far as 出席 at and support of the church was 関心d, but without any Christian charity. He was all for marrying Dot to her betrayer by 軍隊, but Dot's 暴力／激しさ had crumpled him. Dot bashing herself to pieces as she 脅すd, and as even her father did not 疑問 her 有能な of doing because of his 態度, was a スキャンダル he could not 熟視する／熟考する with equanimity. He quailed before her frenzy, for his 恐れる of having a mad daughter was as terrible to him as the shame of an unvirtuous one.
Mrs Saunders had no 疑惑s in 危険ing ゆすり，恐喝, and すぐに embraced Norah's 計画（する）. Parting with money 傷つける old Saunders second only to shame, but Mrs Saunders rose here too. Norah was to be helped in every way if only she could bring Dot to 推論する／理由 so that she would hush up the 事件／事情／状勢.
Dot would not consider Larry on any 条件. について言及する of him drove her to phobia, so he was banished with a salutary sense of 敗北・負かす that cured his previous 傾向 to self-complacency in his 偶発の conquest.
It was finally 発表するd that Norah was going to Sydney to 協議する a 広大な／多数の／重要な man there about her 事例／患者 because Dr Byng had reawakened her hopes. Her 計画（する） was to 捜し出す help of a convent of which she had knowledge. She was 支えるd by Christian 約束 and longed to be a church member again, but had been 抑制するd so far by the unrelenting 敵意 of her father.
Old Saunders raised his bristles upon the 侵入占拠 of creed, but Mrs Saunders would not have 妨げるd at Voodooism, Mormonism, or even cannibalism if その為に she could 回避する the overhanging 不名誉. The family were solidly behind her, so all that Tom, sen., could do was to shut his mouth and open his purse.
Norah left まっただ中に the guffaws of the wits. She had a queer taste to make such a fuss when the result might be another old Alf, like a sleepy lizard. Norah, however, kissed him, and he was 価値（がある） it. He had entered upon the adventure with the enthusiasm of a child and the fortitude in 保存するing the secret worthy of those who keep their first big 信用／信任 as a 向こうずねing 信用.
Those that saw Alf putting Norah in the coach saw Dot Saunders leaving too. Mrs Saunders told people she was going to have a change in Sydney.
"Sure, Tommy Roper says she looked wretched," said Mrs M'Haffety. "And she was takin' mighty little luggage with her, and the last time whin she wint to ride before Lord Carrington there was no ind of a fuss and 空気／公表するs with her own horse and saddle and all."
"We'll wait a while and see," said Mrs Isaacs. "It will all come out in the wash. There is something funny about that gun 事故 that made Dot so sick. One person will hear something and another see something and after a while the pieces will all fit together."
*
Norah's machinations 進歩d. Whatever had been the 初めの Healey's quarrel with the Church, and however 激しく the Church had failed him, it did not fail Norah. The 修道女s were not intransigent about her story of Dot's 存在 so afraid of the sea that she had to remain in Sydney while her husband was called to England to see his dying mother. Norah 供給するd a wedding （犯罪の）一味 and settled Dot in lodgings recommended by the sisters. What these good women thought of discrepancies in the story never transpired, they were too charitable to scrutinize that 味方する of the 事件／事情／状勢. Dot's family were 明言する／公表するd to be in New Zealand with the exception of her Aunt Norah. The sisters 定期的に visited the young woman and during indisposition nursed her. The absent husband was by inference of the カトリック教徒 約束. Mrs Saunders saw that 基金s were 来たるべき. Norah's 需要・要求するs were 穏健な.
After two months Norah returned to Billy-go-Billy, radiant, and the knowing whispered that the Sydney doctor had been efficacious. Jokes about Alf Timson's approaching fatherhood were popular. The kinder smothered Norah with advice about 存在 careful this time, and for the 残りの人，物, it was winter and few people visited Billy-go-Billy.
Dot Saunders was a long time absent and people threw out 主要な questions about possible attractions. Mrs Saunders was 煙霧のかかった. She said that she was anxious about Dot's health; all that riding over 障害物s was not good for a girl. Later, people heard that Dot had been ordered to Brisbane for the sea trip. The 支配する slept.
One piece of news as the year drew to a の近くに was that Mrs Alf Timson had gone to Sydney again to be 近づく her wonder-working specialist for the 広大な／多数の／重要な event. People wondered where old Alf got all the money for this.
"He's had a good nest-egg salted 負かす／撃墜する somewhere," 観察するd Tommy Roper over M'Haffety's 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業. "He's always been one of those 安全な sawney old chaps; never has a spree or goes in for any money-wasting antics."
In time Mrs Alf returned, and went direct to Billy-go-Billy without 延期する in town. The few who saw the baby said it was very big for its age. It was a 広大な／多数の／重要な success. Alf was for some time afraid to touch it. He could only gaze amazedly.
"She's so lovely," breathed the worshipful Norah. "I'm afraid they'll be wanting her from us."
肉親，親類d as ever, she had 手配中の，お尋ね者 the 指名する to be Dorothy, but 恐れるd this might be a pointer. Dot, however, with a 誘発する of the 権利 spirit, said the child's 単独の and only 指名する should be Norah, after the only person in all the world who had 手配中の，お尋ね者 her and welcomed her.
"And Alfred," said Norah. "He wants her as much as I do, and he dotes on children. If ever there was a dear, good, 肉親，親類d husband, it is my Alfred."
"Then her 指名する is Norah Alfreda," 修正するd Dot.
The year that Milly returned from school Lucy Saunders （機の）カム up from Turrill Turrill some weeks before Christmas with the 意向 of putting in her time about Bool Bool. She could not 耐える the heat at Turrill Turrill and did not enjoy Ten Creeks now that she was no longer mistress there.
"I cannot stomach that Healey （人が）群がる," she complained to her sister-in-法律, Maud. "I don't care how much we are connected with them, it doesn't make them any more palatable to me."
Neither Norah nor Joanna was seen much at Ten Creeks now, but Julie in her eighteenth year, a gossiping deceitful girl with whom no secrets were 安全な, was much more 不快な／攻撃.
SP-over-J, happening to be in Bool Bool, went to 会合，会う his niece as she got out of Prendergast's coach, and said, "井戸／弁護士席, Milly, are you coming to Ten Creeks? You can come straight up with me now if you like. Your Aunt Aileen hasn't anyone to keep her company, only the servants. I think I'll be able to find you a horse or two 価値（がある） riding." Stanton was cordial. Milly had 保持するd his 好意／親善 since the marriage.
"How is Auntie now?"
"Couldn't be better. That Melbourne doctor did wonders. A couple of weeks under him was 価値（がある） all those other quacks put together."
"I'm dying to see the baby."
"He's a 広大な／多数の／重要な chatterbox."
"I must teach him to ride before he is too old. I'll go up with you now if Mother will let me."
Mother 証明するd amenable because Julie was kept at Neangen to …に出席する her mother, who was 病んでいる. Milly then said, "Say, Uncle Jack, let's telegraph for Uncle Bert to spend Christmas with us. He need not stay at Curradoobidgee for it now that his stepmother is dead." This was also agreed, and Milly sent a long 電報電信 before leaving Bool Bool next morning. They travelled by buggy-and-four to take Milly's portmanteaux, and 停止（させる）d for the midday meal with Dan Spires and Joanna at Wamgambril Springs.
"Who's in Goraig Flats now?" asked Milly. "I saw fowls about and a woman's washing on the line."
"Ronald Dice is managing there this summer for the Macfarlanes of Quondong."
"Is he married?"
"Not yet. One of the girls is with him."
"Then you be sure to tell him to come and see me," said Milly in her old frank way. "I 港／避難所't seen him since Uncle Jack's wedding." She was unconscious that this might be delicate ground.
"I 推定する／予想する you'll have droves of spoons after you now that you've grown into such a swell young lady," said the amiable Dan. "I'll get old 法案 Heffernan to lay baits for them," said Uncle Jack. He was almost genial with this niece.
Milly 設立する her aunt's careworn listless look 取って代わるd by 十分な cheeks and 井戸／弁護士席-存在. The baby was now two years off, as the Ten Creeks people put it, a merry toddler 指名するd Lawrence John after his father and grandfather, and a pet with all. He was guarded by a grey mongrel called Towser, one of the progeny of old Bessie, the 古代の nurse dog at Neangen. There was no danger of Lawrence's 逸脱するing into the bush while Towser was about. He had wondrous patience with all small things. Strangers and adults bored him, but the baby could 落ちる all over him, take his bone from him and poke things in his mouth and ears to Towser's fatuous content. Larry had carried him over as a puppy just after Aileen's return from the honeymoon. Mrs Healey 主張するd upon this 後見人, because but for one of Towser's forebears she would have lost Aileen when a baby, and Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く Milford, over the river, likewise would never be without a canine 後見人, for her eldest brother had been lost at the age of three, and never a trace of him again from that day to this.
Milly reached Ten Creeks on a Wednesday, and 借りがあるing to the telepathic way news spread, there was by Saturday night a 十分な house in her honour. There were Cross-注目する，もくろむd Prendergast and Billings from Gundagai, who had seen the coach come in and suddenly bethought it a good spec to 選ぶ up a few colts. There were a young Mazere and Alistair Farquharson. Milly would have せいにするd Alistair's visit to chance but that he brought a special 現在の. He 自白するd that 嘘（をつく） had run into Cuppinbingle Potter in Yass on Thursday. Potter had について言及するd travelling from Goulburn with the little girl from Ten Creeks and that she was the likeliest filly he had seen for years. 信用 old Cuppinbingle 利益／興味 in every 損なう or maid of 約束 or 業績／成果!
Years before at the 召集（する） Alistair had been 十分に attracted to tease Milly, and later had been the one to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of the 火葬 of Romp's remains. He had been so touched by her owner's grief that he saved one of the hoofs and had it 機動力のある as an 署名／調印する-マリファナ with silver finish and shoe.
The person who seemed to find most 特許 楽しみ in 再会 was Ronald Dice, who （機の）カム over with his sister in 返答 to the message 配達するd by Dan Spires, and was so 堅固に 圧力（をかける）d by Milly to stay the night that Aileen 追加するd her formal 招待. SP-over-J was compelled to murmur his too because Milly was the centre of attraction and hanging on his arm affectionately. She was the only niece of the 自由主義の broods who would have thought of swinging on SP-over-J's arm. It clinched her 人気. She 明確に had never looked upon him as an ogre, who had taken Aileen from her young lover by unparliamentary 対策, an 態度 感謝する to him. In the glow of it, and as 勝利者, he could manage to be outwardly civil to Dice though he did not forget 存在 called to his 直面する a death adder, a 乾燥した，日照りのd-up old hide, etc. Stanton was at 緩和する since the Melbourne 内科医 had 回復するd Aileen. It was a 楽しみ to look at her these days with health and colour glowing in her cheeks after two years of exasperation because she looked like a wilting 殉教者.
After dinner when the lamps were alight and dancing on the veranda was started, Alistair Farquharson produced his 申し込む／申し出ing and 現在のd it to Milly in the 影をつくる／尾行する of the raspberry 茎s at the 底（に届く） of the garden. Her 注目する，もくろむs filled as she exclaimed in her wholehearted, 影響を受けない manner, "That is so 肉親，親類d of you, Mr Farquharson. Will you please not mind if I don't open it at once. I want to keep it till I am やめる alone."
"Certainly, Milly, and I hope you will like it 井戸／弁護士席 enough not to call me 'mister' in that stiff way. You make me feel as old as Mr Potter."
"I'd like to call you Alistair; it is such a pretty 指名する," she 答える／応じるd, flitting away to deposit her 小包, unconscious of the thrill she left with its 寄贈者. Returning, she rewarded him with a long dance, a creature to enthral a man in her rosebud maidenhood, polished by 行方不明になる Lisset and decked in a 流行の／上流の dancing frock of accordion pleats with a sash 輪郭（を描く）ing her dainty waist, and wide frills of fairy lace at neck and 肘s. But then she went to Dice's 武器 with noticeable alacrity and Alistair stood in the shade of a rose-bush and watched their every movement. Ronald was 演習ing all the old charm that Milly had 設立する in him when she was in 膝 skirts and had 支持する／優勝者d his 原因（となる） with Aileen, only later returning clannishly to her uncle because he had been called reptilian 指名するs. She was much enjoying 存在 grown up—almost—and 支援する on Ten Creeks Run with the horses.
*
Potter of Cuppinbingle and his 隣人 of Keba 株d a room that night, and since it was on the veranda outside the 製図／抽選-room they were 安全な to converse.
"The little jam-puff will have 'em all left at the 地位，任命する before another year is past, I'll make you a bet on it."
"Do you think so," 答える／応じるd Farquharson, so 利益／興味d that he was self-conscious.
"I'm 炎上ing 井戸／弁護士席 sure. A pity she has 注目する，もくろむs only for that Dice, and he's running strong with the Missus."
"Oh, that was all over long ago."
"Not a bit of it! She's not the sort to の近くに a thing—no ballast there. She 直す／買収する，八百長をするs her 注目する，もくろむs on Dice like a hungry dog on a bone and never takes 'em off. I wonder what old SP-over-J thinks of it. If I'd cornered a young woman with me money and she looked at the fellow I 追い出すd like that, I'd want a padlock and chain on her."
"Perhaps Milly will take his mind off."
"Not a bit of it! He's only using the girl as a cavalry 審査する."
Farquharson was encouraged to hear this, but at the same time longed to punch Dice's 長，率いる. "Someone せねばならない give old Skinny a hint."
"Nice 職業 that would be! If a man can't look after that sort of 事件／事情／状勢 himself, he deserves all he gets." Rumour was that husbands more than one had what they may not have deserved 経由で the audacity and fascinations of Cuppinbingle Potter.
"Now, if I were your age, Alistair, I'd give Dice a run for his money. There's that Larry Healey got an evil 注目する，もくろむ on her too. Larry's a taking 強いるing devil, mind you; he's never a sour-guts, and if he got out a little would make a topping fellow, but in 関係 with the filly I wouldn't use him for dingo baits. If Tommy Roper is 訂正する he carried on over the 半端物s with Dot Saunders."
"Dot Saunders is not that sort. She's a high flyer and has been away out of the 地区 for ages. Tommy Roper often knows more than really happens."
"I've 一般に 設立する there's a good 取引，協定 of 解雇する／砲火／射撃 under his smoke."
"I 港／避難所't been talking to Tommy since he started off to Queensland on that droving 探検隊／遠征隊 with Flash Billy."
"That soon blew out. They had the devil of a shindy によれば old Mick Muldoon."
"What became of Billy?"
"によれば Tommy, he got in with a circus and does trick training with horses. That was Billy's downfall here, taught the best colts tricks in hopes they would be sold as 無法者s. Poole blew out his little game there with Corroboree." 続いて起こるd talk of Corroboree and his form at Randwick and Flemington, for which he had been 用意が出来ている by the Cuppinbingle trainers.
Other 雑談（する） proceeded in other apartments. Stanton had to 解任する Towser from the cot of Lawrence John. The dog was forbidden the house because of fleas, but was so faithful that it was difficult to 除外する him, and 除外するd he had excavated like a wombat to 嘘（をつく） under the 床に打ち倒すing beneath his 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金.
"Poor old chappie, I hate to see him turned out," said Aileen. "We'll never lose the baby while Towser is on guard."
Milly had to 株 her room with Ida Dice. They conversed volubly as they undressed, but in 用心深い whispers. The 厚板 塀で囲むs afforded no 保護 against eavesdroppers, and there were popular ribaldries abroad of what women had heard from men's rooms and 副／悪徳行為 versa. Milly 手配中の，お尋ね者 to talk of Ronald, a dull 支配する to his sister; Ida to hear of Cuppinbingle, who by his 演説（する）／住所 and 保証／確信 in 井戸／弁護士席-worn innuendoes could banish dullness from the ladies. Milly was eager to look at her 現在の, and as soon as Ida was settled, stole out to the sitting-room. When the article was 解放する／自由な from its wrappings, the 涙／ほころびs at first blinded her, but when they were wiped away she was startled.
This was not Romp's hoof. It was too big.
Milly had a natural gift for the points of a horse—points that can neither be taught nor 表明するd, but which have to be felt by a 肉親，親類d of sixth sense. A wild hope （機の）カム to her. Then 疑問s. In the fitting and curing the hoof might have been 大きくするd or squeezed out of 形態／調整: or the hoofs might have been destroyed and Alistair, meaning 井戸／弁護士席, have 代用品，人d.
She spoke with him next morning. "You were most 肉親，親類d to go to so much trouble about that lovely 署名／調印する-マリファナ...The hoof looks so big and different, I should not have known it. Are you sure the jeweller gave you 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス the 権利 one?"
"There could be no 疑問 about that."
"You are sure it is Romp's hoof?"
"やめる sure. I went out to the Corroboree （犯罪の）一味s myself the very next day and …に出席するd to things as I 約束d."
"Perhaps it looks different from what I 推定する／予想するd done up that way. You won't mind if I don't let anyone see it for a while."
"Not at all." Alistair liked to think of her treasuring it 内密に. While breakfast was 差し迫った Milly wrote a letter.
Darling Uncle Bert,
Alistair Farquharson has brought me one of Romp's hoofs 始める，決める as an inkstand, and it is not Romp's hoof at all. Alistair is 確かな , he says, that it is the hoof of the blue roan that broke its neck over the precipice. If this is so, the horse that was 設立する dead is not Romp at all, and she is still alive somewhere. I am so excited. I could not be deceived in Romp's off-前線 hoof. It was small and 二塁打-banded and wide at the heel and smooth as a 瓶／封じ込める. This bulges a bit like a 樽 that is going to burst the hoops. I am 令状ing to you at once as you said if ever I 手配中の，お尋ね者 you to let you know. Even if you weren't coming for Christmas you will come and see as soon as possible about this, won't you? I don't think we should 延期する, do you?
This was ゆだねるd to Farquharson to 地位，任命する when he left on Sunday night.
So important did Poole consider the missive because of Milly's acumen that he 破壊するd the rough miles between Curradoobidgee and Ten Creeks several days before he had ーするつもりであるd to 始める，決める out for Christmas.
Milly had been sure of his 返答. She was enjoying the ascendancy known to an attractive maid where 開拓するing left men so natural that she had only to say to one man go, and to another come, and off they went tantivy with knightly 乗り気, 存在 so placed that they had the horse-flesh and could make the time. Milly 受託するd all such service as unselfconsciously as the numbers of spirited horses and her 技術 in 支援 them, her knowledge of the 範囲s with the glorious sunlight and 空気／公表する above, the hundreds of square miles of streams and trees gay with gyang-gyangs and cockatoos, parrots and magpies, satin-birds ( bower-birds ), lyre-birds, blue tits, and a hundred other 種類; and 負かす／撃墜する below, the wallabies, wombats, kangaroos, goannas, lizards, and the 時折の excitement of a snake.
The tall 静かな man who had just reached the sixties was pleased by the prospect of seeing something of his young friend. Still strong, lithe, lean, and 十分な of experience, but 保持するing 簡単 of heart, he could 持つ／拘留する his own with many that were only half his age. His hair showed but little grey, he had escaped baldness and a broken mouth, and his （疑いを）晴らす brown 注目する，もくろむs still looked serenely and gallantly on life and 設立する it good.
The men were out on the run when Poole arrived, but Milly had stayed in 推定する／予想するing him. Towser 存在 保証するd that Poole had no evil design on the 相続人, and other 予選s past, Milly brought out the hoof. One look 満足させるd Poole that it was not Romp's. It had carried more shoes than Romp at the date of her supposed passing had had time to do; it had 苦しむd from an unskilled smithy, 反して Poole had shod Romp himself as a very special beast.
"That never carried the Young Whisker filly or any other beast bred between Cuppinbingle and Curradoobidgee," was his pronouncement.
"Then Romp is still alive! That was another horse fell over the ledge." Milly was all excitement.
"If we could be sure that this is the hoof of the Gyang Gyang 死体 we could 設立する the first fact. Blue roans are not ありふれた. I have never seen another of Romp's size in the Southern 地区."
"Didn't you look at the dead horse when it was 設立する?"
"You've caught me napping. The beast was in such an unholy mess in the mud and slush that her hoofs were out of sight. I was deceived by her general size and the mane and tail, and the pieces of hide remaining were blue roan, and I was working on the theory that she would probably make 支援する to 開始する Corroboree."
"Didn't you look at the hoofs?"
"Stupid of me! I looked for the brand, but the 近づく-味方する shoulder was 明らかにする to the bone."
"Alistair Farquharson swore on his honour that this hoof （機の）カム from that beast and that the jeweller could not 代用品，人 it. I knew all along that Romp was never fool enough to 落ちる over a precipice. How did she get away from Curradoobidgee? She never tried when I had her up there."
"You'll remember I told you she was trying to get away from Three Rivers the night of the 橋（渡しをする） 開始."
"So Flash Billy said. I bet he has taken her away and done something with her."
"Now, you mustn't go on a theory without facts, that's what I did trying to find the filly at 開始する Corroboree, and you see how I got fooled."
"We must start somewhere. Find out where Billy is and watch him to see if he still has Romp. I don't think he could 耐える to part with her. It can't do him any 害（を与える） so long as we say nothing till we are sure. We'll have it as a secret like we did when we ran things when I was little. It makes me feel scrumptiously young again."
It suddenly made Poole feel abominably old—old! He would need to watch himself lest he 拒絶する／低下する into senile folly worse than old Jack's.
"I could get the police to find the どの辺に of Billy, could pretend I 手配中の，お尋ね者 him for his advantage, so that it would not 誘発する 不正な 疑惑s about him." This was agreed upon, and Poole turned to other topics.
"You must come and keep me company at Curradoobidgee as soon as Aunt Aileen can spare you," he said at dinner. "I could get some of the nieces over when you come."
"Oh, that is not necessary. I'll come and housekeep for you now that dear old Mrs Poole is dead."
Poole wondered was Milly still a child in innocence, or had she put him in the 完全にする uncle class.
Mrs Lucy Saunders, 審理，公聴会 that Poole was at Ten Creeks, arrived there for a visit on ボクシング Day, but though she 示唆するd it, she got no 招待 to Curradoobidgee, and Poole returned there a day or two earlier than he would さもなければ have done. When Milly turned her 直面する up in the old childish way for a kiss, he 影響する／感情d not to see and 達成するd his horse before 説 goodbye, feeling depressed to be so 明白に an uncle.
*
At that date on Monaro, operating from Braminderra, was a smart young 州警察官，騎馬警官 in whose 手渡すs Poole placed the 事柄 of tracing Billy 屈服するs. すぐに after New Year he was 知らせるd that when last heard of 屈服するs had joined Sparr and Leamington's Circus, which travelled all over Australia, in 十分な strength in the cities and divided for the small towns. 屈服するs was in the 分割 that operated in Victoria. その上の （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） was a roster of the horses 雇うd in the （犯罪の）一味 by Sparr and Leamington, with brands and ages as far as practicable. Asked confidently what class of horse was sought, Poole 狭くするd it to galloways, red or blue roans.
In 予定 time Constable Purkis 報告（する）／憶測d that the only horses of such a description were a red roan in the New South むちの跡s 支店, and a blue roan five years off with a blotched brand, white hind foot, and 星／主役にする, in the Victorian 支店.
The 星／主役にする and white hind foot were 誤って導くing, for Romp had no white 位置／汚点／見つけ出す. Constable Purkis 供給（する）d a country paper in which was a story of the clever circus pony that could buck herself out of every piece of 取り組む without breaking or 緊張するing a buckle.
"I knew," said Milly.
"Still, it is only 状況証拠," said Uncle Bert. "Billy trained your filly to that trick, he could train another."
"He could train any donkey mongrel to buck, but he could not find another so clever as to get out of everything like a conjuror. Will you take me to that circus to look at that pony?"
"But it's away in Victoria and they might hear of us coming."
"We needn't let anyone know we were going. We could just slip off together 静かに."
"Then we should be in the soup! People would think I had..." He was going to say "unlawfully 誘拐するd you," but on the brink he 代用品，人d "that we were 殺人d, and all the papers would advertise it. Instead of secrecy we should have the whole bally country buzzing."
"I suppose we might have to tell Mother and Uncle Jack what we were off to do, and then it would be all 権利."
Poole took 避難 in the need for secrecy and agreed to think out a 計画（する）.
It was a lively year for Ten Creeks Run. Aileen, 井戸／弁護士席 and happy, and the baby at a most 利益／興味ing age, were 中心的要素 attractions where men より数が多いd women, and there were 時折の visits from Milly's school friends. Above all there was Milly, and there was not a foot-loose man of any age who would have thought forty or fifty miles on Saturday afternoon and again on Sunday night, or the 勝つ／広く一帯に広がるing 財政上の stringency an insuperable 障壁 to spending a few hours within sight and sound of her. The Mesdames Milford, too, over the river, enjoyed visits from one 駅／配置する to the other a-horseback.
の中で the men that 群れているd in Milly's direction 確かな persons stood out as of 限定された 意向. These were Alistair Farquharson, Potter, a young Stanton from Mungee, Matt Dice 同様に as Ronald, and Oliver Brennan from The Gap. There was also Beverley Dash, a surveyor new to the 地区, and the hopeless slave Ted Billings, now overseer in place of Dan Spires. Some of these brought women with them occasionally.
Of the （人が）群がる, Ronald Dice was the most envied, for it was plain that he was Milly's favourite; but hope would die in 非，不，無 of them until Milly should be 性質の／したい気がして of. To keep an 注目する，もくろむ on Milly, 表面上は, her mother was frequently at Ten Creeks that summer. Aileen let her manage to her heart's content. If any woman could not agree with Aileen, the fault would not be Aileen 's bossiness, and Lucy 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be at Ten Creeks, so made herself more agreeable than when she had been missus-in-長，指導者.
Poole began to find the distance between Monaro and the lower Coolgarbilli so insignificant that he, too, thought nothing of dropping in to spend Sunday, and, since he was not 圧力（をかける）d for time, often arrived on Friday and did not 出発／死 till Tuesday.
"There's fresh talk of a match between Mrs Lucy Saunders and Curradoobidgee," said Mrs Isaacs in her 支援する parlour.
"He'll be dhruv to marry someone now that he's on his 孤独な."
"Yes, an' Lucy bein' put out of her nest, will be more desperate in her attacks."
"'Twould be very suitable. He's a 静かな man an' used to a managing woman 激怒（する）ing about, an' 井戸／弁護士席 able to affoord a wife, an' it's better dacincy to the dead—meanin' poor Emily Mazere who was drownded—than for him to be runnin 一連の会議、交渉／完成する afther some young thing like ould Stanton did."
"But that's turned out very happily now. Aileen is looking bonny and her boy is a beauty. That last doctor in Melbourne 直す／買収する，八百長をするd her up 完全に."
"Marriages for 所有物／資産／財産 are jinrilly always more sinsible in the end. There could have been no thruth in half the talk. Ronald Dice, I hear now, is just wild afther Milly, an' she is favourin' him."
"She's only a girl yet. Her mother I hear means to take her to Sydney for a season when she is eighteen."
"She's comin' on, an' she'll have to marry. They 港／避難所't more than a penny without, an' if her mother doesn't look out she'll be takin' up with some of these scrubbers before she comes out in Sydney. Ida and Olive is always over there too thryin' to 選ぶ up something in the （人が）群がる."
"井戸／弁護士席, if old Joanna and Norah got off, the Dice girls should stand a better chance; they're good-looking."
"Ah, but they're waitin' for something more profitable than they'll catch in the ind."
Lucy Saunders had a 類似の idea one pleasant Saturday afternoon at Ten Creeks. "I think some raspberries would be nice for supper," she 示唆するd to Poole, who had arrived while Milly, Aileen, Ida Dice, and Flora Farquharson had gone for a bogey.
"I hope they are in a 安全な place," Poole had 観察するd. Lucy 解任するd that his uneasiness was reminiscent of the 致命的な Saturday afternoon long ago when his bride-to-be had been 溺死するd. She did not 許す his thoughts to ぐずぐず残る in such a channel.
"They've gone to that place where the water is drawn from, more danger of getting bruised on the 玉石s than 存在 溺死するd there. Some of the men have gone to the 予定する 穴を開ける to shoot ducks. Our only hope of distinguishing ourselves is with the raspberries. If you'll 持つ／拘留する the billy, I'll 選ぶ."
Soon they were busy の中で the 茎s. "I see Potter and Alistair just dropping in," 観察するd Mrs Saunders.
"Farquharson has it awful bad. You'll soon be losing Milly if you don't look out."
"Oh, she's only a tomboy yet. Now is the time I 行方不明になる her father. I do need someone to help me guide her, someone who would understand her."
"Milly is a ripping youngster. She has lots of solid ballast in that 長，率いる of hers."
"Yes, but I do feel the need of a man to guide her."
"There's not much in the 現在の （人が）群がる to 選ぶ from." He looked away at the hills over the Coolgarbilli, glorious under the 沈むing sun, wondering where was the man good enough for Milly. "Reckon he's never been foaled," he chunnered.
"She seems taken up with Ron Dice for the 現在の."
"That's not half good enough. A fellow that was making such a noise about Aileen two or three years ago is not 安定した enough for Milly. Matt is steadier, but as poor as a church-mouse, and not much 長，率いる for getting on."
"Oliver Brennan has joined the throng lately."
"He is the best of the boiling, but the 宗教 is the trouble there."
"Yes...Larry seemed infatuated at the start, but he's never here now, thank goodness. I don't want any more of the Healeys."
"Larry, mind you, is a taking fellow in his way—good-looking, and a 広大な／多数の／重要な rider. If only he had a chance he would make a 罰金 man, but in 関係 with Milly, he's not to be considered. He and Dot were for ever together till she went away, but she's 井戸／弁護士席 able to look out for herself."
"I should hope so. It's to be hoped she 選ぶs up something better than Larry while she is away."
"Girls like Dot often 選ぶ the crooked stick."
"She used to be all 注目する，もくろむs for Ron Dice, but he did not seem to 答える／応じる."
"Perhaps that's why she turned to Larry."
"Financially and socially, of course, Donald Potter has a position that 非，不，無 of the others can touch, and he's foolishly infatuated."
"But good heavens, Lucy! You wouldn't について言及する him in the same breath with Milly! He's old enough to be her father, and apart from that no fit associate for an innocent girl."
It relieved Mrs Saunders to hear Poole 非難するing as fatherly, in 関係 with Milly, one who was nearly twenty years his own junior.
"Perhaps it is fatherly ideas he has."
"You should encourage him, then," said Poole, with his serene smile. "Cuppinbingle is a topping place, he has heaps of money, is a jolly fellow and no end of a nob—just 権利 for a woman of experience."
"Too jolly for my taste. Money doesn't attract me like good 質s. I should like a congenial companion. If Milly marries I shall be 猛烈に lonely. Don't you feel lonely too, 特に since yiur dear old stepmother died?"
"いつかs, but I'll have to put up with it. The women all gave me the go-by for someone else."
"You can't have asked the 権利 one. You should try again." She looked at him with an encouraging laugh, but he said the billy was 十分な and he had better go for another 大型船, and turned away 公式文書，認めるing that Jerry Riddall was penning the fat calves, and Long Billy hitching old Flea Creek to the water-slide to go 負かす／撃墜する where Milly was swimming, so she must soon appear now. He was 発射 with delight by the thought of 急落（する），激減（する）ing with Milly in the 冷静な／正味の of the evening, while the 激しく揺するs were still warm, in the river pools banked with maidenhair, 造幣局, and mimulus, and heavenly with the scent of tea-tree and ヒース／荒れ地, with the agile water goannas 解除するing their tails like an old lady her skirts and scampering away—but that he could never do in this world. Men and women did not clip together unless indecent, or man and wife, and Milly was decent as the 夜明け, and he was over sixty and she only seventeen.
There was Saturday night discussion in the hut. Old Heffernan had come in from Wamgambril and he had an instinct for news rivalling Mrs Isaacs's, with the 追加するd 強い味 of malice.
"Ole Lucy got the Curradoobidgee blackfellow copped yet?" he 問い合わせd.
"Nope," said Long Billy Riddall. "If you ask me, the ole cove is as dead shook on young Milly as any of the young 'uns."
"An' he's jist as likely to be in the runnin'."
"Not he. She's dead shook on Ron Dice. Allers was, when she was in pigtails, an' before he got sloppy about the Missus."
"Sloppier than ever now, ain't he?"
"Garn! I don't think so."
"Don't be a —— mopoke. That's what cured her. They went to Melbourne together that time they reckoned the new doctor done 奇蹟s. Tommy Roper had it from a feller—you know, Jerry Porter, Tim's brother. He was workin' on Turrill Turrill, an' left—got a 職業 truckin' some fats that Dice was in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of, to Melbourne; an' you oughter know, Billy Riddall, your own brother, is guard on that train, an' he told Jerry Porter, an' he told Tim and Tommy. He reckons if ole Skinny Guts knew...井戸／弁護士席..."
"Garn! You're makin' it up," said Jerry Riddall. "He never told me.
"Musta forgot. You don't know you're born yet."
"Rared onder a hin'," 与える／捧げるd Long Billy.
"Yes, Dice is only makin' a blind of the young 'un. Ask Jane Humphreys, she's seen 'em kissin' an' muggin like a house on 解雇する／砲火／射撃."
"Seen who kissin' and muggin'?"
"Dice and the Missus, of course."
"Gam! You're makin' it up."
"All 権利! How much will you bet me? Did I make it up about ole Skinny? Who seen him goin' off the hooks first?"
Heffernan, 妨げるd by 環境 from indulgence in illicit life beyond getting the better of his fellows in petty ways or an 時折の アル中患者 debauch, 設立する peculiar zest in 熟視する／熟考するing all likely deviations from virtue or honesty.
"井戸／弁護士席, if that's true, I'll —— 井戸／弁護士席 eat me hat!" said Long Billy, meaning to keep his 注目する，もくろむs open in 未来. Old Heffernan was a knowing old cockatoo, take him all in all.
Family スキャンダルs were then （太陽，月の）食／失墜d by the tales of Red Joe, the surveyor's link man, who had arrived with his master in time for the evening meal. These were all of 狙撃 黒人／ボイコットs in Queensland, and of the virility in 扱うing the gins afterwards, splendid red-血d tales to tickle the ears of real men of the mettle which makes mighty 兵士s or lovers.
*
The summer slipped past, perfumed and 冷静な／正味の by the singing Coolgarbilli and its creeks, draped in ferns and foliage where the gyang-gyangs and other parrots decorated the tree-最高の，を越すs. As March 縮めるd the days and brought a 阻止する to the nights, the movement of 在庫／株 負かす／撃墜する the Murrumbidgee should have begun, but there was no 利益（をあげる） in 転換ing livestock about for their health that season. It was a dreadful year of strikes and soup-kitchens. Abundant seasons and over-生産／産物 coupled with the maldistribution inseparable from the civilized world's system of 経済的なs had that spring 最高潮に達するd in one of the 頻発する 財政上の panics of the 世代. It was impossible to realize more than a shilling or eighteenpence per 長，率いる for fat wethers, and it cost more to トラックで運ぶ them to Homebush than was procurable for them. Inferior 在庫／株 could not be given away. Boiling-負かす／撃墜する （機の）カム into fashion again. Money was 不十分な. Breaking banks and 破産s were ありふれた, and people had other 最大の関心事s than moving from place to place for the 気候.
The Isaacses, for example, had their 手渡すs 十分な in standing to the 地区 with 自由主義の credit till money should 循環させる again, and dispensed it with a friendly generosity that gave them first place with the old inhabitants till the end of their days.
In the circumstances Stanton decided to leave a good 取引，協定 of 在庫／株 to take their chance in the mountains, and 示唆するd remaining there himself with his family to see that dingo-追跡（する）ing was not neglected. Aileen assented willingly. Ten Creeks was no lonelier or colder than Jinninjinninbong, where the Milford women 突き破るd winter and summer, having no other holdings to 転換 to, also Aileen had been 知らせるd by Dice that the Macfarlanes were to leave some sheep at Goraig with himself in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金.
The days were short and 荒涼とした in the valley of the Coolgarbilli, from which the sun 出発／死d 早期に over the high wild 範囲s 支援する of Corroboree, and on many a southerly sideling the 霜 and upstanding icicles rarely melted. The 駅／配置する-手渡すs 発射 a 激しい 収穫 of possums and wallaroos for their winter pelts from which to make the 広大な／多数の／重要な rugs in which they curled o' nights and slept like the blest. 訪問者s disappeared from Ten Creeks and Jinninjinninbong. SP-over-J was called to Turrill Turrill, for there was 病気 in the Riverina flocks. Lucy was there to housekeep; Milly kept Aileen company at Ten Creeks. Milly preferred Ten Creeks and Bool Bool to Riverina, and that winter Ronald was an 付加 magnet. 非，不，無 to her had his charm.
A dozen men could appear 武装した with valentines or packets of bull's-注目する，もくろむs, or jujubes or sugared almonds or Scottish mixtures, or gorgeous work-boxes, or 捨てる-調書をとる／予約するs, or a riding whip, or a saddle cloth, or a carved quandong, or any other 現在の bait, and Milly might be gracious or indifferent, but Ronald's 発言する／表明する 侵入するd and thrilled すぐに の中で a 得点する／非難する／２０ of others. The turn of his 長，率いる lent romance to the day; a banal joke from his lips was convulsing. Why? Milly could not have said.
This was plain to Ronald, though for a time he thought of her only as one of the little girl sweethearts that have sweetened the way of all kindly, cleanly young men of virile charm in the bush. It was Aileen who became aware of Milly's more adult emotions, and was uneasy lest she should lose her own kingdom till she 認めるd in Milly the requisite subterfuge.
Ronald 迎える／歓迎するd Milly with whole-hearted 真心 when he （機の）カム and was guarded with Aileen, and for その上の example he was so unrestive and agreeable in the company of Lucy Saunders that she could not 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う there might be another at 手渡す for whom he pined. Even Jane Humphreys felt while Mr Dice talked to her that she was a charming wench and had as good a chance as the ladies of 存在 in the running.
When Ronald appeared on Saturday evenings to spend Sundays, it was Milly who met him and who could be heard laughing with him and arranging to try his horse, 反して Aileen いつかs did not appear till the evening meal. He always brought two offerings, whether of 甘いs or ornamental 捨てるs, which pleased Milly, for the "gooseberry" in her day 株d in such spoils 平等に with the rose herself. For the same 推論する／理由 Aiken did not begrudge Milly her perquisites.
Ronald （機の）カム one afternoon in June with the depressing news that his 雇用者s had decided to take the 在庫／株 out of the mountains.
"My goodness, Aunt Aileen, Ronald says he has only come to say good-bye. Isn't he mean to 砂漠 us? Won't it be dull?" Milly was 率直に downcast at the prospect of his 出発, but すぐに thought of letters as the next and more 進歩／革新的な 行う／開催する／段階. She was not looking at Aileen or she would have seen her 直面する paling. Ronald, looking over Milly's 長，率いる, was touched to tenderness and complacency.
SP-over-J was at Turrill Turrill. Ronald and the overseer were the only men の中で the inside family that week-end. There had been snow on the hills. 開始する Corroboree had a white cap and the Jinninjinninbong 範囲s, 反映するing the setting sun, looked like iced Christmas cakes, which made it cosy beside the music and heat of the 広大な／多数の／重要な スピードを出す／記録につける 解雇する／砲火／射撃s. Aileen wished to be rid of Milly, but the attraction for her was too 広大な／多数の／重要な, also for the overseer. 解放（する） （機の）カム through Lawrence John, who was 格闘するing with a 冷淡な. Milly, with a young girl's joy in a baby, in her abounding energy gave more attention to her little cousin than did his mother. It was her delight to 密輸する him to her bed these 冷淡な nights.
"I hear Lawrence John," said his mother, "and, ah ha! he's away from my room."
"I'll go to him. I want him," exclaimed Milly, forgetting Ronald in the plaint of her animated doll. Aileen did not gainsay. As Milly left the room the draught from the door 原因（となる）d the 炎上 of the lamp to lick its chimney to blackness. The overseer sprang up to shut the door and went out with Milly and away to his own room; he too was 苦しむing a 冷淡な.
"Oh, Ronnie! Are you really going away, when?" broke from Aileen.
"I have to be 支援する at the Flats ready to start 操作／手術s 早期に on Monday morning."
Aileen looked at him tremulously. "How can I 耐える it?"
"You have Milly and the nipper."
"Yes, but SP-over-J. Oh, you don't understand; the very thought of him makes me feel limp and tired like I used to before I 設立する you again."
"元気づける up! Let's hope he breaks his neck one of these days."
"Oh, but he won't. I'm afraid you'll break yours."
"Say it is too 冷淡な for the nipper and go 負かす／撃墜する to Turrill Turrill. I could easily pop across from Macfarlanes."
"Oh, I couldn't! They'd see through that. I was so anxious to stay up here; besides, Lucy is settled there now.
"But you're the boss, when all is said and done."
Aileen shook her 長，率いる tearfully. "Will you 令状?"
"Bather risky, don't you think; everyone knows every letter and who it is from."
"You could 令状 to Milly and I could read between the lines."
"Poor old Milly. She might read between the lines, too."
"She's only a sentimental little girl. Besides, I want Larry to marry her when she is old enough."
"It looks as if Larry and Dot would be more likely."
"Do you think they will make a go of it?"
"It seems to have blown over, and she is away, but if what they said was true they せねばならない have married a year ago."
"What did they say?"
"I don't want to throw any 石／投石するs or I might get my own glass shivered, but Dot went the pace for a while. That's 一般に the end of horsey women."
"Perhaps it's only horsiness, and they make the 残り／休憩（する） up."
"Very likely."
He was not going to traduce Dot, She had too plainly favoured him. He felt rather 有罪の, having 設立する her a 感謝する 避難 in the days of his despair, and having sheered off callously only after a 確かな trip to Melbourne. The look in Dot's 注目する，もくろむs had いつかs shamed him in light of what he himself had been through. Now here was young Milly, so straight and sincere, more affectionate and generous than Dot. He did not want to 傷つける her himself, and he did not think Larry good enough for her. At any 率 Milly did not consider Larry at all, and Larry, if Ronald knew anything, had 得るd a 収穫 from Dot's 無謀な 失望.
さもなければ there were his own 事件／事情／状勢s, and a virile young man still enamoured of his one-time love, now the wife of the hated old 征服者／勝利者 by wrongful 圧力, does not live by platonic bread alone. Lawrence John took a lot of 慰安ing that night. Milly could not leave him.
Jane Humphreys, 後継者 to her sisters, when she knew the Missus and Mr Dice to be alone, 苦しむd overweening curiosity to 観察する them. She was not always able to hear what they were 説, but the amateur construction of the house afford 適切な時期 for the 注目する，もくろむ. Before retiring she entertained Long Billy with the result of her 観察s. Billy （機の）カム in for more familiar 治療 when most of the kitchen courtiers were 分散させるd by winter.
"Golly! If you want a circus, you oughter こそこそ動く の間の the 支援する passage and see the Missus and Ron Dice kissin' an' muggin' like..." She 二塁打d in giggles.
"Garn! You're makin' it up! Where's young Milly? She's supposed to be the gooseberry."
"The kid is squawkin' an she's lookin' after him."
"The next one'll have to be called Ronald," said Long Billy with loud delight in his own wit.
"You shut up! You shouldn't say such flash 持つ／拘留する things to a girl."
"Better by a long 押す than doin' them. A pity young Milly doesn't come upon 'em suddent. It'd cure her. I wonder what she would do."
"Oh, she's too simple. She wouldn't understand. They'd smoodge her over with some yarn. I heard some of what they was sayin' too. It was real rich...these swells if you ask me...
"Fat lot of swell about old Healey and his wallaby-run at Neangen!"
"But they used ter own some reel swell place on Monaro."
"Got it in a swell way too, if what you hear is gospel."
"井戸／弁護士席, the Stantons and Saunderses and Mazeres are real swells."
"Some of the old coves is, but some of them others will be lucky to have as good a 職業 as I have, if I know anything. Tell me what you heard."
"You tell me something first."
"I know so much I don't know where to begin. Suppose I tell you that the horse killed out at Corroboree （犯罪の）一味s wasn't Romp at all."
"井戸／弁護士席, I never! What was it, then?"
"An' what's more it was chucked over there, just to lead 'em astray."
"Did you know at the time?"
"Er course I did. What do you take me for?"
"Smarty!"
"I wuz smarter than the others, even ole Poole who's supposed to be such a 割れ目—better'n a 黒人／ボイコット tracker—he didn't know no better neither."
"Why didn't you tell him?"
"いつかs it 支払う／賃金s not to tell all a cove knows."
"Pooh, I suppose they knew all the time and just didn't want to upset Milly."
Jane had a 熟達した way of discrediting Long Billy's most important 告示s. He made a その上の 成果／努力.
"But the Young Whisker filly ain't dead at all!"
"井戸／弁護士席, I never! Tell me about it."
"Only if you tell me what you heard 'em say first."
There followed an unsavoury account of Dot Saunders and Larry Healey as touched upon by Dice and Aileen. Only 広大な／多数の／重要な Sodoms afford 安全な cover for 不正行為s, and even the greatest cities いつかs 突然に belch their secrets.
It was a 冷淡な wet winter and the dingoes hungry and 持つ／拘留する, Foals and calves that （機の）カム out of season were not 安全な from them and kept the rouseabouts and 境界-riders busy setting 罠（にかける）s and laying baits and trying to get a 堅い old enemy or two with the ライフル銃／探して盗む.
Aileen was terrified of dingoes and had a notion that they would carry off Lawrence John, but he was 安全な with the faithful Towser, who never let his 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 out of his sight during the day and kept within scent of him by night. His mother slept with her 長，率いる under the 一面に覆う／毛布s and wept with fright when the howl of the pack was borne 負かす／撃墜する the 深い 孤独な gullies of Ten Creeks and Jinninjinninbong by the spifflicating 勝利，勝つd from the source of the 雪の降る，雪の多い. She could have gone to Riverina but SP-over-J was there, and to remain at Ten Creeks relieved her of his company. Milly stoutly stuck to her 地位，任命する, though trekking to Turrill Turrill would have taken her nearer to Ronald.
Her fibre was different from Aileen's. The lonelier and louder the howl of the dogs on the wild 勝利，勝つd the more she enjoyed it, and when it was augmented by the wail of curlews and plovers 同様に as the clamour of the chained 駅／配置する dogs, she listened enchanted. It seemed like a tocsin of something more intrepid than pottering about the house, gardening when the ground permitted, playing with Lawrence John, and occasionally going out on the Run in the 追跡（する）s for the shy 激しく揺する-wallabies, whose 肌s made luxurious bed- and buggy-rugs. It was her delight when night had fallen to walk on the 山の尾根 beside the Coolgarbilli and imitate the moan of the dingoes. There was a 深い gully on the other 味方する of the river 塀で囲むd by precipitous cliffs through which Mountain Creek in musical hurry joined the larger stream, and which was a congenial 主要道路 for the canine depredators. It was sport for Milly to おとり them to the river's 辛勝する／優位. Her mimicry was so good that they would come in 軍隊. The men 始める，決める 罠（にかける）s and baits there and a dozen 小衝突s, as 井戸／弁護士席 as a few paws left in the 罠（にかける）s, were credited to Milly, who was 心にいだくd by the 駅／配置する-手渡すs for her courage and high spirits. The overseer was her avowed slave, as were several of the 手渡すs, who could not 表明する their feelings. They could, however, discuss her の中で themselves. "Wonder who'll carry her off?"
"Alistair Farquharson has the runnin' to himself these days. Aw, she looks on him like a brother an' seems sweetest on Ron Dice."
"Too much of a kid to know her own mind."
"Wait till she does and there'll be some fun."
"I reckon she knows her own mind now. I'd like to see thorn tryin' to marry her off to some old hide like was done with the Missus..."
"Oh, the Missus, she's a ——, one of them faggots that lays 負かす／撃墜する under things an' lets everyone do what they like with her."
"I reckon there'll be a big 破産した／（警察が）手入れする-up there one of these days. There せねばならない be if ole Skinny Guts ain't blind."
"Perhaps he's tired of her now an' don't care."
"Ail the same, he wouldn't he wantin' another bloke to make a 襲う，襲って強奪する of him. You jist wait a bit!"
"Do you think young Milly knows?"
"Not she! Too innercent. Doesn't know how them things is worked. Golly, wouldn't I jist like..."
"Like what?"
"Aw, nothing. I was just thinkin' how some fellers has hell's own luck."
"How do you mean?"
"Aw, to git a nice inner cent young girl."
"But what about the girl's luck?"
"That's different. Their luck is to git a lot of spondulics for theirselves without sweating their eyeballs out for it, an' a nice little treasure like ole Skinny throwed in."
There followed guffaws and unprintable obscenities about procreative 機能（する）／行事s and 存在 in general, and in particular as 適用するd to Mr and Mrs Stanton of 'イオン Creeks Bun and Turril!
*
While Aileen 設立する lite an intolerable ache of inaction till Dice should return to her neighbourhood, Milly was かなり if not worthily 雇うd. Mr Blenkinsop had done her good service during his 統治する, for time 条約s of his education at least directed him に向かって the classics and he had 供給（する）d Milly with a pile of these. She read every other romance procurable, from 行方不明になる Braddon's to Rhoda Broughton's, and one or two of her admirers were astute enough to discover her preference for 調書をとる／予約するs before 甘いs. The pity was the absence of anyone to introduce her to the best literary pabulum for her vigorous ripening 知能.
欠如（する） of 約束／交戦 of her mental energy in such an 環境 resulted in entertainment through her many admirers—neither consciously nor maliciously as a coquette, but 必然的に. She had been 厳密に 後部d in the 条約 that a man must make all the 性の 前進するs. In her code a girl should not lower herself by 追求するing her predilection, but must stifle emotions till they were 支持を得ようと努めるd into life. It was a useful inhibition in Milly's 事例／患者. Her adolescent fancy 着せる／賦与するd Dice in romance and the correspondence with which he favoured her became engrossing. Her letters were so frank and open that neither her mother as 後見人, nor Aileen as 競争相手, could find in them 原因（となる） for alarm. Ronald's were in the same style, with not a line of 資本／首都 for a 違反-ofpromise 活動／戦闘. Occasionally there was a message on which Aileen could 料金d her heart, though it was to "Aunt Aileen".
にもかかわらず, Milly's imagination was engaged. She hungered for the トン in Ronald's letters that she felt must develop. This made her いつかs play up the faithful Alistair, whom the winter had not deterred from riding up every now and again. Aileen's loneliness too induced her to 説得する her brother, Larry, to visit her. He had to come across 雪の降る，雪の多い 範囲s, and had not been at Ten Creeks for two years, but 存在 in a chastened mood after his danger and 肉親，親類d 救助（する） by good old Norah, felt a sudden family affection and decided one Saturday to ride over and visit Aileen.
He was too ashamed to go 近づく Norah those clays, so happy was she in the success of her hoax. There was something imbecile, almost indecent, in this ratty old pair's obsession with 血統／生まれ, even vicariously. Larry had not seen the child and lived in mortal terror of it. Dot's 指名する was never について言及するd to him. He kept sedulously out of the Saunderses' path and they never by line or word took any notice of him. He could not marry Dot when she so truculently repudiated him and was not even in the 地区, and thus in an 予期しない way he had escaped the consequences of their 落ちる.
He arrived at Ten Creeks one August evening. He saw Milly. He was dumbfounded by the change in her. He had liked her and been friendly with her in her hobbledehoy 行う／開催する／段階, and the new Milly in winter 協会 threw him headlong into a 激流 of passion. A gun could not have kept him away thereafter. Aileen's loneliness was an excuse for his presence and in bad 天候 he could break his 旅行 with Dan and Joanna at Wamgarnbril Springs.
His entanglement with Dot had started with the bad 影響（力） of what had transpired with Aileen. Times were hard, he had been looking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する for a girl from a 所有物／資産／財産d family. Their 利益／興味 in horses and Aileen's marriage into the family had thrown him and Dot together. The combination of 退屈, 失望, waywardness, and 欠如（する） of self-discipline, had been 責任がある what followed, and Larry was as put to it as Dot to comprehend why. It had done something to 生成する in Larry what in his day was called a soul. He felt real shame in light of the swift clean flood that overtook him 関心ing Milly. A decent 記録，記録的な／記録する would have given him more courage.
Soon the intensity of his passion smothered all scruples of unworthiness, leaving only 決意 to 所有する at any cost and all hazards. Sophistry upheld him. In the first place no one knew of the 災害 with Dot but those whose 利益／興味 it was to bury the secret. Norah and Alf could not divulge it without making of themselves a laughing-在庫／株 from Bool Bool to Monaro and 支援する to Queanbeyan and Yass. The Saunderses were ありそうもない to deflect Milly from him at the sacrifice of Dot and their own shame. The Stantons and Saunderses though a clannish family had internecine 競争s and would rather have let 部外者s know their 不名誉 than for one arm of the family to 自白する inferiority to the other.
Larry blessed Dot now for her 猛烈な／残忍な repudiation of him which left him without public scathe. He hoped she would collar some other fellow and all would be 安全な. Thus in the beginning there was no 障害 but Milly's 態度. She laughed at him. There had been no change in him from chrysalis to バタフライ. He was the same old Larry and her fancy さもなければ engaged. Larry, however, in his first real 降伏する was so whole-hearted and engaging that he did not 疎遠にする her.
*
Spring broke at length. The Macfarlanes, upon the advice of their mountain 経営者／支配人, were to 除去する their sheep to Goraig Flats 早期に that season. Dice （機の）カム up 井戸／弁護士席 ahead to see to 盗品故買者s, etc., and was the real 就任（式）／開始 of the season on Ten Creeks Run. SP-over-J arrived すぐに after to be ready for the horse 召集（する）. He was glad to be with Lawrence John, for he was not wanting in parental affection, and the boy, now a little over three, was 十分な of allure.
Aileen began to live again.
Another who 設立する a 再開 of life was Cuppinbingle Potter. He was 述べるd as a man of the world and fitted the description in all that the 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 暗示するs of the 性の activities of a lusty, open-空気／公表する man entering the forties. He had such a sparkling 評判 for cicisbeism that SP-over-J, imperilled by a young and very pretty wife, was uneasy by his 設立するd visits to the Run. His 恐れるs were groundless. Aileen was much too insipid. A man who 扱うs thoroughbred horses 適用するs the same 基準 to women, and it is a high one. Since clapping his 注目する，もくろむs on the 血 filly, as Cuppinbingle thought of Milly—far from disrespect—all other women had grown stale. She was very young, and often he 停止（させる）d with the unhappy reckoning that when a girl rising eighteen would be thirty-six, a man of forty-two, 式のs, would be sixty, and the world 簡単に alive with men ready to 行為／法令／行動する with Mrs Donald Galliard Potter as Mr Donald Galliard Potter had earned renown by 事実上の／代理 with a good half-dozen ladies, whose husbands, he flattered himself, had been 完全に fooled. His own 策略 would make him for ever 怪しげな if in 所有／入手 of an attractive wife. Then Milly would banish melancholy. He would be at the 最高の，を越す of his form and appetite for ten or fifteen years yet, and ten, even five or two years with Milly was a heaven of reward for a その後の eternity of cuckolding or discontent. The girl was a thoroughbred. It was in her carriage and her mellow little waist, plump yet supple, and 達成するd with a 最小限 of the lacing necessary to other women. And oh, the peach and roses of her 肌, her luxuriant 向こうずねing hair, her soft and saucy chin, 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and comfortable, denoting 安定! He had 公式文書，認めるd that the little heart-形態／調整d 直面するs like Aileen's had no strength 支援する of them. When he betrayed husbands it was likely to be with one of those enchanting little baggages without the backbone to stand 会社／堅い to either 味方する. But Milly had mettle. It was in the play of her lips, in the flash of her （疑いを）晴らす, 勇敢に立ち向かう, grey 注目する，もくろむs. She was sure to have a 米，稲, and there was nothing in the whole gamut of passion so thrilling as a thoroughbred with her monkey up. Milly in a corner would fight gamely, life or death, not 生き残る by 同意／服従. And the fragrant 青年 of her!
The thought of Milly 着せる／賦与するd only in her own luxuriant tresses 誘惑するd him on to 受託する the noose of matrimony, that 存在 the only noose that could be spread for Milly. Once married of her own choice he felt sure she would stand 会社／堅い as any woman under heaven had ever been known to stand. It gave the 常習的な philanderer the best thrill in years to dream of teaching Milly her first thrills, of breaking her to matrimony. Appetite had him in 十分な cry the year in question and he was 確信して enough to appear at Ten Creeks without subterfuge. He was 特に affable to his hostess: his technique embraced all women more or いっそう少なく, but never 行方不明になるd the young and beautiful.
"He's using Milly as a blind," cogitated Stanton, his 疑惑s 警報 に向かって Cuppinbingle while they had gone 活動停止中の in regard to Bookaledgeree.
Potter knew to a nicety how the competitors were placed. The child, he calculated, was taken with Dice, but nothing serious—a girl's day-dream of love rather than the mastering passion itself, and a ちらりと見ること exposed Dice's 策略. Milly, the peerless, unbacked filly used as a blind for that other piece of mere rag! Cuppinbingle snorted at the 欠如（する） of judgment of some fellows, consequent upon 存在 "rared onder a hin", as his retainer put it. He chuckled to 見積（る） how Milly would take 存在 used as a 審査する. Make that obvious to her—himself careful not to be the 持参人払いの of bad news, and Dice's マリファナ would go on with a whack. Then what remained but the tail of a poor field. Lucky for him that Milly was hidden in the scrubs at Ten Creeks instead of in her rightful 立ち往生させる の中で the débutantes, where she would soon begin to feel her oats. 財政上の stringency had 延期するd the society year 事業／計画（する）d. He could 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of Dice easily enough, though it was not his man-of-the-world philosophy to spoil sport where he 借りがあるd no 忠誠. He must pull strings and make others do the work. A string 突然に pulled on him 原因（となる）d him to pull one almost unintentionally in return.
One Saturday night in September several were sitting 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 解雇する／砲火／射撃 at Ten Creeks, a 霜 still crisping the bridle-跡をつけるs without and making it cosy within. Stanton, Dash, the surveyor, and Potter were left in the dining-room while the others drifted to the sitting-room, from which sounds of gaiety streamed. Stanton's jokes were frequently ill-placed and rarely merry.
"I was thinking of going to Bool Bool tomorrow," he 観察するd, "but I'll have to leave Mr Dash to chaperone my wife—not 安全な to leave her with a lady-殺し屋 like Potter."
To be thus marooned with his 古代の host, who was hoodwinked by Dice and to watch Milly's 注目する，もくろむs brightening for the fellow, to hear her laugh （犯罪の）一味ing out for him as she played his accompaniments while he mushed love songs, which even the 模造のs knew were for that short-負わせる, Aileen, put Cuppinbingle off his form, or he would never have rapped out, "Lot of chance I have with the field in 十分な 所有／入手 of a gay young flipper like Dice."
"We'd better get 行方不明になる Milly to give us a song," said Dash, also somewhat a man of the world. Stanton rose 突然の to watch the tableau in the next room, himself unseen in the doorway. Milly was at the piano. Larry was hanging 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her turning the leaves, Ronald was singing a saccharine 残虐（行為） with a chorus about,
"権利 into the 武器 of my truly love, Singing tooralai, ooralai, aye."
He had a true ear and a 甘い lilt in his 発言する／表明する. He was looking に向かって Aileen. Her gaze was に向かって him in the light of the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, her heart exposed. SP-over-J let his guests enter his 製図／抽選-room alone. He walked out bareheaded into the uninhabited universe under the 炎ing, frosty 星／主役にするs, and circled the 前提s hot with a 解雇する／砲火／射撃 perhaps as old as the sun's rays, for all that can be proven to the contrary. 所有／入手 of a pretty young wife had long since lost its novelty. A sense of 勝利 had shaken 負かす／撃墜する to the prosaic salt beef and damper of married 存在, but was there danger of him 存在 fooled before the world? This would be worse than 敗北・負かす before marriage. But very likely old Cuppinbingle was trying to put him off the scent, he would be cunning enough for that. Aileen was （判決などを）下すd mushy by any sentimental song no 事柄 who sang it. SP-over-J went inside with his 注目する，もくろむs open.
Ronald was now scuffling の中で the music 長，率いる to 長，率いる with Milly, and Potter sitting 近づく Aileen 支払う／賃金ing her meaty compliments, by the look of her. Larry was agitating for a game of 没収されるs, a 装置 高度に popular の中で the amorous to procure a kiss. Stanton watched the game 批判的に and was 完全に deceived by 外見s. Ronald not once but several times passed by Aileen in favour of 行方不明になる Farquharson and Milly's school friend or Milly herself, while Cuppinbingle with 広大な／多数の／重要な 繁栄する approached his hostess. All was normal as far as Dice was 関心d. There were always a lot of idle 発言／述べるs 飛行機で行くing about, and if a man went about with a 半導体素子 on his shoulder because of them he would be 安全な only in an 亡命, 反映するd the boss.
*
Larry's 熱烈な wish was to hear of Dot 選ぶing up some decent fellow and settling out of the 地区. Her family wished likewise. They heard something far いっそう少なく 満足な. When the trouble had been 回避するd, old Tom 反対するd to the continued expense of keeping Dot in Sydney, and ordered her home. She again 証明するd refractory. She did not want to see Bool Bool again where her shame would be everlastingly thrown in her 直面する. The family were alarmed. How was Dot to support herself? The second スキャンダル 約束d to be worse than the first.
"She can go to 炎s so long as she keeps out of my sight," said her father.
"But people don't keep out of knowledge even if they are out of sight," said Mrs Saunders. "Look at what we know about the 骸骨／概要s in other people's cupboards though they think we know nothing."
"That's mostly true," Tom, jun., had agreed. "But it is a 広大な／多数の／重要な help to keep a thing as 私的な as you can. If it is public it is the first thing told to a newcomer to the 地区, while if it's pretty yell squashed it can only be told as a rumour and not given so much credence by the fair-minded. People may 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑う something cronk about Dot, but they couldn't be sure if only she would behave now. She must come home and go straight."
"It's no good of trying to 運動 her," said Maud. "She'll go mad again and that will be worse, as people will say it is in the family."
They 問い合わせd what Dot 提案するd to do to support herself. She replied that she had taken a 状況／情勢 as housemaid at a first-class hotel. She was a strong, 有能な young woman, and like all squat-, ters' daughters 価値（がある） the 指名する, able to do anything from baking a （製品，工事材料の）一回分 of bread to アイロンをかけるing a stiff white-bosomed shirt, 運動ing four-in-手渡す and 狙撃, or making her own frocks. The work of a housemaid was no hardship 肉体的に.
"Housemaid at the Wynyard, where people from here and Monaro stay!"
"I don't care!" said Pa. "I wash my 手渡すs of her. She has gone mad. It didn't come from my 味方する of the family, anyone can see that, and I don't care what people think. Hardly a family but has a lunatic of some sort in it, and they have to put up with it. Look at the O'Maras, respectable people as ever breathed, and in a good position, yet there is old Teddy running about the country."
Pa overlooked Ma. Stupid of him considering he had had a 世代 of her perfectly feminine 従来の persistence in getting her own meek way in 直面する of the most truculent male 法令s, flapping of wings, or loud bellowings. Ma's health became 不安定な forthwith. Her heart played up. Pa had to be up at all hours of the night warming アイロンをかけるs to put in the bed and to 治める teaspoonfuls of brandy. Worse than all, he could never talk on any 支配する, whether the price of wool, the 悪口を言う／悪態 of fluke, the scoundrelly bumptiousness of the working men in relation to the 広大な／多数の／重要な strikes, the breaking of the banks, or the 悪化／低下 in horse-flesh and 青年s since his young days, because Ma had to 詳細（に述べる） her symptoms with abounding garrulity; and the married daughters could not be absent from their own families to nurse Ma, and people incessantly 問い合わせd if Dot realized her mother's break-up, and commented upon her continued absence in Sydney, enjoying herself, while her mother needed her so sorely.
Pa became as rabid to have Dot home as he had 以前は been to get rid of her, and wrote a letter. The missive wrung his withers, but parenthood is 十分な of 類似の shoals and tribulations. He ordered and pleaded in turn. He execrated Dot for her 欠如（する） of filial affection to let her mother die in 冷淡な 血, and 明言する／公表するd his 乗り気 to let bygones be bygones if Dot would settle 負かす／撃墜する at home and take care of Ma. The price of a first-class fare was enclosed.
Dot was not 十分に iconoclastic to 砂漠 a dying mother. She returned to Saunders Plains. She became retiring in her manner and was seen abroad only at church, and that rarely. She put her 退職 on the 明言する／公表する of her mother's health, but people surmised that something must have happened in Sydney.
"Must have been trying for some smart city chap and got left," said Lucy Saunders. "And she's getting on now. If she doesn't soon catch someone, she'll be an old maid."
"She always was a bit high and mighty, and 存在 in Sydney, I suppose she doesn't think anyone is good enough for her now," 答える／応じるd her brother Jack.
Only Mrs Isaacs was sure of the 原因（となる）. "It （機の）カム off all 権利," she said to the Mayoress. "I wonder what they did with the child?"
"Now, do ye really believe it was thrue, Rebecca?"
"True as that we sit here."
"Some of thim Sydney doctors is terrible smart now, they might have taken methods. Sure, it's a wicked thing to think of!"
"It wouldn't do to whisper a word about it, us in 商売／仕事."
"Sure, ivery heart knows its own sorrer."
"I hear Larry is now wild after Milly at Ten Creeks. If they don't look out something will be happening there, too."
"Milly's a noice choild—not that sort."
"It's the most ありそうもない that seem to go off the rails. Look at Dot—who'd have thought it, and with Larry Healey, who they've always turned their noses up at."
"Sure, Milly せねばならない be sthopped from marryin' a feller like that, if it's thrue."
"It's true as eggs are not fish. You couldn't deceive Jacob."
"Still an' all ye can't 証明する it, Rebecca."
"It will all come out in the wash."
Fortunately they had heard nothing to throw 疑惑 on the parenthood of Mr and Mrs Alfred Timson at Billy-go-Billy, and the little Norah Alfreda throve in love and indulgence. Larry, 審理，公聴会 of Dot's return, had a fresh 接近 of 恐れる. 良心-smitten, he 捨てるd up a five-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める, not without personal sacrifice, seeing the times and the 緊張する put upon his exchequer by the Ten Creeks adventure, and sent it to Norah. She wrote in return a kindly letter, ひどく 調印（する）d and ambiguously orded, begging that he should not 行為／法令／行動する so again, as it was not necessary. Larry was much relieved that Norah did not ask him to go to Billy-go-Billy, for the thought of his daughter filled him with terror. Norah wished to 最小限に減らす Larry's 所有権 of her treasure. As a 確かな young lady did not care for him, she prayed that she 同様に as Larry would soon be happy with someone else. This, Alf and Norah calculated, would be safer for their foster-parenthood than if the two parents were to marry.
Mrs Saunders was 平等に relieved that Norah begged her too never to send another five-続けざまに猛撃する 公式文書，認める.
"God bless old Norah and Alf," thought Larry. Norah's hope that 嘘（をつく） would be happy with someone else seemed to 解放する／自由な him 公式に from 義務 to Dot, and he turned more assuredly to Milly. Dot and her family 完全に ignored him and this 解放（する）d him from 非難する in the episode unmentionable. He felt sure it had not been divulged even to Milly's mother, though she was a sister-in-法律 of Saunders Plains.
He was familiar with every gully and 刺激（する） and sideling, wombat-穴を開けるd or lyre-bird decorated, where the gyang-gyangs screeched or the eagles nested on the way from Neangen to Ten Creeks homestead. He had reached that degree of obsession when he would have 物々交換するd his soul for a kiss from Milly, and his undisciplined 願望（する） led him to day-dream of 状況／情勢s to give him 所有／入手 of her, as he despaired of winning her 慣例的に. He was too engrossed to 観察する the 影響 developing under his 肘, and the miraculous way he had escaped, without scathe or 責任／義務 for his dishonourable 行為／行う with Dot, was dangerous to his mood.
"Milly, don't you think you could care some clay?" he pleaded one week-end when he had her alone, decorating the vases for Sunday.
"Now, Larry, you're always squeaking like that. Let's look at it from practical real life. I don't think I ever shall, but supposing I did, what then?"
"We could marry and settle clown like other people, couldn't we?"
"Goodness gracious, how terrible! Just look at all the old married women, so dragged-out looking and like a bundle of hay or a clucking 女／おっせかい屋 if they try to ride again. Just that old dull life, on and On; oh, dear me, no!"
"But it would be duller if you never got married and were an old maid. Now, that would be terrible."
"Why?"
"You'd soon be sick of 存在 in some other woman's home and bossed about."
"But I could have a home of my own like 行方不明になる M'Eachern."
"Nice 乾燥した，日照りのd-up looking piece of old leather she is!"
"Then I'd like something 完全に different."
"How do you mean, different?"
"井戸／弁護士席, I'm reading a story about a girl now. A lovely young man loved her so much that he broke into her father's house and carried her off one night."
"By Jove, if that's all you want, I'd break into Goulburn 刑務所，拘置所 and carry you off by 軍隊—this very night. I'd think it no end of a lark."
"But I don't want you to. If you did...oh, 井戸／弁護士席, it's no use. I can't explain."
"Is there anyone else you'd like to break into your room and carry you off? What about old potty Potter?"
"Wouldn't he be a card!" Milly laughed merrily. Larry was 安心させるd.
"Or Alistair Farquharson?"
"You mustn't make fun of Alistair. He is too good for me really, only that I just don't want to marry him."
"It's not Ronald..."
"This talk is getting very silly," said Milly, going to place two glass slippers filled with violets on the mantel and keeping her 支援する turned. From there she escaped under the excuse of seeing what Lawrence John was doing, but the faithful Towser was on the 職業, moving his long-苦しむing 長，率いる aside each time his master tried to poke a stick in his 注目する，もくろむ.
Larry walked about the 山の尾根 where the music of the Coolgarbilli was like an 勧めるing 勝利，勝つd and all the world wild and untrammelled as his thoughts, which ran 危険に on some way of 妥協ing Milly so that her family would welcome the 処分 of her to himself.
SP-over-J passed 静かに by the veranda of the men's hut where Long Billy, Tim Porter, Mick Muldoon, and a Keba rouseabout were patching pack-saddles to take 激しく揺する-salt to the 支援する of 開始する Corroboree to 罠（にかける） wild horses, which had 誘惑するd away several of the 駅／配置する yearlings. The time of the 召集（する） was at 手渡す again and the usual （人が）群がる 集会 at Ten Creeks. The boss paused to give an order, and incautious 発言する／表明するs reached his ears.
"What do you think of ole 法案 Heffernan's bet now?"
"Aw, I dunno. 'Wait till old Skinny Guts gits on to it, there'll be a shindy 価値（がある） watchin'."
"He must know it now or else he's a bigger mopoke than ole Teddy O'Mara."
"Perhaps it ain't any good of him knowin'. What could an ole whistle like him do about it?"
It suddenly （機の）カム to Stanton that these 言及／関連s were to himself. Any boss of men must be of foolishness out-fooling the Teddy O'Maras to imagine that he is 一般に について言及するd in any more flattering 条件 by his vassals in a 解放する／自由な country, but there was more in this than that to SP-over-J. Old Skinny Guts was bad enough, but that other epithet 含む／封じ込めるd an aspersion to make any he-man take his gun, if 申し込む／申し出d direct. To overhear it bandied about の中で rouseabouts—a 疑問 upon his virility, the 血統／生まれ of his child! Hell! His wife's child.
Had he plucked himself together at that moment he could have put two and two together 関心ing his 相続人's 即座の lineage, and nothing under heaven could have dickered with the sum total, but an old man does not 保持する sanity and 甘い reasonableness when he hears his 雇うd 手渡すs obscenely discussing him, 特に when a 隣人 of Potter's proclivities has already flung a suggestion in his teeth. The 激怒（する） of hell racked Stanton's thin bosom. He would fling the brat in the Coolgarbilli and its —— of a mother after it. A 発射 would do for Dice and a couple more in the backsides for the rouseabouts who dared to 述べる him thus.
Never in his life had such stinging humiliation been his. It blackened the sun and 毒（薬）d the 空気／公表する, the divine 空気／公表する in that 地域 of eucalypts and singing streams. He turned to the stable cat-footed, and took out his horse—the Wamgambril colt—to the 避難所ing gully 支援する of the stables that carried Breakfast Creek, along which he escaped unseen to ride he cared not whither so long as he could 緩和する his 激怒（する）. On he went, on and on, past Gyang Gyang Creek and Corroboree Creek, taking no 公式文書，認める of the time he was 消費するing or the sweat he was 製図／抽選 from his horse, or the circling eagles and crows, the ぱたぱたするing gyang-gyangs, or the willy-wagtails tweetering, "甘い pretty creature! 甘い pretty creature!" or the scattering kangaroos, or the horse and cattle 跡をつけるs which might have been 価値のある data to the musterers. After a time he was 権利 at the 味方する of 開始する Corroboree where he had not been since the search for the Young Whisker filly.
His horse was a trifle blown through 存在 driven up pinch after pinch without mercy. Stanton got off to give him a （一定の）期間. Then he 棒 by the old Corroboree （犯罪の）一味s, where the tall daisies were budding, to the 辛勝する／優位 of the precipice over which Romp had fallen, and for a wild moment felt like riding off it too, but the Wamgambril, mountain bred, would not be 勧めるd within danger. Stanton dismounted again, and while giving his beast a chance to 回復する 始める，決める in 動議 a loose 激しく揺する. 負かす／撃墜する it went, breaking through half-grown trees and the unfurling tree-ferns with the 雷鳴 of a 大砲 to 衝突，墜落 into the stream below. 激しく揺する after 激しく揺する followed with reverberating echoes in the far-reaching 静かな, which Stanton had all to himself. The startled bird 国民s whirred up and away in flocks, chattering about the 現象 as they flew.
The aching immutable stillness had its 影響（力）. One might （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 with 激怒（する） against that for an eternity with no 影響 but to 論証する human impotence, human insignificance. Nothing （機の）カム from his 突発／発生 but the refreshing perfume of broken tea-tree, ヒース／荒れ地, or bracken. The 激しく揺するs 衝突，墜落d without 傷害 to anyone or anything under the 深い blue bowl but a pinprick or two to the stately scrub.
The 演習 relieved 激怒（する）. The 静かな 回復するd 推論する／理由. Stanton 反映するd that probably the 激しく揺するs had echoed no such ゆすり since the 黒人／ボイコット men had come a 世代 支援する to celebrate and feast on the bogongs. As a boy he remembered them 軍隊／機動隊ing from Mungee and Coolooluk. Now only Diamond, son of Nanko, and a few pathetic 見本／標本s remained. They had 消えるd, leaving no trace but the indistinct circus （犯罪の）一味s where the immortelles blossomed, but never a tree 侵略するd to this day. Not long and he too would have 消えるd, and what the sense of his agitation?
His horse, now sweat 乾燥した，日照りの and 回復するd his 勝利，勝つd, 供給するd the final touch of 傷をいやす／和解させるing by snatching at the 甘い 長，率いるs of kangaroo grass, his good appetite unperturbed by the cannonade, which he had 受託するd after a 予選 jerk and 投げ上げる／ボディチェックする of his 皇室の 長，率いる. Mother birds returned to their 労働s; the silence was filled with the endearing clamour of ever-hungry nestlings. Stanton turned に向かって home feeling a little sick from foolishness. After all, what had he to go upon? Nothing. He laughed when the 称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語, which had maddened him, was 適用するd by some wag to one of his associates, and thought 非，不，無 the いっそう少なく of the butt of the pleasantry.
He was thankful he had said nothing. No one but his horse 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd what a fool he had been, and he was dumb. Far 負かす／撃墜する the gully from whence the music of a creek 上がるd could be seen leafy bowers of tree-ferns, sassafras, and tea-tree, and spear-pointed trees of matchless grace 示すing young 木材／素質. Above rose 開始する Corroboree, 黒人／ボイコット and forbidding, silent and still for ever, a dignified sentinel above the tree-最高の，を越すs—mile on mile, 山の尾根 on 山の尾根 of greens melting into 煙霧のかかった blues with distance.
He 棒 homeward 刻々と where to the west the white clouds were 集まりing in mountains fringed with molten gold, of magnificent beauty, and presaging a 雷雨.
*
The 世帯 を待つd the boss in vain for the midday meal. A rouseabout 証言するd that he was coming に向かって the house from the garden when he last saw him. 調査 showed his horse was not in the stable and the boy was regarded as an unreliable 証言，証人／目撃する. When Stanton was four hours late there was 憶測 as to where he could be.
"I'd go and look for him only I don't know which way he went," said Ronald.
"I'll go with you," said Larry.
Milly put on her habit and Larry saddled her horse, a beautiful creature 指名するd Merrylegs, lent by Uncle Bert to 補償する for the loss of Romp. Larry 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd her to her saddle 説 they would go 負かす／撃墜する the Coolgarbilli. Milly looked 支援する for Ronald, but he said, "I'll go the other way," and Milly could not 砂漠 Larry without 混乱. Ronald stood with Aileen on the veranda watching M illy's spirited and 技術d 出発 on a 損なう 急落（する），激減（する）ing and 暗礁ing with spring rejuvenation.
"I must to horse too," said Ronald jocularly, "and, fair madam, a kiss if I bring your good man 安全に home, and three or as many as I like if I find him with his neck broken."
"Oh, Ronnie, how wicked you are! Ssh! the servants will see you, and you are （人命などを）奪う，主張するing your 支払い（額） in 前進する."
Milly （機の）カム out on the （疑いを）晴らすing and looked 支援する. "Whatever are Ronald and Aunt Aileen doing," she cried gaily and innocently. "You'd think he was kissing her like anything."
"I wish I looked as nearly like kissing you," 答える／応じるd Larry.
"Don't be silly!" admonished Milly, dashing away at 十分な gallop.
"Do you think anything could have happened to Jack?" said Aileen after a while.
"Not a bit of it. He's mooching about the run somewhere. Very likely had a bit of tucker with him. It's silly to go looking for him. Nothing ever happens to an old codger married to a beautiful young wife against her will. He'll be 栄えるing when we are both eighty and toothless."
"Lawrence John is very 静かな," said Aileen a little later. "I 推定する／予想する he has fallen asleep on Towser." She went to the dining-room where they had left the child with his faithful friend. He was not there. Aileen went through the other rooms, then out on the 支援する veranda. "They must have gone for a walk," she 発言／述べるd going に向かって the kitchen. Here she 設立する Jane 再生するing her own 演劇 but without the 複雑さ of a deceived husband.
"Have you got the baby and Towser here?"
"No, Mrs Stanton. He was in the dining-room when 行方不明になる Milly and Mr Larry went off riding."
"See has he gone 負かす／撃墜する to the hut." He had been known to do that.
Long Billy presently returned without the child. "Old Towser must have him asleep somewhere," said the rouseabout, and 始める，決める up a whistling.
Everybody whistled. A dozen loose dogs 答える／応じるd, but not Towser.
恐れる clutched Aileen's heart. Had the child toddled into the Coolgarbilli, and was Towser guarding him there? She 急ぐd along the bank while others made for the stables, creek, or searched の中で the raspberry 茎s and gooseberry bushes in the orchard and garden.
Long Billy called Mick Muldoon to him behind the stables. Towser was there stretched in his death sleep, the 泡，激怒すること of his passing agony fresh upon his muzzle.
"Sure to hell, some clog has brought him a bait an' now 'tis beginning to look loike as if the choild is lost entoirely. If it's this way Towser got the bait, beloike the young 病弱な has wandered into 病弱な of the little 穴を開けるs beyant the cow-yard. Sure, 'twould take no more than a billy of water to 溺死する a choild of that age whin he 宙返り／暴落するd into it."
Milly returned at that moment and Long Billy told her the news. Milly すぐに took 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金. She went to her aunt. "Old Towser has had a bait," she said. "That is why Lawrence John has popped out of sight. When did you last see him? He was in the dining-room when I left."
"That's when I last saw him, too," panted the terrified mother. "Ronald and I stood a while watching you and Larry and when I looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する baby was gone, and we couldn't see him anywhere, and we couldn't find Towser."
"Ronald hadn't 始める，決める out when you 行方不明になるd the baby," said Larry, astutely. "How long have you been looking for him?"
"Not fifteen minutes."
"Then you and Ronald were over an hour on the veranda. Towser and Lawrence John must have roamed に向かって the stables together, for Towser would never have left the child, and it would he out there に向かって the kennels that the dog would bring a bait. We must scour 一連の会議、交渉／完成する that way. It will soon be dark and there is a 雷雨 brewing."
"If Towser had a bait, baby is sure to have sucked some of it too. I can't 耐える to think of it," said Milly.
"耐える up, little woman," said Larry, kindly. "We must keep our 長，率いるs for Aileen's sake. If the poor little nipper got any strychnine he won't be far."
They ran out together searching again under every bush, beside every スピードを出す／記録につける, in the cow-保釈（金）s and calf-pen and kennels. Mick followed the creek at the 支援する. "Sure 'tis as （疑いを）晴らす, 'tis loike a lookin' glass. He couldn't be there in his little whoite frock widout Oi'd see him. But sure, Oi'm afraid 'tis the river he's wandered to, and that's a horse of a different colour."
"It's a judgment on me," gasped Aileen, running hither and あそこの, 猛烈に. "Jack will kill me. I don't care if he does. I deserve it. Oh, Cod, what am I to do?"
Dice tried in vain to 静める her. Here was not only a lost child but a distracted woman advertising illicit love.
*
SP-over-J did not hurry. Watching the sky, he 概算の that he had plenty of time to reach the house before dark and to escape the 嵐／襲撃する which seemed to be passing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する by Jinninjinninbong. Ile had rubbed his horse 負かす／撃墜する a little with his saddle-cloth and a 小衝突 of tea-tree, not wishing to look too much as though he had been riding for a doctor. As he （機の）カム in sight of the homestead （疑いを）晴らすing he （悪事，秘密などを）発見するd unusual movement 進行中で. Skirts—his wife's and Jane's—ぱたぱたするd on the 山の尾根 by the stockyards; men and clogs could be seen and heard in several directions. He first 遭遇（する）d Milly, 負かす／撃墜する 近づく the home slip-rails, for she thought the baby might be in the drain there under the long grasses.
"Oh, Uncle Jack! Lawrence John is lost and we can't find him anywhere. Poor old Towser took a bait and that's how he 逸脱するd away."
"What's this? Tell me again! Where was he last seen?"
"Larry and I started to look for you about an hour or two ago and left the baby in the dining-room then, and when we （機の）カム 支援する he could not be 設立する."
"Where was your Aunt Aileen?"
"She was just on the 前線 veranda with Ronald. It doesn't seem possible that he could get 権利 away out of sight so quickly." Milly's words uttered in innocence were a 爆弾. Stanton could not 信用 himself in the presence of his wife or Dice. The demon that had 爆発するd earlier burst out again with redoubled fury.
He shouted for Larry and the men and they 始める，決める off in circles 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the house, so that no possible nook might hide the child. Night was 落ちるing without a moon. Jane and Milly and the cook were ordered to have a meal ready with all 探検隊／遠征隊. One man was 派遣（する）d on a 迅速な colt for the Milfords, the most 専門家 bushmen of the 地域. Another went to 召喚する the 黒人／ボイコット trackers by telegraph from Cootamundra.
Dice was frantically active の中で the 捜査員s, but it was presently pointed out by the curious that he kept far away from SP-over-J.
It was 恐れるd that the child was in the Coolgarbilli, but it was impossible to see into its 休会s till daylight. If he was still alive there was danger of the other creeks with which the area was veined, and there were dingoes. To guard against them the place was dotted with groups, each group lighting 解雇する／砲火／射撃s and keeping up a hullabaloo.
Milly was out の中で the hardiest. There was 非，不，無 to gainsay her. Larry was delighted to have her company and 構成するd himself her special cavalier in a thoughtful way that was 慰安ing to Milly. About ten o'clock the 脅すd 雷雨 burst. The 激しい downpour filled the creeks and created a dozen rivulets of 十分な strength to sweep away a toddler were he still abroad, and damped the hopes of the 探検者s. Nothing could be done in the dark and rain, but the men remained abroad 借りがあるing to dingoes, and because it did not seem human to go to 残り／休憩（する） with the pet of the 駅／配置する lost in the bush.
Milly called her little cousin till she was hoarse and 疲れた／うんざりした. She was の中で the party that was 分散させるing the dingoes に向かって Mountain Creek. Larry made her a 避難所 from the wet in the burnt-out bowl of a 広大な／多数の／重要な tree. The men built 解雇する／砲火／射撃s to 乾燥した，日照りの themselves and boiled the billy and ate the 軽食s with which each saddle-捕らえる、獲得する had been 準備／条項d. The night 進歩d. Larry 説得するd Milly to 嘘（をつく） 負かす／撃墜する on his coat and saddle-cloth in her 避難所, for nothing could be done but keep the 解雇する／砲火／射撃s going. Milly 同意d in preference to going 支援する to the 駅／配置する, and soon dozed off. Waking after a time she crept 近づく to the 解雇する／砲火／射撃, wondering had there been any news.
The party had been joined by others from Stanton's posse and were talking, not 推定する／予想するing to be overheard by 行方不明になる Milly. Larry was absent taking his turn in keeping up the （犯罪の）一味 of dingo-chasing 解雇する／砲火／射撃s along the precipice.
"I don't reckon we'll ever see the pore little kid again," said Long Billy. "He's in the river. That's where he is."
"Sure, ye niver can tell. Mr Potter himself was lost whin he was a nipper. He was out 近づく a week, an' him 非，不，無 the worse for it, but he was nearer five."
"A year or two makes a 広大な／多数の／重要な difference in the strength of little blokes, and there wasn't no 雷雨 and creeks perhaps."
"A terrible thing for his mother," said Tim Porter.
"She'll feel it a judgment on her," said Jerry Riddall. It was at this point that Milly was 十分に awake to しっかり掴む what they were 説.
"Yes, carryin' on there in open daylight with Dice and her youngster bein' lost. It oughter cure 'em both."
"Anyone with 注目する，もくろむs in his 長，率いる that sore 'er that clay she was married when she looked at Dice would know how it would turn out. Old Skinny Guts could 軍隊 old Healey to sell her but he couldn't stop her bein' 甘い on Dice. You remember I told you that the first time she ever come to the Run," said Tommy Roper.
"Do you think Dice is as 甘い on her as she is on him?" This from Tim Porter, always 警報 for romance.
"My bloomin' 誓い, he is! Ain't he allers here takin' the place of old Skinny 完全に?" said Long Billy. "If I told yous half of what I know, it would raise whiskers on a duck egg."
"Do you reckon ole Skinny knows?"
"Must be blind as a dead goanna if he doesn't. What do you reckon, Mick?"
"That a shut mouth is good for keepin' the 飛行機で行くs out and the brains in."
"Supposin' you hadn't any brains to keep in, what'd you do?" asked 米，稲 Leary of Cuppinbingle.
"'Tis yourself that should know that without askin' annywan else whatever. Sure, ye've had a 力／強力にする of practice." The guffaw was against 米，稲.
"You 港／避難所't been rared onder a turkey hin, eh, Mick? But tell us, isn't it young Milly that Dice is cocking his 注目する，もくろむ after?"
"He that has 注目する，もくろむs to see, let him see," said Mick.
"Anyone can see without 注目する，もくろむs or brains that Larry comes to see her."
"An' a daisy he is too, to come an' see anyone! What about him an' Dot Saunders? Tommy, you seen her goin' away an' comin' 支援する, too, an' you reckon..."
"Tommy has done enough reckonin' to run a 蓄える／店," said 米，稲 Leary facetiously.
"He 一般に reckons 権利, too," said Roper himself. "I say that Larry was the man all 権利."
"If so, whoi didn't he marry her? It would have been too good a match for him to 行方不明になる," said Mick Muldoon.
"Old Saunders took a gun to him, that's why. There was 近づく 殺人 done."
"If things were as Tommy reckons, ole Saunders would er been glad to 支払う／賃金 Larry to marry her," 主張するd Tim Porter.
"Do you reckon ole Skinny would do anything if he knew about his missus an' Dice?" 問い合わせd Jerry Riddall.
Milly retired, to 再現する breaking a twig and coughing. "Where is Mr Healey?" she 需要・要求するd briskly. Larry was heard coming from his 一連の会議、交渉／完成するs with Dash, the surveyor.
"Larry, I shall go home and see how Aunt Aileen is. There is no need for you to come." But he 主張するd upon …を伴ってing her.
She did not speak on the way. The night to her had turned much darker than it is possible for a starless night to be. Larry せいにするd her silence to her 苦しめる and the 不快 of the search and held his tongue.
Milly 設立する her aunt alone with Jane Humphreys, sister and 後継者 of Sarah and Ellen, 出発／死d in matrimony. Jane could do nothing but weep in 直面する of her mistress's distraught manner. Stanton had not come to her nor sent her any message before joining in the search. She could neither pray, weep, nor 残り／休憩（する）. It was a terrible night for her, wandering in and out of the silent rooms, stopping to listen where nothing （機の）カム 支援する out of the silence of the bush but cooees and whip-割れ目s, or when there was a なぎ in these, the lorn wail of curlew or plover. The night-birds and dingoes had always 脅すd and depressed her.
"Have you 設立する him?" she asked Milly and Larry, seeing the answer in their empty 手渡すs.
"Not yet, Aunt Aileen. We must wait till morning. You must 耐える up." Larry was touched to see the havoc of the night's events in Milly. She looked white and ill and there was a stricken look in her 注目する，もくろむs almost like Aileen's.
"It's no use! It's no use!" wailed Aileen. "It is a judgment on me. Where am I to go? What am I to do?"
"I'm afraid she'll go dotty," Jane confided. "She seems to be wandering, and 会談 about snakes—unless, of course, she's got the D.Ts."
"Don't be silly! How would Aunt Aileen have D.Ts.?" said Milly reprovingly. "They only come to old boozers."
"井戸／弁護士席, it was only that my dad allus 会談 of snakes when he has 'cm, an' I thought the 行方不明になるs might have had a 阻止する to make her 耐える up."
"What she needs is a little spirits now," said Larry.
Mrs Stanton was 説得するd to swallow it nobbler, but it produced only a 一時的な doze. Milly was also 説得するd to take her first dram, and, by its potency on an empty stomach, 軍隊d to 受託する Larry's help to a couch, where under a warm rug she slept soundly till 夜明け. She awoke to see her uncle 会合，会う his wife.
"Have you 設立する him, Jack?" she wailed, running に向かって him.
"No," he snapped, without seeing Milly, or it might have 抑制するd him. "What does it 事柄 to you whether he is 設立する or not? A nice mother you are! A —— with your —— while your child is lost. I don't see that it should 事柄 much to me either, since I don't know whether he is 地雷 or not. Dice is..."
"Oh, Jack, I 断言する..."
"What does it 事柄 what you 断言する? You 港／避難所't got mind enough to tell the truth. Get out of my sight and my house! I've had enough of you." He 押し進めるd her as he passed, 暴動 a rough 押し進める, but she fell under his 手渡す. He walked through the house and out, never looking behind.
His thrust was deeper in the heart of Milly than of Aileen. Where was Ronald now? Would he step in before the world gallantly to stand by his love? It is to be 疑問d if that 面 of it 乱すd Aileen. She was too stricken. 悔恨 and a sense of 天罰 正確に，正当に fallen was so 鎮圧するing that neither 忠義 nor desertion on Ronald's part led now 力／強力にする to 影響する／感情 her. It was Milly who was still normal enough to 苦しむ. On the way home with Larry, trying to operate on the high code laid 負かす／撃墜する by Uncle Bert years before, she had been 説得するing herself that what she heard was but ignorance and evil-mindedness from the lowest of 駅／配置する-手渡すs, when lo, に引き続いて it was this scene between her uncle and his wife!
She wilted under the blow and longed to steal away and be lost for ever like little Lawrence John. But actuality and ありふれた sense called for 活動／戦闘. 場所／位置 急ぐd to her smitten aunt, who had 支えるd no 傷害 from the 法案 but was in a 明言する／公表する of nervous 崩壊（する）. She just lay still and moaned, unresponsive to entreaties that she should get up and 嘘（をつく） on the bed.
Milly put a pillow under her 長，率いる and went for Larry. He 解除するd his sister の上に the couch in the sitting-room. Together they settled her in 慰安.
"Come, Sis, you must not give up hope yet," said Larry kindly. "You stay with her, Milly, and I'll fetch Jack."
Milly stepped out the door with him, a 手渡す on his arm. "No, Barry, don't fetch Uncle. Ile was very angry. He gave Auntie a little 押し進める, that is why she fel! 負かす／撃墜する."
"He mustn't carry on like that. Aileen didn't know the clog was 毒（薬）d. Even if it had been her fault, it doesn't make it any easier for her."
"It wasn't that 正確に／まさに. You and I must take care of Aunt Aileen ourselves and not let anyone notice. Uncle said terrible things."
"What things?" 嘘（をつく） 需要・要求するd はっきりと.
Milly was too inexperienced to keep her counsel under such a blow. Her 直面する was so 始める，決める and white that it startled Larry. "Terrible things! I can't 耐える to go on living if they are true."
"Tell me."
"About Aunt Aileen and Ronald and little Lawrence 共同の. Poor darling little Lawrence John; if only I could find him I'd take him 権利 away and I'd keep him and work for him myself. I'd go to Uncle Bert and ask him to have us and let no one ever see us again."
Larry thought of the embrace on the veranda when he and Milly looked 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセス; how much would it be 安全な to 否定する? "Your uncle is driven loony by the loss of the nipper, you mustn't take any notice of him or of anyone else till things settle 負かす／撃墜する again."
"But, Larry, I've heard the men laughing about Uncle for a fool—oh, it was too horrible and 汚い!" Virtue and decency, all the ground at the base of ordered 存在, seemed to be slipping away.
"非，不，無 of it's true. Surely you know better than to give any 負わせる to the filthy talk of that 肉親，親類d of scum. Come on, little chum, you and I must stand together and pull this thing through for the little chap's sake."
The 控訴，上告 to her courage and indispensability was a lucky one. She was not in love with Larry. It was 平易な to 解任する the 観察s she had overheard about him. They were foolish in any 事例／患者, as no one would ever think such things of Dot.
"I wish we could get Uncle Bert here. He would tell us what to do."
"That's a 動揺させるing idea. He's a good one in any scrum. Let's send him a 電報電信. The mail goes from Keba to Yass today and we could send Long Billy or Jerry."
The necessity of filling the 違反 saved Milly from the worst 影響s of her 負傷させる for the time. With Jane and the cook and Larry she planned for the 差し迫った 包囲 and then cared tenderly for her aunt, 軍隊ing a little tea between her lips as a 義務; Aileen had become an unclean thing to her.
SP-over-J remained abroad with the men. Dice followed the same 策略 and kept away from SP-over-J. He would have given something to know what Stanton 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd of him. A word or two overheard was a 発覚. He had felt rather smart and 満足させるd of just 復讐 on Stanton till now the sordidness of his position was 明らかにする／漏らすd by the loss of the child. He was puzzled how to 行為／法令／行動する. If the cat was not out of the 捕らえる、獲得する he did not want to be 無分別な.
*
The Milfords arrived at sunrise and leadership すぐに was theirs. They brought with them the 駅／配置する 召集（する） of men and Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く Milford, wife of the 年上の brother, to be with Mrs Stanton. Also with them was Ignez Milford, a 有望な little girl who could ride like a cossack and sing like a thrush. They were all on horseback and cantered up with 課すing clatter of pack-horses with 準備／条項s, clogs, whips, etc. Mrs Harry Milford had a young 幼児, so Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く had sent her children to her to be 安全な while she herself （機の）カム abroad.
Harry Milford took 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金. He said dingo danger could be 解任するd considering the numbers abroad, also 毒（薬）ing by strychnine by Towser's bait, or the 団体／死体 would have been 近づく about. If the child had not gone direct to the river, one of the creeks must have accounted for him, and it was for the 団体／死体 that the search recommenced. The company was divided into squads within a horseshoe circle, the open end 存在 the Coolgarbilli.
A long 有望な day wore away barren of result.
Mrs Milford, resourceful and 肉親，親類d, did her best for Aileen, but could not induce her to sleep or 残り／休憩（する）. She wandered about in pitiful fashion, evidently beyond reach of 非難する, sympathy, or hope.
"I'm afraid for the poor little soul's 推論する／理由," Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く 報告（する）／憶測d. "The suspense on her is dreadful. She seems so afraid of snakes and hasn't thought of 溺死するing at all. I keep 説得するing her that it is too 早期に for snakes, but it doesn't seem to reach her."
"There is more in it than shows," said her husband, 個人として. "Cuppinbingle Potter has been telling Harry the baby got away while she and Dice were carrying on together, and there was a terrible shindy between old SP-over-J and her."
"All a 瓶／封じ込める of smoke most likely."
"At any 率, keep your mouth shut and your 注目する，もくろむs open. They say old jack hasn't come 近づく her since it happened."
"He 非難するs her most likely for 怠慢，過失, and the 残り／休憩（する） is made up by evil minds. Poor little soul; it is enough to send her mad."
The same sort of watch was kept the second night as the first. The に引き続いて day was given to 調査するing the river, （疑いを）晴らす as glass and showing every 石／投石する in its bed. The deeper 穴を開けるs were dragged. It was surmised that the 団体／死体 had been washed into the 予定する 穴を開ける, so called for the 山の尾根 of 予定する rising on one 味方する of it. It was 深い and 十分な of 行き詰まり，妨げるs. A 押し寄せる／沼地 近づく by was 十分な of tea-tree springs and a wondrous 避難 for wild ducks. A man there in spring could fill his pockets with the ducklings, irresistibly engaging, but they could never be tamed, and the swift Coolgarbilli was always at 手渡す to 耐える them 支援する to their wild comrades.
A 電報電信 from Poole 明言する／公表するd he had been laid up for some time through having 削減（する） his foot with an adze. It had been a 近づく go and he was やめる helpless. The 黒人／ボイコット trackers were helpless because of the rain.
On the fourth day Harry Milford said, "No man go today where he has been before. Going over the same ground we are likely to get in a rut."
But they sought all day again without result.
On the fifth day he said, "He could be hidden in some little 穴を開ける covered by a bush. There's no telling where he may be."
"Sure, he's in the 予定する 穴を開ける, an' 'tis a judgment on ould SP-over-J for takin' the gurrul against her will. It niver 支払う／賃金s to have thruck wid the Divil. What comes in over the ould gintleman's 支援する runs away onder his belly."
"Not onder a hin?" 問い合わせd 米，稲 Leary.
"I reckon it's old Larry's things oughter run away under his belly, not only the poor little Missus's," said Tim Porter. "It was him made her marry ole Skinny when she didn't want to."
"Yes, an' both him an' Dice dayserting her now. Sure, that's loife all the time."
Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く's brother had been lost. Mrs Milford did not remember the occurrence, for she was the nurseling at the time. She did not 言及する to the 出来事/事件 in Aileen's 審理，公聴会.
"Mother 行方不明になるd him all her life, still does," she said to
Potter and a few more. "The 団体／死体 was never 設立する, and my mother always thought he might have been stolen. I believe she has not given up hope of seeing him yet, but how could she know him?"
"Look at me," said Potter. "I 生き残るd after a week."
Mick Muldoon as a lad had been in both 追跡（する）s, for Potter and Sammy Argyll. He told an unbowdlerized 見解／翻訳／版 in the hut.
"It's not thrue that niver a thrace of little Sammy Argyll was seen. That was made up to 慰安 the mother."
"It hasn't 慰安d her much."
"Sure, I know what I know."
"Old fool," muttered someone 安全に out of 審理，公聴会. "If he happens to be moochin' 一連の会議、交渉／完成する where he can't help knowing a thing, he thinks it's cleverness and gets so big in the 長，率いる he 破産した／（警察が）手入れするs his hat-禁止（する）d."
"I heerd all about that story too," said Tommy Roper. "Everyone knows it 負かす／撃墜する the river."
"Spit it out, then."
"Let Mick tell it if he reckons he 持つ／拘留するs the 特許 on it. 負かす／撃墜する the Murrumbidgee there 近づく Broken Dray Crossing on Cuppinbingle, the bullockies won't （軍の）野営地，陣営 there, they reckon the baby cries there at night."
"Och, you're thinkin' of ould 屈服するs and his woife, that was drownded whin he was drunk and buried there, they say their ghost can be seen there."
"Pooh, what would they have a ghost for? They never had anything terrible done to them."
"They say the ole man walloped the ole woman something cruel, an' she 押し進めるd him in the water when he was three sheets in the 勝利，勝つd."
"Bunkum! Mick, tell us about Sammy."
"Sure, he was eaten by the 黒人／ボイコットs."
"Eaten by the 黒人／ボイコットs!"
"Sure. It was a terrible 乾燥した，日照りの year and ould 屈服するs saw 病弱な of the gins wid a whoite choild's arrum in her dillybag. Sure, all the men knows it, but it was kept secret for 恐れる it moight 運動 the mother mad."
"I don't believe that. The 黒人／ボイコットs are not cannibals, and they're tame."
"They weren't so damn' tame thirty or forty years ago."
"That's true; if you had seen them 集会 up where them （犯罪の）一味s is behoind Corroboree ye'd have seen how tame they were. There must have been goings-on up there to turn the stomach of a man if they could only be known."
Horror at the 運命／宿命 of little Sammy Argyll 追跡するd off into a computation of 干ばつs and floods as milestones to 直す／買収する，八百長をする the year.
"Sure, the ould 開拓するs knew what loife was," said Mick. "No sittin' 一連の会議、交渉／完成する on your behoinds loike a lot of ould 貯蔵所s like ye do today."
Sympathy was flooding に向かって Aileen, looking always before her with a 緊張するd, lost look, asking no pity, 捜し出すing no 慰安. Out of decency the search was continued for a week. By that time Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く felt she must return to her brood. The men also 分散させるd. They had been there over a hundred strong, and from fifty miles distant. As the news spread, neighbourliness dictated that men should ride over to hear if the child had been 設立する, and, finding the search still on, they joined in.
A ブレーキ of boughs was thrown across the river at the 出口 from the 予定する 穴を開ける should the 団体／死体 rise after the seventh day. Some of the leaders like the Milfords, Potters, and Farquharsons were を待つing this. The lesser lights had gone. Teddy O'Mara, 疲れた／うんざりしたing of the 集中, 始める，決める out alone for Curradoobidgee to the 援助 of his old liege Poole, knowing that he was 無能にするd. He took a bridle-跡をつける seldom used, 支店ing off from the Bool Bool road, where his horse shied so violently that he was nearly thrown, while his dogs 急ぐd upon the startling 反対する. Fortunately, they were securely muzzled.
Teddy saw the child lying under a tea-tree shrub. He was the 犠牲者 of 飛行機で行くs to a terrible degree, dirty and tattered, but alive. He moved and raised a feeble cry. Teddy's brain helped him 十分に to wash the little fellow's 直面する. He then rolled him in his shirt and coat, and, 開始するing, went off hell-for-leather to Mrs Harry Milford with the child in his 武器. It did not occur to him to return to Ten Creeks Run, seven miles behind him. Mrs Milford had been a 行方不明になる Labosseer of Coolooluk, to Teddy a sacred 産む／飼育する. He would 信用 the child to no one else. This was all to the good, for from where he was, Jinninjinninbong was a mile or two nearer than Ten Creeks and an easier 跡をつける.
Mrs Harry （判決などを）下すd 誘発する first 援助（する）, and when the little 団体／死体 was laid in 慰安 she wrote a 公式文書，認める to Dr Rickart in Queanbeyan, and to save time 派遣（する）d Teddy on the best horse left on the place. She sent little Tommy Milford, a child of ten, on the next best nag to take the news to the parents.
*
While this had been happening at Jinninjinninbong the final 行う／開催する／段階s were reached at Ten Creeks.
Milly had felt it her 義務 to question Ronald. "What are you going to do about Aunt Aileen?" Her severity was not alone for her aunt's lapse, she was 苦しむing the 粉々にするing of a girl's first 性の ideal. A 発覚, as yet but dimly realized, but transcendental and exalting, had been desecrated. Her wholesome innocence had left her open to an ugly shock.
"What have I got to do 特に with your Aunt Aileen?"
"Don't pretend! Don't be a hypocrite! I looked 支援する that day and saw you on the veranda—the day when Lawrence John was lost."
Ronald gnawed his moustache and spoke warily. How much had she seen? He could not 解任する what his 活動／戦闘s had been at that hour. "I don't know what on earth you could have seen."
"I saw you..." She 妨げるd. "You have no 権利 to kiss Aunt Aileen," she finished.
"広大な／多数の／重要な Scott! 港／避難所't I!" thought Ronald, but he controlled himself and said, "You must have seen 二塁打."
"It's not only then. Others have seen at other times and talk about it."
"People will always talk; that's what they think their yapping tongues are made for." Milly was silent and so white and 孤立した that he could not feel his way. He 失敗d like a man coming on horse pickets in the dark. "広大な／多数の／重要な Scott, Milly! I thought you would be more grown-up than to make a mountain out of a mole-hill. Supposing we take notice of the tittle-tats; supposing I did kiss your aunt, hang it all, I've kissed you too, and was there any 害（を与える） in it? The blooming world would be depopulated if a fellow wasn't enough of a man to take a kiss from a pretty girl now and again."
"But I'm not married," she stammered, "and it can't be such a little thing when it made Uncle Jack 行為／法令／行動する so terribly, and Aunt Aileen is out of her senses and talking about everything 存在 her just 罰."
Milly could 耐える no more. Her 直面する growing whiter as though she were about to faint, she turned from him. She felt need for 中和する／阻止するing 活動／戦闘 and went to the kitchen to see that things were in 手渡す for the next meal. Red Jimmy, the surveyor's link man, was there, gossiping with Jane and peeling potatoes. His words 逮捕（する）d Milly as she approached.
"I dunno so much about that. What about my boss? He's no milksop. When we wuz in Queensland we went shootin' the 黒人／ボイコットs. When we potted the most of them, some of the gins was left and there was a piccaninny, and the grass in Queensland is high like reeds and we hid, an' we soon sore a gin come creepin' 支援する, and piff, she went! Much better fun than shootin' a few ole kangaroos," said the man, with a swagger.
Milly felt sick. This 関心d a man who had spoken of love to her on the veranda の中で the roses, yet he could 罠（にかける） a poor 黒人／ボイコット woman with her baby and shoot her: and Ronald—and Potter too—could say those vulgar things about 全住民, and then want her to marry him. She had imagined wonderful things about passion, yet passion was men, and men were this! She shut herself in her room and threw herself on her bed in the 苦痛 of disillusionment.
".I've kissed you too, and was there any 害（を与える） in it?." Ronald had said, little realizing the delicate inner gossamers of maidenliness he was rending. His one kiss had 乱すd her かなり. Her first kiss from a lover. To her it almost meant betrothal. Into betrothal she felt sure their friendship must 進歩 after that electric kiss, yet he 解任するd it as a promiscuous scattering of favours, she and her unclean aunt lumped together. And that ready phrase about depopulation!
When Cuppinbingle had been feeling his way with her, playfully, jocularly, as an experienced philanderer 警報 to 退却／保養地 or 前進する as propitious, she had told him he was a wicked, bad man. He asked why. She naively について言及するd what respectable echoes she knew of his gallantries. He laughed indulgently till his middle-老年の spread had jazzed. He smothered her in blushes and 混乱, making her feel she was an innocent baby. Inculcating the lesson of the 二塁打 基準 in all its 保証／確信 of the 早期に nineties, he had used the 同一の phrase about the world 存在 depopulated unless, etc.
Milly thought that depopulation was no 広大な／多数の／重要な 事柄 but could not 表明する such heresies to a circle doing 義務 with a few rigid 原始の 条約s in place of mutable ideas. Such notions would earn a girl derision as 存在 "strong-minded" and make her much more 人気がない in the marriage market than flightiness. Potter had been an artist, laughing her out of her notions but 示すing that she was lovely にもかかわらず and because of them. She had turned from him as a rake, to Ronald as a spotless white knight. And now Ronald 公表する／暴露するd himself as of the same 質 as Donald, 反して Milly had kept herself unspotted—but Ronald! Who can 見積（る） the anguish of a high-spirited maiden when awakening to the electrifying passion of first love to find the reptile lust 直面するing her?
She would go to Uncle Bert and live for ever with him and never let any man speak of marriage to her again.
She made Ronald uneasy as to Stanton's 態度, and what would be the safest 手続き. How the devil had the old Death Adder 行為／法令／行動するd in the sight of Milly?
Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く felt it cruel to leave the distraught Aileen with a woman as young as Milly. She sought Stanton. "Mr Stanton, as soon as possible I wish you would bring your wife to me for a week or two. It will be necessary to give her change and company. I 恐れる for her 推論する／理由. It will be better when it is all over...If she would cry it would help."
Stanton mumbled a few words of thanks and seemed unable to 表明する himself, which Mrs Milford took as natural. Going from her, he 遭遇（する）d his brother-in-法律 and rapped out, "Mrs Milford is talking about taking Aileen to Jinninjinninbong. You can do what you like about it, or Dice can make 手はず／準備. I'm done with her. I don't want any other man's —— about me."
Larry was thunderstruck. He had heard a word or two and was aware that Aileen and Dice had fooled about a bit—but this! He did not know whether to せいにする it to the 明言する／公表する of Stanton's 神経s over the loss of the boy or to take it 本気で. He emitted a soft whistle and stood on the veranda pondering, and wishing he could see Milly, a chronic 明言する／公表する with him. Golly, didn't he wish old Bert Poole had not taken this time to put himself out of things by an 事故 befitting a new-chum. He would have been a 安定したing 影響（力） on the whole mad caboose, and the man to を取り引きする old Jack. Why the 炎s hadn't Dice and Aileen a little more sense—getting into a silly mess like this!
SP-over-J was mowing a wide 列. He 遭遇（する）d Dice after leaving Larry. "You can make 手はず／準備 for 除去するing your 所有物／資産／財産," he snapped. "I don't want her on my 前提s any longer."
Dice did not 影響する／感情 to misunderstand. It was too serious for that. He walked into the house and 設立する Mrs Milford and asked could he see Mrs Stanton. "I can't leave without 説 a word to her about the little chap and how sorry I am."
"Yes. Poor little soul seems dazed. It would do her good if you could make her break up. She was 負かす／撃墜する the orchard a few minutes ago."
Ronald 設立する her there. "Aileen," he said, going direct to the point. "Stanton seems to be upset about you and me. God knows we were 害のない enough, but I want to say that if he doesn't return to his senses, and 削減（する）s up rough, I'm ready to do whatever you wish. I'm sorry for what you have been through and if I have made things worse for you I'll do the decent thing as far as I can. You understand, don't you? You only have to let me know."
"Oh, but I can't," she wailed. "The snakes are there."
He saw that she was for the 現在の beyond 慰安—or その上の 災害. He shook her 手渡す and withdrew, running into Larry, who was hanging about aimlessly wondering where Milly could be hidden. Everybody was tired and aimless.
"What the ジュース have you and Aileen been up to? Old SPover-J has been raising a pretty dust to me. He 会談 of turning Aileen out."
"Let him 捕らえる、獲得する his 長，率いる! He can't do that."
"He can go away and leave her here, though."
"See here, Larry, the old Death Adder has got some bee in his bonnet without any 創立／基礎, but if he is going to turn dog about Aileen, I'm ready to do all I can. I suppose Milly will stand by her—she's a game good girl that, all 権利—and you might, as Aileen's brother, take a 手渡す by letting me know. You were all damn' strong on tying her up to the old mongrel."
"It's not as serious as that, is it?"
"I don't know what it is with a loony old piker like that. Aileen is so upset that she doesn't seem to understand what I am 説 to her, but you can let her know when she comes 一連の会議、交渉／完成する."
"When all is said and done, you can't 推定する／予想する Jack to let you run about with his wife under his nose."
"What could you 推定する／予想する? You locked the poor little thing up and 軍隊d the old Death Adder on her—発射 my horse under me when I made a good straightforward 申し込む／申し出. Serves you jolly 井戸／弁護士席 権利 now!"
Larry saw that Dice was in no mood to be 推論する／理由d with, or to climb 負かす／撃墜する, and remembered his own 骸骨／概要 too vividly to preach. His 現在の 明言する／公表する, too, had awakened him to an understanding of what Dice and Aileen must have gone through, without any sympathy from him, and he said nothing to 増加する disharmony. "Keep 冷静な／正味の!" he advised. "Ten to one it will all end in a bit of a squiff."
They walked out the 支援する way に向かって the stables together and 棒 to the 予定する 穴を開ける to see if the ブレーキ had 拘留するd anything. They 乱すd clouds of ducks and engaged in a scudding 競争 on the still water of the 穴を開ける with flat waterworn stories. Larry was the 支持する／優勝者. Harry Milford was there too, and after a while they returned to the homestead. As they 近づくd, little Tommy Milford （機の）カム from the other direction at 十分な gallop. They cooced to stop him. "My God, don't let him go to the women! It looks as if something has happened at home," said Milford.
The little boy, his 直面する 花冠d in smiles, shouted his good news and held out a 公式文書，認める. His excitement and the men s incredulity （判決などを）下すd him unintelligible, but when they were sure of the news they broke into a 元気づける and turned to tell everyone about the place. Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く was （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限d to tell the mother, but it was Milly who broke the good news, "Oh, Aunt Aileen, little Lawrence John is alive! Teddy O'Mara 設立する him and took him to Jinninjinninbong to Mrs Harry Milford. Come, we are all going over at once."
Aileen looked at them uncomprehendingly and broke into 涙／ほころびs and sobs that unnerved the men.
"It will save her 推論する／理由," said Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く. "You just leave her to us and get the horses saddled, and, Jane, put the meal on the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する すぐに."
Aileen was silent and passive in the 手渡すs of her niece and 隣人.
The company snatched a 軽食 and 始める，決める off as soon as Aileen was 十分に composed. A spirit of joy was general. A 奇蹟 had relieved all 緊張する and 苦しむing.
All from Ten Creeks except a couple of 管理人s were riding over to Jinninjinninbong to see how the little chap was. Jane was permitted to go too. Milly said Mrs Harry must have her 手渡すs 十分な with two families, two 幼児s—one an 無効の—and would need help, In 直面する of the 奇蹟 SP-over-J so returned to sanity that he 派遣（する）d a messenger on the Wamgambril to bring Dr Byng from Bool Bool to 増強する Dr Rickart. He did not ride beside his wife. Milly did that, and since Larry 棒 next to her, the decencies were 保存するd. Stanton 棒 with the Milfords. Dice chatted pleasantly with Mrs Milford and the little Ignez.
The 逆転 of what had gloorned for days as a 悲劇 elated everyone. Tongues wagged in all sorts of surmises.
"He must have walked straight away through the two large creeks before the rain when there was only an インチ or two of water at the crossings made for Mrs Saunders's four-in-手渡す," said Harry Milford.
"Sure, he's a strong choild and 井戸／弁護士席 始める，決める on his feet. If ye just keep peggin' along at a snail's pace ye can go moiles in a day. 'Tis to be seen by crawlin' sheep that have to be 解除するd on to their feet."
"He stuck to the 跡をつける, that is how he got so far and kept out of mischief."
非，不，無 of the 探検者s had ridden far enough along the way the child had gone, thinking it beyond 範囲 in 見解（をとる） of the 嵐／襲撃する, and 非，不，無 had come by it. Some never could credit that the child had been so far as the 位置／汚点／見つけ出す that Teddy O'Mara later pointed out. Whatever, the glad fact remained that he was alive, and it lent high spirits to the travellers, 壊滅的な to the birds along the way. The pomegranate crests of many gyang-gyangs and the tails of half a dozen lyre-birds were 申し込む／申し出d up to Milly and Ignez. Lesser birds like magpies, rosellas and lories, satin-birds and 黒人／ボイコット cockatoos and button-birds, were popped off in exuberance of spirit, leaving clamorous 孤児s.
On arrival at Jinninjinninbong they 設立する the child had had a teaspoonful of ワイン 減少（する） by 減少（する） and was asleep. But for the blowflies in ears and 注目する，もくろむs he would have been all 権利. Mrs Milford was a 有能な nurse, and for the 残りの人，物, the doctor was を待つd.
Aileen was taken to the child. She had not spoken and was 静かな now. She took one look at the little 拷問d 直面する and fell on her 膝s, burying her 長，率いる in the bed, whether praying or not 非，不，無 knew. When Milly 説得するd her to rise, she looked so 病弱な that bed was 示唆するd. Aileen acquiesced. The spare bedroom had been 用意が出来ている for Mr and Mrs Stanton. Larry stepped in here so 外見s were 保存するd. "Milly, you take care of Aileen, there's a brick, and I'll hang on to your uncle. They have both been through it."
Beds sprang up everywhere like mushrooms and half of the 訪問者s went to Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く, a mile distant, helping to 除去する her family.
Dr Rickart arrived next day, followed by Dr Byng a day later. Mrs Milford was 高度に commended for her first 援助（する）. The child was 進歩ing, moderation was what was needed. 広大な／多数の／重要な care must be 演習d with the ears and 注目する，もくろむs, but even there the doctors hoped for 完全にする 回復.
Dr Byng remained some days, enjoying the good 狙撃 and the 残り／休憩（する） from professional 義務s in the famous valley and in the wonderful gardens of the two women. There was 刺激するing 競争 between them. Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く had a bed of Prince of むちの跡s feather as tall as maize with streamers feet long, and 国境s of 二塁打 English daisies and anemones, others of wallflowers, 在庫／株s, and foxgloves, 国境d with violets. Mrs Harry had beds of pinks and carnations that smelt like heaven, and wide 国境s of 甘い-william that the bushmen 棒 miles out of their way to see and smell, and all who ever saw those 国境s of 甘い-william were 全員一致の that they never saw any to equal them. She had also a laburnum-tree like a rain of gold, and purple lilacs, and honeysuckle over an arch at the 入り口, and a hedge of pink roses all 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the enclosure, and two （土地などの）細長い一片s of fleur-de-lis, purple and white, and l ashes of rosemary, and daffodils growing in a lawn of rye-grass, vhich Mr Blenkinsop said always reminded him of England.
Aileen was too listless to speak, which was considered normal by the 医療の men after the shock she had undergone. Milly was a 不十分な of strength and a 楽しみ to all, more 特に to Mrs Harry, who, with nothing but scrub help and her augmented 世帯, had her 手渡すs 十分な. Milly was 絶えず thrown with Larry, who laid himself out to be a 慰安 to her. Dice had 負傷させるd her irretrievably, her Uncle Jack was out of it, and Uncle Bert unable to come to her 援助 for the first time in her young life. Larry filled the 違反 with unflagging zeal.
Dice was one of the first to leave. He 用意が出来ている for 出発 the morning that Dr Rickart said there was no 疑問 about the child's 回復. When his horse was saddled and his valise strapped on, he sought Milly. "I'm going, Milly; ask your aunt if I may see her."
Milly returned in a few minutes. "Aunt Aileen says to thank you, but it doesn't 事柄."
"What does she mean by that?"
"I don't know. She is still very worn out."
"No wonder! 井戸／弁護士席, I'll not 乱す her, but I want you to understand and to let me know, if it is necessary, that I am ready to help her in any way I can."
Milly regarded him so fixedly that he blushed.
"You're too young to understand some things, Milly, though you're a brick, and you will let me know if Aileen needs me."
"I 推定する／予想する she will let you know herself if she wants you for anything. I 約束 to give your message 正確に."
"Thank you for that. Good-bye."
"Good-bye." Milly turned away without 延長するing her 手渡す. Dice went to Stanton. "A word with you, Stanton, 個人として."
"I don't want 私的な or any other sort of words with you."
"You can please yourself, if you prefer others to hear. It was you I was considering. I have nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to hide." Thereupon Stanton 同意d to move に向かって the cow-yard, at that hour untenanted.
"I 手配中の，お尋ね者 to say, that if you think you have anything serious against your wife in 関係 with me, you are making a 炎上ing fool of yourself. After she was married I never saw her till the child was nearly two years old. If you don't 扱う／治療する her 適切に, and want to get rid of her, I'm just as ready to take on the 職業 now as I was when you cornered old Healey like a dingo in a 罠（にかける） to keep her a 囚人 and shoot my horse under me when I made a fair and square 申し込む／申し出 of marriage that the girl 手配中の，お尋ね者 to 受託する. All the world knows that, and that an old 乾燥した，日照りのd-up Death Adder like you couldn't get a young woman to love you for your own pretty old hide."
"Is that all you have to say?"
"All, except that I hope your horse rolls on you and breaks your neck—soon! Have you anything to say to me?"
"Only that if I catch you within twenty miles of any of my 境界s I'll blow your brains out."
"All 権利, then, see that you 扱う／治療する Aileen 適切に. There are plenty who will let me know if you don't."
"You go to hell and mind your own 商売／仕事."
Thus they separated. Dice was in high spirits, feeling himself on 最高の，を越す of the 状況／情勢 as he returned to the house to say good-bye to his hostess.
"I wonder if there is any truth in the things they say about him and Mrs Stanton," 発言／述べるd Mrs Harry to Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く as they watched him 出発／死.
"The difference in attraction is so 広大な／多数の／重要な, one could not wonder, and if people have no 創立／基礎 for gossip, they'll gossip without," replied Mrs （頭が）ひょいと動く.
"Yes. I'm いつかs afraid they'll concoct an 事件／事情／状勢 between old Mr Blenkinsop and me, when he stays so long."
"I don't want much more of Mr Blenkinsop's company after what I heard over the river. I must tell you the unexpurgated story of his antics at the Bool Bool Show that time, as soon as we have a chance."
This, till the intervals of the search, had not reached Mrs Milford. Mrs Labosseer had not considered it Christian to tell her daughter when home for her confinement anything beyond that Mr Blenkinsop was inclined to drink and had to be kept out of town. The old man was not such an ornament as of yore. His prestige was gone and he was ますます 扶養家族 upon the Christian charity and 歓待 of Mrs Labosseer and her daughter.
*
Lawrence John 進歩d in the competent 手渡すs of Mrs Harry Milford (née Labosseer) and 非，不，無 so proud of his judgment nor so 正当化するd in his 約束 as Teddy O'Mara. The Yass Tribune, the Queanbeyan Age, the Bool Bool 特使, and the Goulburn 先触れ（する） all carried the story in 十分な, and it was the 栄冠を与える of Teddy's career to know that he was prominently について言及するd as Mr Edward O'Mara.
Aileen lost somewhat her distraught 表現 with the days and could reply 普通は when 演説（する）／住所d, but she never spoke unless 演説（する）／住所d. Milly's mother was ill content to be out of such a big event, so （機の）カム up from Turrill Turrill to take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金.
SP-over-J was relieved to let Lucy have her way. She superintended—rather dictated—the return of Aileen to Ten Creeks, and with the 援助（する） of Milly ran everything. Aileen was like a child, which was せいにするd to the 緊張する she had undergone. SP-over-J was not unkind to her, 単に indifferent, but that no one 特に 公式文書，認めるd. It was the most comfortable 明言する／公表する of 事件／事情／状勢s for Aileen. She had never been assertive. Stanton's notion of throwing her out of doors evaporated. He knew the truth of what Dice had said. Dice might have fooled a little with Aileen, but to make a bobbery about it would expose and advertise his own 失敗 as an 年輩の husband 同様に as a young lover. His 契約ing arteries left him いっそう少なく and いっそう少なく insurgently virile. The easiest 政策 was to keep 静かな and 許す 事柄s to drift.
Lucy Saunders advised a stay in Sydney for Lawrence John under some 著名な specialist for 注目する，もくろむs and ears. To this Stanton agreed if Lucy would go too and take 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金, which she was more than ready to do. Milly 堅固に 発表するd her 意向 of remaining at Ten Creeks with her uncle, and he was delighted to have her. Her mother 示唆するd several 後見人-companions. To these Milly scornfully 反対するd.
"You can take care of me, can't you, Uncle, better than anyone else?" she said, swinging on his arm, which to him was the one 有望な spontaneously affectionate oasis in an arid stretch.
"I'll try, Milly, if it takes a gun and baits," he said, almost jocularly.
"You be sure that she behaves," said her mother.
Norah Alfreda was developing into a wonderful child whose fond parents had no 疑問 of her genius. The thought of her remained terrifying to Larry. Norah せいにするd her brother's 失敗 to visit her to his devotion to Ten Creeks Run—and Milly. Norah 楽しみd in this, for she was fond of Milly and felt that 所有／入手 of Norah Alfreda would he more 安全な・保証する if Larry married someone other than Dot.
To Dot, likewise, the thought of the child was objectionable. Her family never について言及するd it, and should some 部外者 talk of the prodigy produced by the funny old pair at Billy-go-Billy, Dot would slip from the room. She was doing her 義務 invincibly as housekeeper and nurse to her mother, who was ますます 充てるd to the cultivation of rheumatism, bunions, indigestion, and such respectable afflictions. 前進するing age was curtailing Mrs Saunders's perpetual 最大の関心事 with the petty mechanics of physical 存在, and having nothing mental or spiritual to take its place, her 病気s, real and 心配するd, were her hobby.
Dot became no いっそう少なく aloof. The spirited young woman had grown silent and retiring. For a time all the family had been eager to 配置する／処分する／したい気持ちにさせる of her matrimonially, but her rigidity 築くd a 障壁 against amorous 前進するs. The family 受託するd this after a time. "We can afford one old maid," they said. She would be 不可欠の as a 管理人 for Pa and Ma as they became troublesome. The old people also 創立者d in this 態度. Only Dot articulated no opinion about her past, 現在の, or 未来.
There were still admirers. Her smart comeliness of shoulder and waist and fair 直面する made her 望ましい. Dice 設立する the wistfulness that had crept across her features like a 隠す, 控訴，上告ing. Gentleness rather than courage or wilfulness always attracted him. He was curious how so strangely different a Dot could have developed and cock-of-the-walkily inclined to せいにする it to her 失敗 with himself. They met at church, to which he いつかs drove his mother, and Dot's 無関心／冷淡 reawakened his 利益／興味. せいにするing her demeanour to pique did not fit with the difficulty in 再度捕まえるing her favour. Soon it was Dot's 直面する instead of Aileen's that filled his dreams and he became a たびたび（訪れる） 訪問者 at Saunders Plains.
SP-over-J heard this with 救済. Any sure 処分 of Dice was より望ましい to his 存在 a devourer in the neighbourhoods of Ten Creeks or Turrill Turrill, and since Dot had not known enough to take her good chances, let her make Dice 安全な.
No 解任する reached Dice from Aileen, Milly, or anyone else, so he flattered himself that he had retired from the field in 十分な 所有／入手 of his 刺激（する）s. "Things all 権利 between Aileen and the old Death Adder?" he 問い合わせd casually of Larry one day in Bool Bool.
"Of course, and likely to remain so, if you don't go 事実上の／代理 the goat again."
"No danger of that. You'll never see me within twenty miles of that zoo again unless by 事故."
*
"Ronald Dice is running after Dot Saunders now fit to break his neck," said Mrs Isaacs in M'Haffety's 私的な parlour.
"Sure, thin, there wasn't anny truth about him getting into trouble with ould SP-over-J."
"It was true enough, but men run 一連の会議、交渉／完成する from one to the other. A girl that 始める，決めるs too much 蓄える／店 on a man is laying up sorrer for herself."
"'Twould be a good way of settlin' Dot an' clearin' up the trouble with ould SP-over-J. It's curious, if there was anny truth in what you said of Dot, that it niver 漏れるd out."
"Must have come off before its time and that's how it was so 平易な hushed up. It must have given old Saunders the pip, though, 支払う／賃金ing up for it. A thing like that is not managed without a good sum of money. I hear Aily's little boy's 注目する，もくろむs are likely to 回復する."
"Sure, people was sayin' it was a judgment on her, and thin by a 奇蹟 she's got her choild aloive."
"Maybe she's taken the 警告 and that's why she sent Dice about his 商売／仕事."
"Oi'm surprised at Lucy Saunders not havin' more sinse than to leave Milly up there の中で all those men like wolves. Sure, some women niver learn. That's the next trouble we'll be hearin' of, beloike."
Something of such babble reached Milly's ears. Her only companion of her own sex for days at a time was Jane Humphreys, whose 悪名高い stepmother was not married to her father, her real husband 存在 占領するd with "doing time" for sheep-stealing from Brennan's Gap. The Humphreys family had a hut on a 選択 in the scrub between Wamgambril and Goraig 押し寄せる／沼地s, reputedly a 沈む of iniquity at those seasons when Biverina shore, and old Humphreys went 負かす／撃墜する the River as slushy or 半端物 man about the sheds. Jane was all ears to the gossip that 注ぐd through Ten Creeks kitchen, and Milly not 十分に experienced or other-worldly not at times to be 利益／興味d in Jane's divulgences.
"They say, 行方不明になる Milly, that Mr Ron Dice is now kitin' off every Saturday night to stay at Saunders Plains. Ain't he just a proper lady-殺し屋! He's such a flirt he can't help himself. He'd throw sheep's 注目する，もくろむs at me if there was no one else about. He is a 四肢!" Giggles 証言するd to Jane's unqualified 賞賛.
She could not understand that she was cutting Milly's heart with the jagged 辛勝する／優位s of a broken ideal. It was one of Milly's 悲劇s that no one understood. She had to work her way alone through this 衝突，墜落 of something 決定的な from heaven to the mud. No one knew how she was 苦しむing nor was 有能な of understanding why. The men would only laugh and make coarse variations of the depopulation 主題 used by Potter and Dice; the women would 扱う／治療する it as something in regard to men not to be cured and therefore to be 耐えるd without vulgarity. She ached to tell it all to Uncle Bert, feeling that his understanding would 含む sympathy, though even he had failed her by absence at this 危機.
She kept away from Bool Bool because of the stories of Ronald's 追跡 of Dot. Flora or Rose Farquharson いつかs kept her company at Ten Creeks, visits pleasant to both of these, who 設立する Cuppinbingle there too, and they were willing to overlook his premarital gallantries so long as he would settle 負かす／撃墜する afterwards. Milly's favourites were the Milfords and she often went over the river for a night or longer. Mrs Harry's baby was an attraction, and Ignez, who played the piano by ear to the wonder of the 地区, worshipped Milly in a way that was 特に heartening to her just then. She 可決する・採択するd the little girl as her sister and they swore eternal fealty. In imitation of herself and Uncle Bert, Milly made a compact that should Ignez ever be in difficulties Milly would 救助（する） her, and the little girl 調印（する）d the 約束 in a precocious and hypersensitive memory.
*
At that date Uncle Bert wrote that Sparr and Leamington's circus in its entirety was coming to Goulburn. Constable Purkis 知らせるd him that the man who 成し遂げるd with the blue roan under the 指名する of Broncho 法案 was in reality William 屈服するs. Poole 手配中の，お尋ね者 to know what Milly thought about seeing the circus in Goulburn, for it was hardly likely that Flash Billy would 投機・賭ける to Yass or Queanbeyan.
Milly replied that it would not do for him to 危険 travelling at 現在の, that she might get Uncle Jack to take her to Goulburn to see the pony herself. This letter was written to cover Milly's 限定された 計画（する）s. Since Poole was not 利用できる, she turned to the eager Larry as her 器具. He was on 手渡す like the hardy sunflower each Sunday. She had 設立する him the most 同情的な companion 利用できる for weeks. He was the happiest of all by Dice's deflection に向かって Dot. Such a union would take Dot clean off his 良心 and settle the fascinating Ronald.
Milly spoke to him one Saturday night. "Larry, I want you to do something very important for me. I must have someone I can depend on."
"You know I would do anything in the world for you if you would only do one little thing for me."
"Yes, but I need a true friend like Uncle Bert who would do anything for me out of friendship and not want this silliness in return."
"You can 信用 me. 実験（する） me in any way you like. I can't pretend that I want to be your uncle, but you'll find me Johnny-on-thespot."
"And you won't want something in return?"
"No. I'll be dead square, and if you don't want me I shan't squeal about it after."
Under 誓約（する）s of secrecy Milly explained all she 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd about the blue roan. Her 決意 was to go to Goulburn, slip into the circus, and, if she 認めるd Romp, deliberately 誘拐する her and make home without 合法性s.
Larry could scarcely believe his ears. In his clay-dreams Milly was 絶えず in some discreditable 状況／情勢 from which she could be redeemed only by becoming his wife. Here without his own 計画／陰謀ing was a congenial adventure, for which he was eminently fitted, and which would throw Milly into his company for two or three days—unchaperoned.
He dissimulated his exultation. Milly not wanting to be engaged to him! Whew! She might 同様に be married to him at once as this! To all 外見s it was an elopement: all that was unplanned was the parson to tie the knot at the finish. He must be careful not to alarm Milly at the beginning. He took up the 企業 with a surety that commended him to her, and planned with care. He also 供給するd the money necessary, which might have been beyond Milly. They were to ride to Queanbeyan, thence to Goulburn by train.
The circus was to be in Goulburn three nights—Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Milly, having laid her 計画（する）s, told her uncle she was going over to Jinninjinninbong to stay with Ignez.
"All 権利, you can stay over there for the 残り／休憩（する） of the week if you like, or you can come with me to Stanton's Plains, for I have 商売／仕事 in Bool Bool this Saturday. But what about Jane? You had better take her too, and she can help Mrs Milford."
"She was crying about 存在 homesick the other day. You could 減少（する） her at the 選択 as you go and 選ぶ her up as you come 支援する. She might get a bit 今後 at Jinninjinninbong."
"Oh, very 井戸／弁護士席. To be 安全な you had better stay with Mrs Milford till I send for you. I'm 推定する／予想するing a wire that might take me to Riverina."
"All 権利. To make sure, supposing I come 支援する a week from Friday?"
"All 権利. Your aunt and your mother might be home by then too."
The way seemed miraculously （疑いを）晴らすd. Milly 棒 away to
Jinninjinninbong with a rouseabout, as far as the 境界, to let 負かす／撃墜する the 激しい slip-パネル盤. Ignez was enraptured to see her, and Mrs Milford 温かく 圧力（をかける）d her to stay a week. Milly, however, explained that she was on the way to Keba to stay with the Farquharsons while her uncle went to Riverina, and she had come by Jinninjinninbong for the better 跡をつける.
"Someone must go with you," said （頭が）ひょいと動く Milford. 抗議する was unavailing. "I couldn't let you go over that crossing alone. It's a 法外な, slippery bank."
"If you'd just see me over the river that would do."
After supper they were surprised by the arrival of Larry Healey, who said that two of his 損なうs had been seen making に向かって 境界 Creek. One of them had been foaled out に向かって 開始する Corroboree.
"Looks like a put-up 職業 to me," said Milford to his wife. "But I suppose it's 非，不，無 of our 商売／仕事. The girl is too good for Larry, but if her mother doesn't keep a better 注目する，もくろむ on her, I can't."
Larry spoke to put the Milfords off the 跡をつける. "Are you going my way in the morning?"
"I'm not going 支援する to Ten Creeks," Milly replied. "Are you?"
"Not till tomorrow night. I'm going に向かって Corroboree first."
"Then you can see me on the way to Keba and Mr Milford need not be troubled."
"Ah, Milly, you can't deceive me like that. I believe you and Larry are eloping."
"No such luck," said Larry.
"Don't take any notice," said Mrs Milford, noticing Milly's 混乱. "The men always think we are dymg to elope with them."
"You can't 否定する it. That's what happens all the time."
"Yes, when we go silly, and you don't know how many are sorry afterwards," retorted Mrs Milford good-humouredly.
Larry 護衛するd Milly next morning, but Milford went too. He was 満足させるd when he saw Milly past Dingo Sideling and Larry gone に向かって the 支援する of Corroboree. Milly was permitted to go the last ten miles to Keba alone. Behind a pinnacle she reined in and was, after waiting, 再結合させるd by Larry, who said he had watched Milford genuinely turning 支援する across the Coolgarbilli.
"I'm afraid he was 怪しげな all the same," said Milly, but so long as he did not 失望させる their 計画（する）s, Milford's 疑惑s were what Larry 願望（する）d, who cared little about 救助（する）ing the blue roan and immensely about 妥協ing Milly.
They reached Queanbeyan and caught the train. In Goulburn Larry 提案するd to call Milly his sister and put up at the 商業の, but Milly's horse sense stood to her. She had the 演説（する）／住所 of a most 模範的な 搭乗-house where her mother had stayed when visiting a dentist. As her mother's daughter she was welcomed. Her story that she had come to 会合，会う her mother was also readily 受託するd by Mrs Wilson. The story of the lost Lawrence John was known to her and she was 利益／興味d to hear of him. Milly said she would visit a friend, whom she hoped would take her to the circus. This also was plausible. Milly was a girl who won the 信用 of older ladies.
Larry, as a disguise, had a three-days' 耐えるd, which was effectual and almost more than he could 耐える in 接触する with Milly, but her 是認 was 支えるing. With a slouch hat 井戸／弁護士席 turned 負かす／撃墜する and a dark handkerchief 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck it would have taken a searching ちらりと見ること in the shade of the テントs to （悪事，秘密などを）発見する the usually spruce Larry. He 安全な・保証するd seats in a nook where they could hunch behind their 隣人s.
There was no difficulty in 認めるing Flash Billy in Broncho 法案, with his wonderful mustang from the plains of Arizona, where on the biggest ranch in the world he had lassoed more steers in a day than had ever been seen on the tin-マリファナ cattle-runs of New South むちの跡s. So said the barker.
Milly was so excited when the mustang Prairie Nell appeared that she thrilled Larry by しっかり掴むing his arm. Milly had no 疑問s about it 存在 her own lost friend from the moment she entered the （犯罪の）一味, the carriage and contour were unmistakable to one who knew horses. Larry was 類似して 納得させるd but 願望（する）d proofs before taking 活動／戦闘. He did not relish the 可能性 of 存在 逮捕（する）d for horse-stealing, a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 that would 落ちる on him rather than on Milly. It was three years now since the Young Whisker filly had disappeared—time for her to have had a two-year-old the spit of herself. This beast had Romp's crest and croup, her gait, and every other point, but she had a big 星／主役にする on her forehead, two white hind-hoofs, and a curious white patch on the hindquarter.
"That's whitewash," said Milly. "It's too white to be real. I once made a piebald of Lady Lochinvar for fun, so I know."
The pony 成し遂げるd with mettle and precision and won the hearts of an up-country 集会 by her pluck at the high jump and through the 炎ing hoops in 人工的な light, by the way she sat 負かす／撃墜する and lay 負かす／撃墜する, and finished by divesting herself of Broncho 法案 and every shred of 取り組む without breaking a buckle.
"Aw," muttered Larry to the man in 前線 of him, taking care to keep out of sight, "I bet if I saddled her she wouldn't get out of the girths so easily."
"No, nor me," replied the man, who happened to be 米，稲 Leary, the trainer from Cuppinbingle, with just enough alcohol under his waistcoat to （判決などを）下す him mellow.
"Why don't you challenge him?" said Larry. This was all that Leary needed. He shouted to Broncho 法案. That gentleman was most 融通するing. He made an 告示 in an assumed nasal twang.
"I guess an' calkerlate any gent that likes can come an' girth this little mustang of the prairies and the result will be just the same."
"All 権利, sonny, let me have a go at her." Leary went into the （犯罪の）一味, and as he passed, Larry whispered, "There's a young lady here thinks the white 位置／汚点／見つけ出すs are only put on; just find out."
"権利 you are," said Leary, pleased by a （売買）手数料，委託（する）／委員会／権限 from a girl. He buckled the 損なう cruelly tight and wiped his coat-sleeve on her ４半期/4分の1 and 捨てるd his boot on her hoof, Milly 即時に 公式文書，認めるing the white on Leary's coat and boot. It is hard to deceive the ingrained bushman about a horse that is a personal friend. He can usually be depended upon to 認める after two years or so a horse he has seen only once or twice. As the points of an old master to a connoisseur of pictures, so are the brand, age, sex, 産む／飼育する—all the points of a horse—to a man 後部d の中で them. It is also 直感的に. Might 同様に tell a man he wouldn't 認める his wife.
The 権利 prick to her 側面に位置する and Romp jumped out of her 取り組む as before, and was led away まっただ中に 広大な／多数の／重要な enthusiasm. Leary returned to his seat and was thanked by Larry from the 後部, who to explain his curiosity said, "Those 示すs are put on to make her look like a mustang."
"She looks damn' like the Young Whisker 産む／飼育する to me," said Leary.
"You're 権利. You wait going out and have a 阻止する with me."
Broncho 法案 now gave place to the marvellous equestrienne, Mademoiselle Yvonne. Prairie Nell was out of this 行為／法令／行動する, and in her place half a dozen snow-white cart- or plough-horses of wide spread convenient for the tableaux of hoops, tights, etc. Larry and Milly 公式文書，認めるd that it was a big 行為／法令／行動する engaging 非常に／多数の 手渡すs 同様に as performers, and 出発／死d to take their bearings. Larry raced Milly to Mrs Wilson's in a cab and was 支援する again to keep his 任命.
Leary was enthusiastic about Larry's 計画（する） and eager to earn a quid or two, because he was "broke", and put to it to get 支援する to Cuppinbingle without walking. Larry had to make sure that Leary kept reasonably sober and held his tongue for the next thirty hours or so. He was calculating that Flash Billy would hardly make a fight for the pony and lay himself open to a 宣告，判決 for horse-stealing.
Larry arranged for a horse-box on the Queanbeyan 支店 of the train for Friday night. The 無断占拠者s on that line 設立する no trouble in 存在 融通するd, and Larry and Leary 行為／法令／行動するd for Potter of Cuppinbingle with 納得させるing 保証／確信.
They were to 掴む Prairie Nell next night while the main 行為／法令／行動する was 雇うing most of the circus-手渡すs. In this Mademoiselle Yvonne 行為／法令／行動するd with her greys, the clowns with their 黒人／ボイコットs, the trapeze artists hung like monkeys from their 膝s above, and the 観客s were engrossed.
Milly left Mrs Wilson happily, that good lady never 疑問ing that she was to 会合，会う her mother. The night trains passed Goulburn at such an hour that no one except of necessity met them. Milly stole into the first half of the circus again to pass the time, and from there was to go to the waiting-room at the 鉄道 駅／配置する.
Leary was again to the fore. Tonight he bet that he could ride Prairie Nell without 存在 thrown. The （人が）群がる took it up with a whoop. Flash Billy had すぐに 認めるd his fellow trainer of earlier years, and was happy that 米，稲 was taking him 本気で as Broncho 法案. He was, however, uneasy, and thankful that after Goulburn his 分割 of the circus was to go to the northern towns. His 所有／入手 of the pony was 安全な・保証する in a general way. He held a 領収書 showing that she had been 購入（する）d out of Tumbarumba 続けざまに猛撃する. He had seen to that as 早期に as practicable. A 続けざまに猛撃する 領収書 for a horse was as good as a Torrens 肩書を与える for land. This （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） had been 供給（する）d to Poole by the police. The only way to 回復する 所有／入手 of the horse 合法の would be to open the 事例／患者 through the police—a very tricky 事例／患者, but likely to go hard with 屈服するs in the end, for Milly had a hoof of the horse that had been killed as a blind, and the circumstances of 屈服するs's 解雇／（訴訟の）却下 could be adduced. Larry agreed with Milly that 所有／入手 of Romp would most likely settle 事柄s without その上の trouble. He might 同様に have whistled up 勝利，勝つd as tried to show Milly any importance in 憲法の methods.
With a woman's 施設 in leaping fusty entanglements of 法律 and its roundabout 推論する／理由ing she had tried the 事例／患者 and settled it on its 長所s—正確に，正当に, too. There was her very own darling. She had known from the beginning that Flash Billy had taken her. He had played a cruel, mean trick with another horse of 類似の hide to put them off the 跡をつける, but Milly had not been deceived. Nearly three years had her precious pet been in the 手渡すs of the enemy, doing tricks for idiots to laugh at. As for Billy's silly old 続けざまに猛撃する 領収書, a wombat with a blind 注目する，もくろむ could see that that didn't count. The impudence of that insufferable Billy!
Larry chortled: if Milly stood 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金d there wasn't a juryman in the Southern 地区 who would go against her.
米，稲 Leary was thrown, to the joy of the （人が）群がる, and stood up scratching his 長，率いる and clowning rather 井戸／弁護士席. His drunkenness this time was feigned. He followed the pony out, muttering and 非難するing the Mexican saddle. Most of the 手渡すs were now in the big テント. Leary 再現するd with a racing pad and his own bridle—he did not want to （判決などを）下す himself liable for the 窃盗 of such articles. He 主張するd upon resaddling. The boy in 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 thought it was all part of the 業績／成果 and watched him 開始する with a grin, but 米，稲 was not the smartest trainer on Cuppinbingle without something in his coconut, if it was only cunning. While the boy stood 支援する to let him enter in the wake of the 黒人／ボイコットs and greys, 米，稲 drove the pony 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the wagons and guy-ropes, and was gone like a streak. The boy, bewildered for the moment, thought the man drunk and the pony bolting. Broncho and the boss, all the people of 当局, were engaged. The 脅すd lout ran first to cooks and understrappers; before he could get anyone to take him 本気で Romp was 存在 led into her box on the train where a dainty supper and 冷静な／正味の drink を待つd her, and Milly began kissing her and crying over her like a long-lost sister. When it （機の）カム to the attention of Broncho 法案 he said, "I know that bloke though he don't know me, an' it won't be hard to get 持つ／拘留する of the pony again." The 続けざまに猛撃する 領収書 held good against 米，稲 and his ilk.
*
Larry and Milly were both in an excitedly happy 明言する／公表する, though for different 推論する／理由s.
"I say, Milly, don't you think I deserve a kiss too. I'm as good as a horse, surely?"
"Not so good as Romp. No man is as good as she is except Uncle Bert, and he gave her to me."
Larry sighed prodigiously. Milly relented. "I really am so happy that I might give you a kiss when we get 安全に home, but we mustn't do anything silly now; I'll go 支援する to the waiting-room so that I shan't attract attention. I'm going to 令状 a letter to Billy." Larry joined her later to 株 a packet of refreshments.
Broncho 法案's work was done and he took on the 追跡 of the どろぼう himself. He followed the Yass road nearly out to Breadalbane, but no one was abroad at that hour to 知らせる him if such a beast and rider had been seen. He had not noticed Milly or Larry, and while he puzzled for a 手がかり（を与える） or 跡をつける never guessed that Romp was in her box at the 駅／配置する.
米，稲 was hidden in the box with Romp. As the train started Larry 手渡すd him his reward and the letter that he was to 配達する. 米，稲 lay low till next morning when he gave a boy sixpence to 行為／法令／行動する postman, while he popped on a "goods" and unostentatiously 出発／死d for good old Cuppinbingle, where 行方不明になる Milly's adventure lost nothing in the telling.
Milly's letter ran:
To William 屈服するs,
I knew you took Romp from the start and killed another horse to deceive me. I have taken her home with me tonight. I shall tell the police in Queanbeyan and Yass.
Mildred Saunders.
When Flash Billy read that, he knew his 共同 with Prairie Nell was ended, and firstly 悪口を言う／悪態d his stupidity to have 投機・賭けるd into the 地域, and secondly was filled with 後援ing 悔いる that he had not 安全な・保証するd a foal. Such a prodigy could not escape from the circus without 悔いる from all, from slushies to 星／主役にするs. Young Sparr was for enlisting the police from Goulburn to Albury, but Flash Billy said, "No go! The 続けざまに猛撃する 領収書 might do for the police, but not for that —— of a girl. Damn her for a ——. Her people are the toffs of Bool Bool—there ain't no 飛行機で行くs on her. The 損なう and her dam was gave to her by Curradoobidgee Poole, another geebung, him that shickercd up all the bushrangers on his own in his day, and is still run after by all the girls because his sweetheart, the beautiful Emily Mazere, was drownded. Milly has only to let a squawk outer her an' the whole 炎上ing country would be agin us buzzing like mad blowflies. I'll make meself 不十分な droving in Queensland till it blows over. I wish I knew if they'll reely 始める，決める the police on me or not."
"If that's the 事例／患者, a walking ticket is the best thing for you, I reckon, but any time it's 安全な I'll have a place for you and another Prairie Nell."
Sparr was not unduly perturbed. It was not the first time his canvas had covered a 血 animal to which the 肩書を与える was insecure. He considered the Southern 地区 in general 借りがあるd him something in horse-flesh. An Arab creamy, cleverest beast ever 趣旨ing to come from the テントs of the Ouled Nayl, had escaped from his grandfather's circus in Melbourne at the end of the forties, and it was rumoured that he lived thereafter in the direction of the Bulla Bulla Mountains 近づく the New South むちの跡s 国境, and had there raised the brumby lineage. Sparr said he wouldn't be surprised if Prairie Nell 借りがあるd him something. Her ４半期/4分の1s and staying 力／強力にするs and tight-tucked belly 示唆するd it.
"That won't give you no （人命などを）奪う，主張する to her with young Milly. All the country would take her 味方する at onct."
"And that blotched brand wouldn't help you much, Broncho. It's no use having a decent swell girl like that against you," agreed Sparr. "Damn the women! They're a 悪口を言う／悪態 anyhow, but we can't get on without 'em. A pity that girl isn't the other sort. We could have made her an 申し込む／申し出 then, and she would be a big draw with her pony."
In the nineties, girls were still of several "sorts"; professional demi-mondaines and society amateurs had not yet formed a 連合.
*
Milly settled herself in a ladies' carriage, where there were also two 修道女s. Larry could not intrude, so had to …に出席する Romp and content himself till the morrow.
It was a peerless summer morning of the 地域, with sunlight glistening like 泡s over Queanbeyan and Canberra Plains as they 始める，決める their 直面するs に向かって the panorama running 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the horizon, pinked out with the Tinderies and Tidbinbillies, blue as the sky against which they were 輪郭（を描く）d. Over the nearer rolling widths the spire of Canberra church （機の）カム to 見解（をとる） in its Plain, and 開始する Ainslie. Beyond that rose the ramparts of the Murrumbidgee and Coolgarbilli 範囲s sentinelled at one end by 黒人／ボイコット Corroboree, and streaming on in another direction to the Bogongs, Michelagos, and Muniongs. They 棒 gaily, each with a splendid beast under, and Romp saucily trotting beside Milly at the end of a light halter. Milly would not ゆだねる her pet to Larry, and her ちらりと見ることs 残り／休憩（する）d on her in pure idolatry. Larry laughed wholeheartedly at the perfection of the creature. Her crest, her croup, her carriage, the 投げ上げる／ボディチェックする of her muzzle as she 消すd her native 微風s 急ぐing wide from old Monaro, were 満足させるing to the 専門家. Merrily their hoofs rang as they sped, with a saddle-捕らえる、獲得する of 準備／条項s, and a choice of sparkling streams for the billy-boiling. Larry was 高度に excited. He had 決定するd that Milly should 降伏する and their 約束／交戦 be 発表するd as the culmination of this adventure.
Milly was thinking rather on the same lines, though not so happily; there was something of 敗北・負かす in her 態度. Through the 落ちる of Ronald she was 苦しむing a mortal 負傷させる to her first conception of love. She had no experience at all to help her に向かって knowledge that such 負傷させるs 傷をいやす／和解させる somewhat with time, that men and women of ideals and sensibilities must 組立て直す their house that is built without 手渡すs, and that after each besiegement and 抵抗, though it may show its scars, it にもかかわらず becomes a more compact edifice. The shame of the disillusionment 混乱に陥れる／中断させるd her, and with the headlong impetuosity of 青年 she 手配中の，お尋ね者 to hurl something into the 違反. The only thing at 手渡す to her unguided inexperience was Larry Healey. During the last months, never failing, never sparing himself, by sheer assiduity he had won her affection. Always at 手渡す to help her with good nature and dash, in her stricken 明言する／公表する, propinquity had had かなりの 影響. Teens could not conceive that five or even two years hence she would marvel that she could ever have been infatuated with Dice, or that the defection of a man so ordinary could have 負傷させるd so 深く，強烈に. What she needed just then was an understanding friend to 除去する her to a change of mind and associates, 反して she was 完全に alone.
Marriage was the natural end of women as Milly knew them. To be an old maid in that time and 地域 was 失敗, and Milly was too strong and wholesome to 受託する that. This 存在 her 明言する／公表する of mind, Larry, she supposed, was as good as anyone. He would be something 有形の heaped into the chasm of her 不名誉 in having placed her affections upon Ronald, her aunt's...Milly knew no word to 述べる the vile and unmentionable 関係.
"You can nearly always hear the pheasants here," said Larry, when they were 残り／休憩（する）ing on the tussocks at Pheasant Creek, を待つing the billy for the tea. "I've いつかs seen half a dozen at a time." As he spoke a beautiful cock bird に先行するd by his lady passed 負かす／撃墜する the sideling in spasmodic flight, and soon they heard the mimicked sound of chopping. Larry was trying to come to his point, but Milly held him off, talking about the 軸s of sunlight hundreds of feet long flickering through the 丸天井d roof of gum-trees.
"Now, where are we going?" she 問い合わせd, as they got under way again. "I can't go 支援する to Ten Creeks, as Uncle Jack is away. I'm supposed to be at Keba, but I don't like going there with Romp."
"No. We can't go there and have them gabbing like a lot of old magpies." Larry was not going to have Alistair Farquharson intruding upon his adventure. "Let's ride through to Wamgambril Springs and give Joanna a surprise. That will be all square for both of us."
"All 権利. Let's go there and see the new baby."
"Golly, it's fun to think of old Dan as a dad!"
"He can't be half as funny as old Alf Timson!"
This was a shivering thought to Larry. He sheered off.
"There will be a 雷鳴ing dust-up when it 漏れるs out what we've been up to."
"I don't care. Romp is 地雷. Flash Billy せねばならない be 起訴するd for horse-stealing."
"It's not that so much, but you and me going away together that will make the bobbery. Every old woman from here to Goulburn will be wagging her 長，率いる and her tongue."
"Let them!"
"I don't like to think how they will 非難する me for getting a 中傷する cast upon you. Let's 発表する our 約束／交戦. That would choke 'em off. What do you say?"
Larry was agitated under his casual phrases. Milly 答える／応じるd so 事柄-of-factly as to 示す that she had pondered the question.
"I suppose I might marry you some day, but there is no hurry." She had been 慣例的に wise enough before choosing Larry-as her partner in the 請け負うing to realize what it 伴う／関わるd to her 評判, though she had never before shown the slightest 調印する of 降伏する. This was too much for Larry's equilibrium. He embraced her so violently that he nearly 解除するd her from her horse. Milly pulled herself 解放する／自由な, clicked to Romp and Merrylegs, and went off at a smart gallop.
"This is too wonderful to be real," he shouted, coming up with her on a stiff sideling. 近づく at 手渡す the birds sported の中で the shrubs of a creek. From below, the music of the Coolgarbilli まっただ中に its grey 激しく揺するs, moss-carpeted, （機の）カム up to them as it 泡，激怒することd on its way to old Mother of Waters.
"It won't be real if you 行為／法令／行動する like that before I say you may," said Milly, and he saw that she was not 単に 刺激するing him to その上の demonstration.
"You must 推定する／予想する a fellow to go off his nut a bit under such good news as that."
"I only said I supposed I would some day. Lots of things have to be considered first."
"Let's consider 'em at once and get the thing done."
"What would we live on?"
"That's 平易な. Times must mend before long. I can get the 管理／経営 of one of the summer runs for a start, and from that work into a 所有物／資産／財産 of my own. With you to work for I could do as much as three ordinary men."
"That's the 長，指導者 thing that Mother and Uncle Jack and the Uncles Saunders will think about."
について言及する of the Saunders uncles made Larry uneasy. Could he count on their need to keep the スキャンダル with Dot 静かな to let him and Milly 進歩 into matrimony 反対者のない? The thing was to make sure of Milly first. 所有／入手! 所有／入手 that could not be 取り消すd was what he needed.
"There's something I think a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定 more about than 所有物／資産／財産," said Milly, after a pause.
"What is that?"
"Morals."
"Morals!" It fell like a whip-割れ目 on the sunny afternoon, delicious under the pendent peppermint 支店s that Milly reached up and clutched now and again for the refreshing perfume and flavour of the grey-green leaves, like silken 略章s.
"What do you mean by morals?" he 問い合わせd, with a laugh, but inward 混乱.
"I mean just morals—whether one has good morals or not."
"There's nothing up with your morals, Milly my queen, and I'll try to live up to them 同様に as I can, but it's not so 平易な for a man as a woman, you know."
"I don't see why. You all say that like a lot of weak-minded nincompoops."
"Not by long chalks; even the parsons know it's not so 平易な for a man as a woman."
"I still don't see why. It's just men's excuse so they don't have to behave themselves."
"You've only got to ask the doctors or read a 医療の 調書をとる／予約する. Golly, if it wasn't so, the world's 全住民..."
Milly intimated to her horses that she 手配中の，お尋ね者 a spurt, and with 電気の 返答 they raced 負かす／撃墜する a gully into a streamlet, their hoofs splashing the water over the 追求するing Larry, then up a rise, 乱すing gyang-gyangs and 黒人／ボイコット cockatoos. Milly was sickened by this 繰り返し言うd bleat of the men. It was disgusting that the wonder of a lovely little baby of one's very own should 残り／休憩（する） upon such vulgar horror. Ugh! She would not marry at all, no 事柄 what anyone said about old maids.
When it became necessary to pull rein, Larry returned to the 主題. "I don't want to hear that," 抗議するd Milly. "It was something personal and special that I was thinking of."
"Let's get to the 底（に届く） of it."
"I hardly like について言及するing it. It is so embarrassing, since one must never go upon mere gossip," said the earnest disciple of Uncle Bert.
"I never take any notice of anything I hear—lot of old magpies with the evil minds of crows, that's what most people are."
"But when it 関心s my closest life, it is better to have it （疑いを）晴らすd up."
"What is it—that I got drunk with the （人が）群がる the night of Aileen's wedding?"
"I never heard that—you horrid dirty creature! No, it is something different."
To Larry it seemed that his heart was 続けざまに猛撃するing as noisily as his horse's hoofs. Could she know anything about Dot? Surely not. Or had someone lumped him の中で those who visited Mrs Humphreys at Cherry Tree Hill? He was not going to 供給（する） その上の （警察などへの）密告，告訴（状） of his misdeeds in groping 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. Why couldn't he make her understand that the way he worshipped her made him feel like a god? Any previous mistakes through ignorance or boyish flashness were flooded away by what love of her 明らかにする／漏らすd.
Milly 神経d herself to the ugly thing. She looked straight between Merrylegs's beautifully 形態／調整d ears. "Is it true what—oh, what they say about you and Dot Saunders?"
The 揺さぶる was as 厳しい as if his horse had slipped off the cattle-pad 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the sideling and landed on a ledge lower 負かす／撃墜する. Hell and 炎s! Sulphur and damnation!
"Good God!" he ejaculated, a genuinely astounded utterance. The Dot 事件／事情／状勢, to the best of his belief, was unknown to SP-over-J or Dice, and yet Milly could bring it out to him on the cattle-跡をつけるs of the Murrumbidgee 範囲s. If it had reached her the country must be （犯罪の）一味ing with it, and he the only ostrich with his 長，率いる in the mud. He jerked himself together. Milly could not know the facts. Some flirtation had come to her ears and she was jealous—flattering and 安心させるing 結論.
"Dot is your own cousin, the jolly smartest and best-looking girl in the country, no 事柄 what I am, surely no one could say anything about her unless they were liars, and mighty dirty ones to boot."
"People are liars, I know, and have no sense of delicacy, they don't feel about things as I do, but they would surely never dare to say such things about a woman like Dot unless there is some truth in them."
"Is it about Dot only, or about Dot and me?" 問い合わせd Larry, 用心深い of putting his foot in a 穴を開ける.
"If there is any truth in what has come to me, it would be a terrible thing for you to be trying to marry me: you せねばならない be married to Dot."
The gyang-gyangs rose in genteelish chorus, the 黒人／ボイコット magpies made music with the button-birds, bower-birds, and a hundred others through the livelong afternoon, their 公式文書，認めるs （犯罪の）一味ing like an orchestra along the 中心存在d aisles of the tree-覆う？ 範囲s. Larry felt 一連の会議、交渉／完成する for the 権利 thing to say.
"That sounds devilish hard on Dot. Leaving me out of it for the 現在の, I think it's pretty low 負かす／撃墜する for anyone, I don't care who it is, to say such things. The Virgin Mary wouldn't be 安全な from tongues like that, and I don't know of anyone who could get 持つ／拘留する of anything about Dot, she always seems to me as if she could jolly 井戸／弁護士席 take care of herself anywhere."
"I've tried to think like that, too. I hate to give credence to gossip, but it is a different thing when the question of 選ぶing a husband is 関心d. I wouldn't touch any man belonging to anyone else, not even"—she nearly said, "even if I loved him," but she felt this ungracious, and it also took her thoughts to Ronald, whom she had loved にもかかわらず his belonging to someone else and belonging dishonestly.
"You can be やめる at 緩和する about Dot as far as I'm 関心d. She doesn't care a 捨てる for me, as I have 推論する／理由 to know. I buzzed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her a bit in a calf-love sort of way while you were growing up to take my breath away, and she gave me the 冷淡な shoulder the same as she did to ever so many others. Dot has had plenty of admirers ever since she put up her hair."
"This is different from that, too. It's this way, Larry, if it was true I wouldn't marry you even if it broke my heart and killed me not to; so now you understand how I feel."
"I think you せねばならない be pretty 井戸／弁護士席 sure on the 直面する of it that such a thing about Dot wouldn't be true, whatever in 雷鳴 it is."
"I'm just thinking about the best way to proceed. If it is not true, as I was 説, I suppose, 井戸／弁護士席, perhaps we might 同様に get married some day; but if it is true, of course I should think it terrible for you to have dared to ask me to marry you."
"I'm sure as anything that anything as terrible as that is not true, no 事柄 what the devil it is, but how am Ito 証明する it to you? The people who are ready to say things hop away like fleas if you try to bring them up to the scratch about their lies."
"It will be 平易な to settle," said Milly with a quietness that alarmed Larry.
"How?" he asked blankly.
"We'll get to Wamgambril Springs tonight, and tomorrow I'll ride straight to Saunders Plains and ask Dot to tell me the truth. I'll tell her the 推論する／理由 why; besides, she couldn't tell a 嘘（をつく） about such a 猛烈に serious 事柄."
Nemesis 脅すd Larry's day and made a （犯罪の）一味ing in his ears like the evil mess of crows croaking about a beast that had gone clown in a gully at 手渡す.
Here was a facer! Milly going to Dot in her straightforward, 説得力のある way would be the end of the world for him. There was but slender hope of getting at Dot 個人として ahead of Milly. And supposing he threw himself upon Dot's mercy, would she relent, or would she consider it the greater mercy to save Milly from her repudiated partner in parenthood? To have the filling cup dashed from him robbed the adventure of its innocent glory, and Larry 棒 in stony silence for miles considering some expedient to 安全な・保証する Milly to him before Dot could 自白する the 損失ing truth. Passion overcame him. It was sixty miles from Queanbeyan to Dan's 選択 at Wamgambril Springs, and since 早期に morning in the neighbourhood of Canberra they had ridden without 会合 or 追いつくing a soul. Since ten o'clock they had not passed a habitation or gone through a 盗品故買者. The world stretched away in rampart after rampart of 激しく揺する and 山の尾根, gully and 刺激（する） of 無傷の forest, with no human presence but their own. A 十分な eighty miles away to the one 味方する was Monaro and still thirty miles or more to Wamgambril or Goraig Flats. The 影をつくる／尾行するs were lengthening as they left Jinninjinninbong and Ten Creeks to one 味方する.
Larry's desperate 決意 常習的な in the 孤独. Milly had selected him 任意に. The Milfords had 嫌疑者，容疑者／疑うd a planned rendezvous. 米，稲 Leary would spread the news up and 負かす／撃墜する the River. If he held his tongue till he got out of Goulburn it would be as much as he could do. He would never pass Yass without knocking 負かす／撃墜する what remained of his fiver and in the 過程 blabbing as only Leary could. Larry had counted on all this in binding Milly to him, but she was やめる 有能な of jettisoning スキャンダル and 反抗するing 条約 after she had seen Dot. 恐れる of Dot grew to panic. When night fell they were still a long way from Joanna and Dan.
"You've taken the wrong 跡をつける," exclaimed Milly, coming out on a little flat where a 非常に高い dead gum, killed by 雷, stretched a gallows-like silhouette against the darkening west. "We are 権利 out on the way that Uncle Bert 支店s off to Curradoobidgee. We should have been there by now!"
"I was so happy about what you 約束d, I was not thinking about the way. Oh 井戸／弁護士席, let's give the nags a （一定の）期間 and boil the billy' at the old salt-shed before we 押し進める on."
"It will make us so ferociously late getting to Joanna."
"Never mind. Joanna and good old Dan won't scandalmonger on us."
"Others will, though."
"They won't know we have come all the way from Queanbeyan." Milly was hungry and agreed to stop. Larry's idea was to unsaddle the horses and have her in his 力／強力にする. Driven by his fever and his 恐れるs, he decided she was to be his before leaving the salt-shed. But he was only a tiro Tarquin 欠如（する）ing the technique to play with his 支配する till the propitious moment. In his nervousness he 失敗d. As the girl descended upon his shoulder he 鎮圧するd her to him, devouring her with kisses. Milly, stiff, a trifle 疲れた／うんざりした, was 怒り／怒るd and repelled, and struggled from his しっかり掴む. She was not the least alarmed, only resentful that he should be 有罪の of such a 違反 of good taste and etiquette. In the course of moments it swept upon her that a demon had taken the place of her eager, pliant lover. This was no dream either but the reality of such a nightmare as occasionally tormented a girl of that period 後部d in the "コンビナート／複合体" that most men were only kept from （警察の）手入れ，急襲s upon a maid's chastity by 欠如（する） of 適切な時期. A spasm of horror shook her. Such a thing could not be.
Then Larry spoke. "Don't be 脅すd. I won't 傷つける you, and we re going to be married. We can ride straight away tomorrow to the parson before anyone can 干渉する. Dan and Joanna will help us."
His 発言する／表明する, 証明するing that it was 単に Larry, and not some monster 代用品，人d by the night, had an electrifying result. Had she spoken she would have said, "You will, will you!" but no sound （機の）カム from her. She could have 叫び声をあげるd like seven の中で 激しく揺するs and tree-trunks and nothing would have heard but the mopokes and curlews, the plovers and little wallabies. The kookaburras would have laughed and gone to sleep again. The marsupials, which had come out to 料金d in the dusk, sat up, 逮捕（する）d by the commotion, and hopped away. The only light was the 三日月 moon, going 早期に to 残り／休憩（する）, and for the moment placed like an ornament in the locks of a big gum-tree. In an heroic moment 恐れる and 疲労，（軍の）雑役 fell from Milly, and her 存在 seemed to be transmuted into a white 炎上 of 激怒（する） that made the contest exhilarating.
Larry pinioned her 武器 and 鎮圧するd her to him while she manfully kicked his 向こうずねs. They trod 一連の会議、交渉／完成する wildly in the underbrush, 乾燥した，日照りの twigs 割れ目ing. With superior strength Larry 負傷させる her tighter and tighter till she felt she must 窒息させる. A movement to trip her feet with a thrust of his 脚 opened a few インチs of space between them, and the girl tiptoed and 攻撃する，衝突する with all her strength, catching Larry on the chin. He let go of her, startled and 乱暴／暴力を加えるd; he tripped—in a wombat-穴を開ける probably—and floundered to 伸び（る） his 地盤. Milly 保持するd the reins and the halter of Romp, so now her toe 設立する the stirrup, though high, and off she went, wildly, blindly, in the 増加するing 不明瞭. Larry had to 選ぶ himself up and reach his horse to go in 追跡.
The 選び出す／独身 horse soon 伸び（る）d on the two, and the struggle began all over again in the 不明瞭, on horseback this time and 複雑にするd by the 後部ing and turning of the animals. Larry's endeavour was to pull Milly into his 武器, a simple 事柄 when galloping from the 後部 and catching a girl off guard, but Milly's practised young 膝s were curled 堅固に 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the horns and the horns were of the best workmanship. They strove together 猛烈に, with no word to break the stillness of that far wild 地域. Not a splitter, nor a fossicker, nor a 境界-rider was within miles, except old Billy Heffernan, the 模造の, whose hut was about two miles さらに先に on.
Larry was no 常習的な Lothario, nor unhardened satyr. He was 極度の慎重さを要する and of kindly disposition, really gentle underneath his inexperienced bravado. That inexplicable slip on Dot's part was to 非難する for his wild notion that he might 後継する with Milly, but he was without the ruthlessness for such an 乱暴／暴力を加える. He was too fond of Milly, too tender に向かって her, and his sudden wild impulse had passed すぐに she resisted.
One cry broke from him, "Milly, don't panic, for no 推論する／理由. I shan't 傷つける a hair of your 長，率いる, I 断言する."
This 増加するd Milly's excitement, and he knew that anything he could say would be taken only as part of his ruse to 廃虚 her. Milly was now out of herself with 激怒（する） and revulsion—virginal frenzy against 違反. Larry had 失敗d so irretrievably that both 退却／保養地 and 前進する were now fraught with danger of 完全にする 災害. Horror at what he had brought on himself shook Larry, and he could have cried to heaven to return him to the status quo as it had been when he dismounted at Dead Tree salt-shed. He was in the 窮地 of his life, loving Milly as he did, and knowing he had shut himself from 楽園. His frantic necessity now was to 再度捕まえる Milly without 負傷させるing her, to 静める her and 納得させる her that she had nothing to 恐れる from him ever again in this world, and thus patch up normality between them to 避ける public スキャンダル.
He strove for Merrylegs's bridle-reins to （判決などを）下す her rider helpless. Milly 試みる／企てるd to 急ぐ the 損なう at Larry, but all the animals were 井戸／弁護士席-mannered saddle 切り開く／タクシー／不正アクセスs, not cavalry chargers. She tried to 攻撃する，衝突する Larry's horse with the end of the halter, but Larry easily 反対するd that with the 援助（する） of his 刺激（する）s. Suddenly Milly had an idea. She drew a pin from her hat and jabbed at Abracadabra. She caught him on the nose, and the spirited beast 後部d and 支援するd madly.
The introduction of that silver hat-pin altered the course of their lives.
*
Billy Heffernan made money each season from wallaroo pelts. He used 炭坑，オーケストラ席s to 罠（にかける） them, baited with wild cherry, quinces, or damper, and cunningly covered with tea-tree. His biggest, deepest 炭坑，オーケストラ席 was two yards behind Abracadabra when Milly jabbed him, in the fairway used by 確かな marsupials as they （機の）カム to browse on the little flats or to pilfer a lick of salt. The horse suddenly disappeared altogether. Merrylegs and Romp were too quick-witted to follow him.
There was a big catch in the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 and they could be heard scuffling and coughing. The horse 急落（する），激減（する）d and snorted の中で them. Milly was rigid with fright, as she 静かなd her own trembling animals at a little distance. The slender moon was abed. There was no light but the high 星／主役にするs, which could not 侵入する the dusk of the stately underbrush. No sound （機の）カム from Larry. Milly's night sight （機の）カム to her as she 安定したd herself; she saw the bait swinging above the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 and knew what had happened.
"Larry," she called. "Are you there?" No reply. She had no matches. She could not see into the 黒人／ボイコット of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席. She could hear that Abracadabra had settled 負かす／撃墜する. Evidently he was not 傷つける; but what of the rider, was he 鎮圧するd underneath? Was he dead, or silent only to entrap her?
"Larry! Larry! Tell me, are you 傷つける?"
No reply. Her terror grew painful. He was dead! She had killed him.
"Larry! Larry! If you are able to speak, please do. Don't just keep 静かな and try to catch me. You won't have to go on fighting me. If you are alive, say so, and I'll...you can marry me if you want to as madly as that. Oh, Larry, do speak if you are alive!"
She felt about for a stick with which to 調査（する）, but 設立する only upstanding wattle scrub, dead a year since by 解雇する／砲火／射撃, 涙／ほころびing and 堅い as whalebone. There was no 返答 from Larry. Ile must be dead! She could do nothing! She shivered with a sense of terrible 災害 as she stood a minute or two lost in the 薄暗い 中心存在d aisles of 孤独 through the rent of whose roof high 総計費 twinkled a 星／主役にする. She looked up and 認めるd one of the pointers of the Southern Cross—a treasured friend to one who knew and loved the night. 推論する／理由 returned. The spring of 活動／戦闘 was 解放（する）d. She collected herself and made up her mind.
Watching minutely against another 炭坑，オーケストラ席, she led her horses 支援する as far as the salt-shed, and from there along the 跡をつける by which they had come till she was 確かな of her どの辺に, and could see all the 星／主役にするs of the Cross. Then she changed saddle and bridle to Romp, who had run 解放する／自由な all day, hugged and kissed her for 慰安, climbed on her 支援する, pulled Merrylegs's halter, and with 静める desperation 長，率いるd for Curradoobidgee eighty or ninety miles away.
夜明け 設立する the girl and her trusty friends many miles on their way. At sunrise she toiled up the passage of the Wamgambril for two miles or so by a precipitous 跡をつける to the famous coolamon lying like a jewel at the base of the mighty 激しく揺する, where the Wamgambril and the Coolgarbilli take their rise. Reaching the crest, she changed saddles again and let her beasts have a mouthful of grass while she breakfasted on the fruit of a wild raspberry vine. Then on and on again by gully and 刺激（する） with never sight nor sound of man, not even a wisp of smoke above a distant chimney, the 孤独 to her not at all 苦しめるing. The familiar birds ぱたぱたするd and made music 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her all the way; even during the night the little wagtails had never left her, tweetering all the time, "甘い pretty creature! 甘い pretty creature!" She knew too that Merrylegs was carrying her 安全に and 直接／まっすぐに homewards. It was the other thing that drove her 不安ing to Uncle Bert, the one of all who had 避難所d her ever since she had been a 熱烈な self-willed toddler. Uncle Bert, the 広大な／多数の／重要な love of her 幼少／幼藍期 and girlhood, had never failed her spiritually, and would not cast her out now. Through the malhazard of his physical 事故 had resulted all that now 狼狽d her.
The sun rose high with blistering, irradiating heat tempered with zephyrs crisp and 冷静な／正味の and of powerful sweep from Kosciusko, from Cootapatamba where the eagles drink the icy water, and from where the 雪の降る，雪の多い River rises to dash 負かす／撃墜する to the 孤独な and mighty Southern Seas to 貿易（する） its song of mountain 頂点（に達する） and ferny gully with that of the ceaseless 勝利，勝つd that roam there with naught to say them nay for a thousand miles, bringing sou'-west stories from beyond Kerguelen or the Aleutian 深い, or sou'-easters freighted with the weird and frozen adventures of Antarctica from beyond the Bay of 鯨s, from beyond King Edward's Land, from beyond Haakon Seventh's 高原, from beyond the South 政治家, straight from eternity.
Merrylegs sweated and 乾燥した，日照りのd, and sweated and 乾燥した，日照りのd again, and did not go so lyrically as when she left Queanbeyan on Saturday morning. Milly changed once more to Romp, and she too sweated and 乾燥した，日照りのd again and somewhat 安定したd her gait. The girl grew too tired to 勧める the animals. She dismounted, ate the 甘いs in her saddle-pocket, and, fastening the horses securely to her, reclined in the shade of a tree and slept. Merrylegs tugging to reach a さらに先に tussock awakened her. She struggled up aghast to find the sun was 沈むing. Still 激しい with sleep she climbed into the saddle and on without wavering, 信用ing 完全に to the horses now.
Not only the ride from Queanbeyan to the Wamgambril salt-shed and thence at 権利 angles to Monaro on one meal and a few 甘いs and raspberries had tired her, but the nights and days 先行する had been 十分な of excitement and short of sleep compared with her habit. The struggle with Larry had left her blue with bruises, and two 注目する，もくろむs as 猛烈に 黒人／ボイコット as any maltreated wife of Sydney or London slums ever 展示（する）d to a police 治安判事.
To the fearless girl of 強健な physique, 熟知させるd with the 跡をつける and bred in the saddle, it was not such a stupendous 旅行, 特に with a change of perfect horses and on their own （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域. Her sleep had 延期するd her two or three hours, and she walked occasionally to relieve stiffness, but by midnight on Sunday, Merrylegs pricked her ears and mended her pace and Milly discerned by the light of the 星／主役にするs the 石／投石する 盗品故買者s 場内取引員／株価 the bald plains of Gowandale and Eueurunda, and knew she was on the buggy-roads that led from one to the other. Another ten miles to Curradoobidgee. She manipulated the different models of gates and slip-rails 雇うd by 行方不明になる M'Eachern and the Pooles, and there at last was the song of Poole's Creek coming like the 勝利，勝つd from Eaglehawk, and Merrylegs 行為／行うing her straight to the stable door of the old homestead.
She got stiffly 負かす／撃墜する, feeling as if the bones had crumpled in her 脚s. Merrylegs stretched and shook herself thankfully. Her rider threw halter and reins over the horseshoes on the stable 塀で囲む and sought Uncle Bert.
The commotion の中で the dogs had awakened him, and he always gave ear to the dogs since one night in his 青年 when he had ignored their 警告 and in the morning 設立する his famous 黒人／ボイコット Belle mutilated.
Milly （機の）カム timidly 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the low old veranda encumbered by a motley collection of マリファナ-工場／植物s, and darkened at the eaves by roses and other vines. Such a light step puzzled the listening man. It did not belong to any man he knew. Milly tapped lightly on his door. "Uncle Bert, oh, Uncle Bert, are you awake?"
Poole 疑問d his ears. "Just a minute! Is it really you, Milly, old chum, or a dream?"
He 掴むd his crutches and, casting on a 衣料品, hobbled to the door. Milly entered, distraught, 混乱d. Poole lit his famous lamp with the incandescent wick and was aghast at his young friend's 外見. Her habit was sweat-grey, muddy and torn, her hair wild, her 直面する 黒人／ボイコット and greenish 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 注目する，もくろむ-sockets and 負かす／撃墜する to the cheek-bones, and stained with 血 from Larry's chin. Only 大災害 could explain her arrival at such an hour in such a 明言する／公表する.
"Is there anyone with you?" he asked gently, putting his arm about her and 緩和 her into a 議長，司会を務める.
"No."
"How far have you come?"
"From Queanbeyan to Wamgambril salt-shed and then on from there alone." Poole 抑えるd comment. He had 除去するd her hat and was softly sponging her 直面する.
"You had better 残り／休憩（する） a moment."
Milly became excited. "Oh, Uncle Bert, a terrible, terrible thing has happened. I have killed someone."
A serious 事故, he 概算の, but where—近づく enough to （判決などを）下す 迅速な 援助? "An 事故..."
"No. Not an 事故 正確に／まさに. It was, Uncle Bert—it was Larry Healey. Uncle Bert, I can't tell you! He tried to do something terrible, something he oughtn't, something worse than 存在 killed, to me...Oh, Uncle Bert..." She looked at him mutely, nearly 崩壊（する）ing with 疲労，（軍の）雑役 and 苦しめる. He put his arm 一連の会議、交渉／完成する her comfortingly, a glass of water to her lips.
"He only tried, he didn't 後継する, did he?" said Uncle Bert, calmly, soothingly, as Charlotte, his sister 調査／捜査するing a family stomach-ache, but his thoughts bespoke no health to Larry Healey.
"I fought him, Uncle Bert. I fought and fought till I couldn't struggle any more...oh, I don't know, I got on to Merrylegs and got away and he （機の）カム after me, and we fought again on horseback, and I made his horse 後部 backwards, and suddenly he 完全に disappeared."
"Good luck!" thought Poole, but he only gave her another sip of water and wiped her 直面する.
"It was horrible in the dark. I got off and poked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する and 設立する he must have 支援するd 権利 into that monster wallaby-炭坑，オーケストラ席 of Billy Heffernan's. There were sounds of all sorts of things, and I could hear Abracadabra, but no sound of Larry...I called and called to him and 約束d him everything...even to marry him as he 手配中の，お尋ね者 me to, if he'd only speak, but there was no sound, not even a groan. I couldn't find a stick in the dark, and it seemed so 深い 負かす／撃墜する...Oh, Uncle Bert!"
"You needn't worry about him. He's all 権利."
"Oh, but I've killed him!"
"Buckley's you have of 殺人，大当り a fellow like that with anything いっそう少なく than a 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 of dynamite. 'I should smile!' as the Yankees say." Milly threw her 武器 一連の会議、交渉／完成する him, her 疲れた／うんざりした 長，率いる 圧力（をかける）d tight against him.
"Uncle Bert, 約束 that you'll hide me here for ever and ever, and never let anyone see me or take me away to be hanged." She shuddered convulsively. "Don't let them drag me away where everyone will gape at me...約束 me you'll shoot me yourself before you'll let them hang me."
"I 約束 that you will never be hanged for that, Milly, old chum. Larry is the only one in danger there." Oh, to take this sorely 圧力（をかける）d young creature in his 武器, to be his own, to keep and 慰安 and 保護する for ever! Ah, that 青年 had gone! He could never know its joys again...But he still could be a protector. It was to him she had come all that way through day and night alone for 避難.
"But, Uncle Bert, you'll keep me always with you. This would never have happened if your foot hadn't been 削減（する）, and you could have come when I 手配中の，お尋ね者 you ever so 不正に."
"Hard luck that, all 権利, Milly, old pal. But we'll soon put the pieces 支援する in their places, and things will be mended so that no one but you and me will know where the 割れ目s were." Milly clung tighter about his neck, 慰安 in his presence. "Now, will you 約束 to do just what I tell you?"
"Oh yes, if you'll only keep me tight beside you all the time so no one else can get at me."
"Yes, you shall stay 安全に here; but mind, you must be as obedient as my old collie sheepdog. Do you 約束—honour 有望な?"
"I 約束, Uncle Bert."
"井戸／弁護士席, you just 残り／休憩（する） a bit and get your 勝利，勝つd, there's a brick!" He settled her in the 議長，司会を務める and went to 準備する a bath, etc. Returning in 予定 time he banded a towel and one of his own 衣料品s. "There, now. You get into the hot water and then come 支援する to bed to the room next door to me."
Milly obeyed, and when she returned 設立する a light meal with a cup of cocoa を待つing her. 説得／派閥 induced her to eat while Uncle Bert, unpractisedly, 小衝突d her 絡まるd locks. Tenderly, worshipfully, he 認めるd what a wonderful, what an exquisitely precious 存在 a girl was. He too had been young once, young as Milly, but he remembered himself only as a big gawky animal very different from this delicate and fragrant embodiment of life. 青年, he pondered, so 十分な of vague discontent and restlessness, what a roya! thing it was! He 主張するd upon the cocoa, which had a stick in it.
"Now, when you wake, you'll find a letter under your pillow. You read that before you say a word to anyone—約束!"
"約束—honour 有望な!"
"I may not be here in the morning."
"Oh, Uncle Bert, you are not going to leave me?"
"Only for a little. I want to get to that wallaby-炭坑，オーケストラ席 ahead of anyone else. You see the sense of that, don't you?" Milly nodded. "You stay here 静かに and say nothing. Spend a couple of days in bed. No one will know you are here, or why. You will be やめる 安全な. You can say you ran against a tree to account for your 黒人／ボイコット 注目する，もくろむs. Here's one of the girl's dresses and you can go to Ma's room and forage in the big chest-of-drawers. Don't tell anyone what you told me about Larry—約束?"
"約束—honour 有望な!"
"罰金! Now you just see how you can keep a shut mouth—no 飛行機で行くs in or out—savvy? Good night! Sleep tight!"
He left her to the drowsiness perceptibly rising upon her. Finding Romp 同様に as Merrylegs in the stable-yard he knew there was an earlier 一時期／支部 to this story. Automatically he felt the beasts' withers and 脚s. They were as fit as fiddles and a long way from knocked up. He awoke M'George, who, with his wife, had been 安全な・保証するd to run the 世帯 since old Mrs Stepmother Poole's passing—as worthy and reliable a pair as ever （機の）カム frae bonnie Scotland.
"Run in the エース of Spades and Queen Anne and put my saddle on one and get my stepmother's saddle from the storeroom and put it On the other," was his surprising order to the sleepy man. Mrs M'George was soon about too, and was 教えるd to fill tucker-捕らえる、獲得するs, etc., while Poole dressed and 適用するd himself to a couple of letters.
My Dear Little Milly,
Remember your 約束 to say nothing of what Larry 試みる／企てるd. Everything will be all 権利. Mrs M'George will do everything for you. Wait 静かに where you are, you will be やめる 安全な. Do nothing till you hear from me, no 事柄 how long that may be. Don't worry. 行方不明になる Mac will keep you company.
Yours truly,
Uncle Bert.
He 調印するd this, regretting that his years made any other 役割 foolish for him.
Dear Friend Jessie,
I can depend on you, I know. Will you come straight 支援する here and stay with Milly till my return? It is 緊急の and I know you will not fail me. An 事故 has happened which I have gone to （疑いを）晴らす up, and the いっそう少なく said the sooner mended, that is why I have sent for you to put the tin muzzle on all talk from the scratch. I shall explain when I come 支援する. The quieter Milly is kept the better. I advise a couple of days in bed and squabash all curiosity about her if anyone comes 一連の会議、交渉／完成する. You can rely upon the M'Georges.
Yours truly,
Bert Poole.
He put the first of these under Milly's pillow. She was sleeping soundly as he had often seen her sleep in childhood; many a time as a little thing she had had a nap on his waistcoat. Her 長，率いる was bent, her long plaits spread across the pillow. He put her in a comfortable position, tenderly, reverently—ah, what an exquisite thing was 青年! Only those that were young could 会合，会う it on an equality, or those who were mad or depraved 捜し出す to sully it. He laid her habit and hat tidily on a 議長，司会を務める so that a disordered room should not discredit her; he 消滅させるd the lamp and went out.
Mrs M'George had breakfast waiting while M'George had the fresh horses saddled and the two travellers washed 負かす／撃墜する and turned into the orchard. It was plain to the pair that something out of the ordinary had happened, but they were too 井戸／弁護士席 trained to comment.
"M'George, take this letter to 行方不明になる M'Eachern at once. She will come 支援する with you. I may be away four days or so. Tell anyone who 問い合わせs that you 推定する／予想する me any day. An 事故 has resulted in 行方不明になる Milly 完全にするing her 旅行 alone, but don't worry her. She is only tired."
"Verra guid, sir."
Poole 機動力のある with some difficulty and 棒 away under the 星／主役にするs. His foot was far from fit for a long 開会／開廷／会期 in the stirrup. He 悪口を言う／悪態d to think how he had failed Milly, failed adventure, failed romance and his own 評判 by two 失敗s excusable only in new-chums: one by 存在 asleep about the beast killed at Gyang Gyang Gully, and again by 無能にするing himself with an adze, he whose 技術 with the subtle 器具 was 定評のある from Monaro to the coast. He must be getting bats in his belfry, he 反映するd.
He 用意が出来ている for this 旅行 with ingrained resourcefulness. The 味方する-saddle and a sling made from a sheet were to 残り／休憩（する） his 負傷させるd 脚. 夜明け 設立する him 井戸／弁護士席 on his way. He looked 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 広範囲にわたる plains and rolling uplands, khaki-coloured under the splendid summer sun, and away to the north-east over the 範囲s blue with distance, 山の尾根 on 山の尾根, gully after gully like pleats, 頂点（に達する） by 頂点（に達する）, creek by creek, which he must 征服する／打ち勝つ before another 夜明け. He 始める，決める his teeth as his horse heaved and propped on some of the precipitous 跡をつけるs, 決定するd to reach the wallaby-炭坑，オーケストラ席 with 最小限 延期する. A 世代 had gone since he had turned his horses' 長，率いるs that way with a sense of adventure 株ing his saddle. Today that inspiriting 同僚 had returned. Never had she beckoned with more allure. Was he through age and 事故 to fail? Not if he knew it. It （機の）カム to him in the 刺激するing morning 空気／公表する that vigour and joy of life were not 完全に a 事柄 of years but also a 明言する／公表する of mind.
*
行方不明になる M'Eachern read the 公式文書，認める 手渡すd to her by M'George and said, "Go to the kitchen and have some breakfast and I'll ride 支援する wi' ye."
She sat 負かす／撃墜する to her own meal, 発言／述べるing to her overseer, "Poole has some steers on Curradoobidgee that he wants me to look at. I might 同様に go straight 支援する wi' his mon and you can carry on till I come 支援する. Have the 損なう saddled."
She cantered away with M'George, leaving a curious 従業員. "She'd ride through hell to see a 取引, but there's something skew-whiff somewhere or she wouldn't scoot off like that with shearing half-cooked," he commented.
She arrived at Curradoobidgee while the forenoon was only half-blown, and Milly still soundly asleep.
"I've keeked in once or twice," 報告（する）／憶測d Mrs M'George, "but the pair young leddy is verra tired."
A thin time ぼんやり現れるd ahead of Jessie M'Eachern: she had brought no sewing, she never read a 調書をとる／予約する, there was no one with whom to ha'e a 割れ目, and shearing 切迫した 支援する at Gowandale. She had, however, a true-blue understanding of friendship and buckled to its 需要・要求するs. After 検査／視察するing the house and 前提s she settled on the veranda with the Sydney Morning 先触れ（する）, the Town and Country 定期刊行物, and the 在庫／株 子孫を作る人s' Gazette.
Milly in time awoke to the recollection of the 悲劇 hanging above her. Poole's 指示／教授／教育s （機の）カム 支援する to her. She 設立する the letter like a treasure. Uncle Bert would not fail. Tile について言及する of 行方不明になる M'Eachern worried her. Bother her, thought Milly, but Poole had requested her presence as a 証言，証人／目撃する of the girl's 条件 in 事例／患者 of need.
Seeing her 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 was awake, the good squatteress entered the room. "You're very tired. Stay there while I bring you a bite."
This startled Milly as almost indecent. She had never been ill a day in her life and had never seen a woman 嘘（をつく） up except for childbirth or measles. "Oh no, 行方不明になる M'Eachern, I'm ashamed to be so lazy. I'll get up at once."
She 新たな展開d from under the bedclothes, finding herself almost too stiff to stand. Her 明らかにする 脚s astonished 行方不明になる M'Eachern by their bruises, 黒人／ボイコット as if painted.
"Good gracious, lassie, but your 脚s are nothing to your 直面する. You must have had a terrible 落ちる."
Milly rolled up the blind and went to the little looking-glass. "I didn't know it was like that."
"It's a 奇蹟 you weren't killed."
Milly gave way to 涙／ほころびs. "Oh, 行方不明になる M'Eachern, it was terrible! Larry Healey and I were bringing my horse home, the one that was lost, and it was dark, and an awful thing happened. Larry disappeared, horse and all, out of sight. I could hear the horse but not a sound from Larry, and I could not see in the dark, so I （機の）カム straight on to Uncle Bert, and perhaps Larry is killed."
"Now, you mustn't get excited. If your Uncle Bert has gone to see, nothing can be done till we hear from him." She thought Milly must have 攻撃する，衝突する a 支店ing tree or fallen on her 長，率いる, but wondered more what Mrs Saunders could mean to 許す a young girl to roam the bush so far from home with a fellow like Larry Healey. It was plain that the girl herself was innocent. Lately, the Ten Creeks people had lost their child and had all the country in all uproar. Some folks were so feckless that they attracted calamities, 反映するd 行方不明になる Jessie, while others were called in to （疑いを）晴らす up the mess in spite of having 関心s of their own 需要・要求するing attention.
"We must 企て，努力，提案 a 少しの for Uncle Bert...How is the little boy who was lost?"
"Mother and Aunt Aileen have him in Sydney under the specialists."
"And who was looking after you?"
"Uncle Jack was there, only that he had to go to Riverina, and then Larry and I went for the pony."
"Ah!" commented 行方不明になる M'Eachern. Without 疑問 some people made their own troubles. She did not 追求する the 支配する of where Larry and Milly had been when the 事故 occurred. She was more 利益／興味d in Aileen and Ronald, seeing her 関係 with the old 事件／事情／状勢, since which she had heard whispers of スキャンダル. After a few 観察s she astutely 計器d that Milly was aware of the relations between her aunt and Dice and was filled with 憤慨, so decided that silence on all doubtful 支配するs was the safest course.
An hour or two and Milly had 回復するd 十分に likewise to be 苦しむing from inaction. She 修理d and cleaned her habit, and at midday dinner made a suggestion, "Would you let me go 支援する to Gowandale with you? You must be busy, and Uncle Bert can't かもしれない be home tomorrow or even the next day."
This was 救助（する） to the 商売／仕事 woman 抑圧するd with idleness while the active 事件／事情／状勢s of her 駅／配置する were in 十分な cry. "Are you fit to ride? What would anyone say if they saw your 直面する?"
"I can 徹底的に捜す my hair low and put on a 厚い 隠す and the ride will take the stiffness out of me."
行方不明になる M'Eachern 概算の that it would create いっそう少なく curiosity for her to have Milly at Gowandale than for both of them to be at Curradoobidgee at the busy time of the year, while Poole, bad 脚 and all, had gone on an unexplained 旅行. So long as Milly was not out of her care, her part would seem to be 実行するd. Soon they were skimming across the rolling plains swept with Kosciusko's zephyrs, little amiss with Romp or her mistress.
Poole, in another direction, 進歩d stubbornly and in 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な 不快 if he left his foot in the stirrup for any length of time. To ride sideways and 残り／休憩（する） it in a sling was a relieving change, but the new and cramped position was painful to a man of his years, and he experienced the 不快 known to new-chums, but 押し進めるd on, hoping to reach the wallaby-炭坑，オーケストラ席 in daylight.
*
The day that Milly and Larry left Queanbeyan, Billy Heffernan struggled 支援する to his hut at Wamgambril Flats and slept all that day and Sunday. He had been away on one of his sprees by which he periodically leavened life. He 一般に started in one of the いっそう少なく pretentious hotels in Bool Bool, now a five-pub town, and when, for the general good, thrust out of this, 退却／保養地d to a lonely shanty between Brennan's Gap and Melacmelac, where they had no scruples in topping off a pickled boozer with 苦痛-殺し屋 or any other preservatives 利用できる at いっそう少なく expense than reputable alcohol.
On Monday he went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his 罠（にかける）s, neglected for nearly a fortnight, and was astonished by the catch in the big 炭坑，オーケストラ席 近づく the salt-shed. It was thirty-six hours since Abracadabra and his rider had adventitiously hurtled in there to the 狼狽 of the other 捕虜s. The horse was uninjured, for the 味方するs of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 were of clay, but he had unseated his rider and struck his forehead and （判決などを）下すd him unconscious. Larry had fortunately been pitched into the corner of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席, and the horse, in the way of his 肉親，親類d, did not step on him again, but after the first flurry の中で the wallabies settled 負かす／撃墜する like a beast in a 立ち往生させる.
Larry returned to consciousness in time, but was in 広大な／多数の／重要な 苦痛 with a 長，率いる too bad to 開始する his steed and thence out of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席, small 成果／努力 to anyone in normal 条件. He was in no 明言する／公表する to 推測する on what had become of Milly, but lay against the 冷静な／正味の earth, taking no cognizance of time, dozing or 半分-unconscious, till Heffernan had 設立する him.
To drunkenness Heffernan せいにするd such a 事故 to a bushman as familiar as a 境界-rider or brumby with every 跡をつける of the area. He ascertained that Larry was alive, and 始める，決める about getting him out, a neat little chore to a man as shickered as Heffernan, for Larry was helpless. He hoisted Larry on his (Heffernan's ) 長，率いる, and rolled him out on the bank. Larry groaned 深く，強烈に. Heffernan then laid his 患者 on a bed of bracken and brought him water in his hat and left him to 残り／休憩（する） while he dug a slope so that Abracadabra could 緊急発進する up. During these 操作／手術s he （機の）カム upon a 隠す in shreds some yards away on the dead wattle shrubs, and, just at the 辛勝する／優位 of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席, a lady's hat-pin in the design of a Scottish thistle.
Heffernan began to 楽しみ in his work. The hoof-prints squirmed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する in （犯罪の）一味s 近づく the mouth of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席, that was （疑いを）晴らす by the trampled scrub. There had been no rain and no other travellers, the wallabies had been コースを変えるd from this （警官の）巡回区域，受持ち区域 for the moment and left the 令状ing uncrossed upon the 追跡する. Heffernan followed the 跡をつけるs 支援する to the salt-shed, where he 設立する another piece of 隠す on a bush. The 跡をつけるs of Abracadabra were upon the 跡をつけるs of two smaller horses up to within three yards of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席. There had been 追跡, 追いつくing, and a scuffle in which Larry's horse had gone over the 辛勝する／優位; there was, too, a small 足跡 about the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 and 跡をつけるs of two 出発／死ing horses. There was a woman in it and two men—a fight over a 女性（の）! It was as plain as a typed 演説（する）／住所 to the bushman. What could be more enlivening to the 無傷の 孤独 of Wamgambril 押し寄せる／沼地s! Billy Heffernan's 注目する，もくろむs glittered.
He gloated on the hat-pin and tattered 隠す, which would unravel the スキャンダル. Had Larry been scratching about the Humphrey （軍の）野営地，陣営?—no, there would be no need of a scuffle about such a trull, and this was a swell hat-pin. It might have been two women fighting like cats over Larry. Billy 解任するd that 可能性 with a guffaw. Larry had not the spondulics, and without it was not so blooming fascinating that the women would be scratching their 注目する，もくろむs out over him. Now he thought he had it. Larry had his tongue lolling out after young Milly at Ten Creeks, and Dot at Saunders Plains had got 持つ／拘留する of it and let 飛行機で行く: if what he heard of Dot had any stuffing in it, that is just what had happened. It would be 平易な to get the pieces to fit.
Billy, whose 適切な時期s of vindicating his red-bloodedness had been 制限するd, was filled with obscene envy of a man who could 土台を崩す two young geebung 女性（の）s so that 暴力／激しさ 続いて起こるd. "Reckon these gewgaws will be 価値（がある） a tenner at the least," he muttered, stowing them upon his person.
His 計画（する） was to deposit Larry with his sister Joanna about ten miles distant. Heffernan had no 乗り物. 選び出す／独身-手渡すd there was nothing but packing on horseback along the cattle-跡をつけるs. Abracadabra was too spirited for this, so Heffernan returned to his hut for a tame old pack-horse 令状d to resent no 重荷（を負わせる） from a dead beast to a 女／おっせかい屋-閉じ込める／刑務所. He 供給するd pillows for 鞍馬 and croup by filling two sugar-mats with tussock grass. Larry was not 激しい and Heffernan a hardy, powerful old man. He 解除するd the groaning form on. The 苦痛 brought 支援する consciousness. Larry complained of his 長，率いる first. Heffernan soused that with 冷淡な water. Larry was in such agony that he could not lean 今後 even on the grass, and Heffernan had to abandon his own nag and walk at the stirrup and bold his 負傷させるd man on.
It was tedious for Heffernan. It was torment for Larry, but, like many another 巡礼の旅 where necessity dictated, it continued and ended at last. In good time really, Heffernan was calling for Spires to help him with his 重荷（を負わせる）.
Dan was out on the 選択. Joanna, not yet strong, had to do her part, while Susie, a Humphrey of more doubtful 血統／生まれ even than usual, but a 勇敢に立ち向かう little 開拓する bush maid in spite of her begetters, was 派遣（する）d on Billy's horse to bring the boss.
Joanna 削減（する） away her brother's 着せる／賦与するing and Billy laid him on the only spare bed, the long home-made sofa in the 前線 room, 狭くする and not very comfortable. Joanna washed some more of the clotted 血 from his 直面する and exposed the gash in his 寺 where the shoe of Abracadabra had caught him and left a brand til! the end of Larry's days.
When Dan appeared Larry was again unconscious from 苦痛 and 疲労，（軍の）雑役, and Joanna too alarmed to be left alone with him. Susie was therefore sent to fetch her old tyke of a mother, who had diverse uses in 条件s so sparsely furnished with women. Heffernan volunteered to go for the doctor. His 申し込む／申し出 was 受託するd. Dan 概算の that as he had just 回復するd from a spree he could be 信用d to pass the Travellers' 残り／休憩（する） going, if not returning. He had given Joanna an account of the finding of Larry 都合よく expurgated for a respectable 女性（の）, the sister of the 負傷させるd and with a young 幼児. He 追加するd a few more particulars to Dan, but slyly guarded 証拠 that might be profitable or entertaining only to himself.
*
After a 疲れた／うんざりした and painful 旅行, Poole hove in sight of the 荒涼とした 四肢s of the big dead tree just about sundown. He had been compelled once or twice to soak his 負傷させるd foot in 冷淡な water to relieve the nervous irritation 始める，決める up by the pendent position. He was out of 条件 by long inactivity and nearly asleep from exhaustion.
The 炭坑，オーケストラ席 was empty but it was 特許 that Milly had not been hysterical nor had she lost her bearings in the dark. The 跡をつけるs all about 証明するd that the horse had been taken out of the 炭坑，オーケストラ席, but not that Larry was 安全な. Where could he be?
Poole had made haste against 不明瞭. Heffernan's 跡をつけるs were fresh and he took them to the hut. The place was locked up, but Larry's horse was in the little 小衝突 paddock. It was now too dark to see whither Heffernan had gone. What to do? The kookaburras could not advise though they laughed like mad all 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the horizon, and though the friendly willy-wagtails had been with him all the way, all that they could say was "甘い pretty creature! 甘い pretty creature!"
Would they be 行方不明の Milly at Ten Creeks and raising the country? Would Heffernan have taken Larry to his sister? Every mile with the 条件 of his foot ぼんやり現れるd like ten to Poole. He decided to go to Dan Spires first, and this happened to be also on the way to Bool Bool, and without major 頂点（に達する）s to be 規模d. 審理，公聴会 a horseman coming に向かって him, he dropped his foot into normal position and met SP-over-J returning from Stanton's Plains.
"Good day, Bert, been to Ten Creeks?"
"Not yet."
"You wouldn't have 設立する anyone at home. The Missus and Lucy are still in Sydney and I sent Milly to Keba till I go for her next Friday. Your foot all 権利 again now? Have you heard of the 事故?"
"What 事故?"
"I met Billy Heffernan going for the doctor. Larry, horse and all, went into the wallaby-炭坑，オーケストラ席 up this way and was there till Billy 設立する him."
"No danger of his life, is there?"
"Billy wasn't too （疑いを）晴らす. Seems pretty 不正に 粉砕するd up. I'll come over tomorrow and see what the doctor says...I 港／避難所't seen you since you 削減（する） your foot, how is it?"
"Not 井戸／弁護士席 by long chalks, that's why I have the 味方する-saddle. I had to get over to see you."
"Why didn't you send for me when your foot is like that?"
"There wasn't time. I say, Jack, Milly is not at Ten Creeks. I left her at Curradoobidgee."
"How in 雷鳴 did she get there? What's up?"
"It's part of this 事故 with Larry. I 港／避難所't got to the 底（に届く） of it myself yet, but they must have been somewhere and got the Young Whisker filly that was supposed to have fallen over the ledge at 開始する Corroboree and in the dark Larry つまずくd into the 炭坑，オーケストラ席. Milly couldn't get a sound out of him and was 脅すd out of her wits, and, since you weren't home, she 削減（する） away to me."
"That was a 雷鳴ing long way. She could have come to Stanton's Plains...only I told her I might be going to Turrill Turrill. Is there anything the 事柄 with her?"
"No, only 脅すd—自然に."
"Her mother せねばならない look after her more."
"I （機の）カム straight on to find you and see about Larry and not make any more talk than necessary."
"We had better go to Dan's straight away, then."
They 棒 silently. Poole was in such 悲惨 that he had to dismount and relieve his position again, so they boiled the billy and had the evening meal from their saddle-捕らえる、獲得するs.
The doctor 設立する several broken ribs and a 粉砕するd collar-bone to account for the 激しい 苦痛 Larry 苦しむd, and it was necessary to put a stitch or two in his 寺. The blow there had come within a fraction of an インチ of 存在 致命的な. Mrs Humphreys had arrived to 補助装置 Joanna, and since he could be of no 援助, Poole said he would 押し進める on to the Travellers' 残り／休憩（する）. He heard with 巨大な 救済 that Larry was in no danger of his life.
"I don't know what Lucy will say about Milly," said her uncle. "You might send her 負かす／撃墜する to Goulburn by train and she can 選ぶ her mother up there. They may be coming on Thursday."
"What about the horses?"
"She'll have to do without them and ride Flea Creek if she carries on like this—too much of a good thing, damn it!"
"A month or two on Monaro would do her good. Lots of young people up there の中で the Pooles and Timsons. She can have a flock of them at Curradoobidgee if she likes, and my housekeeper will take care of her. I can't take this ride again for a while, I can feel. Besides, it's shearing. Why don't you come up for a （一定の）期間? I don't know when you were up last."
"Wait till Lucy hears of it! She'll put Milly's hat on straight for her, I 推定する／予想する. She's much too wild."
"You can't 推定する／予想する to tie young people up nowadays like when we were young. They won't stand it."
"Don't let Milly be a nuisance to you. She's not a child now, and せねばならない settle 負かす／撃墜する."
"She'll never be a nuisance to me."
"Marriage would settle her."
"There is no one good enough for her...If anyone is coming in to town tomorrow you might send me word how Larry is getting along. I'll be going up past Neangen and could let his family know. I'll be putting up at Three Rivers."
Poole's first care was a 電報電信 worded to 始める，決める Milly's heart at 残り／休憩（する）. His foot was so painful that a couple of days' 完全にする 残り／休憩（する） was imperative. He spent these at Three Rivers with Charlotte and the old lady, who were glad to see him.
Poole 説得するd Charlotte to return to Curradoobidgee with him for Christmas. In 見解（をとる） of Milly's probable sojourn there he felt that his sister's presence would mean much in 適用するing the ブレーキs on what his years would make a foolishness.
For Charlotte to be absent from Three Rivers, where she had moved in with her family すぐに に引き続いて the death of Grandpa Mazere a ４半期/4分の1 of a century before, created a 穏やかな sensation. Charlotte had always been there like a 激しく揺する of 避難 not only for the wide family circle but for many outside it. Others might bewail their misfortunes, Charlotte never. There was demur because it might be 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma's last Christmas, but Poole pointed out her last Christmas had been 推定する／予想するd for years. He believed she was good for a longer spin than Grandma Poole, and would have at least four or five years to play with yet. Such 恐れるs were not uttered in 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma's 審理，公聴会! She 勧めるd Charlotte to have a change and visit old haunts.
Poole borrowed a buggy-and-pair, and two days later he and his sister 始める，決める out. Charlotte had to 運動 most of the way because Bert's foot was not fit for the ブレーキ. There was now a road 削減（する） 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the sidelings of the Jenningningahama, up which horses could travel with いっそう少なく of old-time 成果／努力, and 負かす／撃墜する which 乗り物s went comfortably with a tree 大（公）使館員d to the 支援する axle to relieve the 緊張する on hocks and ブレーキs and breeching.
There was more melancholy than 楽しみ to Charlotte Mazere in 横断するing that road on which she had not been さらに先に than Bookaledgeree since, as a young wife, she had come a-horseback in winter by the 危険な bridle-跡をつけるs in the 不快 of 差し迫った motherhood.
They made to Neangen for midday and 設立する Healey and his wife about to 始める，決める out for Wamgambri! Springs.
"Larry's so hashed about that it's going to be a long 職業," said his father. "So I'm taking the Missus over to help Joanna."
"He'll never be able to walk again, and the nursing of him is breaking Joanna 負かす／撃墜する, very likely be the death of Joanna too." Mrs Healey 始める，決める her 発言する／表明する in the 重要な of a dirge. Like many ageing women of small mental capacity she revelled in 災害. It was to her what a spree is to an old man—an 出口.
"Julie is to keep house, I suppose," said Charlotte cheerfully.
"It is not 権利 to leave her alone, but it can't he helped. I have more than my 株 of 悲しみ, first Aileen's baby is lost and now poor, poor Larry to be a 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なう all his life."
"It was Aileen and Larry had the trouble, I should say," interposed Julie unsympathetically.
"Yes, the baby was 設立する all 権利. Let us hope Larry's 事例／患者 will be 平等に wonderful," 示唆するd Charlotte.
"Many a 粉砕する-up is not so bad as it seems when we 始める，決める things together," said Poole; but it is impossible to stop an old woman when she starts on her woes. The only hope is to コースを変える her, as Larry, sen., 井戸／弁護士席 knew.
"What I can't make out," he 観察するd, "is how Larry （機の）カム to ride into a wallaby-炭坑，オーケストラ席. He must know that 跡をつける like the palm of his 手渡す, unless, of course, he was drunk; even then his horse would have saved him."
"My Larry doesn't drink," said his stepmother loyally.
"He's mighty different from other people's Larry if he doesn't," muttered his pa.
"事故s are like that," said Poole. "Take my foot—how I could have been such a new-chum I don't know. I wasn't drunk."
"Haw! Haw! Haw! There's no telling!" Any について言及する of alcohol was so enlivening that Poole needed to say no more to change the 支配する.
The Pooles reached the Timson pair by dark, and 設立する them eager for the family news.
"I would have gone to help Joanna only Norah Alfreda is at the troublesome age and I have not been fit for much myself," said Norah.
Chores out of the way, the 年上のs were 解放する／自由な to 高く評価する／（相場などが）上がる this marvellous child, who could converse like a 下落する, によれば the doting Alf. Norah said the child was so 極度の慎重さを要する that the least excitement drove her off her food and sleep. She was a quaint little thing, as lively as a cricket, and seated upon the 膝 of the all-征服する／打ち勝つing Poole was soon fossicking for his watch. He never failed with children, 権利 from tinies to those in their teens, 反映するd his sister. Such a pity he had 非，不，無 of his own, till now it was too late. It was to be hoped he would never go soft like old Jack Stanton and marry some young thing and have a repetition of Stanton's troubles.
"They are so delighted with that nipper, it's a pity they can't have half a dozen," 発言／述べるd Poole, as they went on their way next day.
"One will be plenty. Poor Norah 苦しむs a 広大な／多数の／重要な 取引，協定."
"What's the 事柄? She's not usually a croaker.
"No. Something 内部の, she 恐れるs. I don't like her colour. She is like a 死体."
On reaching home they learnt that Milly was away at Gowandale and 行方不明になる M'Eachern was wiring into the shearing. Poole said he would bally 井戸／弁護士席 have to do likewise. However, 借りがあるing to his 事故, 手はず／準備 had been made to do all the shearing at his brother Jim's that season, and Bert's absence had not been so insane an aberration as it might さもなければ have been accounted by family and 隣人s. They 簡単に thought he had grown tired of confinement and went off unannounced to 妨げる 対立. The M'Georges had "minded" their own 商売／仕事.
Milly's arrival at Gowandale was 原因（となる）ing a good 取引，協定 of excitement, and one young man after another appeared eager to borrow a wool-pack or a whetstone, or （機の）カム on some such excuse. 行方不明になる M'Eachern had had no such cloud of 報知係s since dear knows when, but what surprised that leal soul was Milly's 不景気. Even after the 安心させるing 電報電信 she did not brighten to her wonted high-spirited self. Could she be in love with Larry Healey?
Charlotte wandered about the old place like a 存在 returned from a 惑星. The house that she and Bert had been 責任がある making the new house, when ambition had been stirred by 接触する with the Mazere 一族／派閥 upon Charlotte's marriage, was on its last 脚s, and the new house, built a good ten years later, and which Charlotte now saw for the first time, had a whiskered 成熟. The 直面する of nature was changed by the （疑いを）晴らすing and 盗品故買者ing, and there were two roofs within sight that made the 駅／配置する seem 契約d. She 設立する a few of the 初めの fruit-trees, gnarled and beyond 耐えるing, and the flower-beds before the old house 保持するd the design in which she and Bert had dug them in their teens. Poole's Creek, as of old, （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する by the 支援する of the stables from Eaglehawk singing its immortal lullaby, only it, too, looked bald without the scrub. Willows and other 外国人s 解除するd their 長，率いるs まっただ中に its tea-tree and blackthorn, but its curves were the same. Also 不変の were the contours of the 範囲s. They stretched away endlessly to the north-west just as when she had ridden into them on the morning after her marriage on a wedding trip to Mungee. 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma Mazere—not then a grandmother—had been riding with her too, and not nearly so old then as Charlotte herself was today. How time had run!
The homestead was so forlornly empty. No one there but Bert. She gazed 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the horizon に向かって Wombat Hill and Maryvale and Little River and Gowandale; of the Timsons, Gilberts, Healeys, M'Eacherns, and Pooles who had 初めは 乗組員を乗せた these holdings, not one now remained. The old place, parched and pallid in the summer sunlight, looked like an old dog that was sleeping before the door—too old to be of any その上の use and 単に を待つing the end.
Bert （機の）カム out on the veranda and joined her. It was 広大な／多数の／重要な to have her there again at last. He wished they might ooze 負かす／撃墜する into old age in peace together; but that was impossible. Too many vigorous younger lives of her own making （人命などを）奪う，主張するd Charlotte, and there was still her husband; astonishing how he hung on in spite of drink.
"I'd like to go home as soon as possible," she said. "Forty-five years—too long to stay away without coming 支援する—better not to come 支援する at all than too late."
Bert saw that she was 十分な of rare 涙／ほころびs. He had been stupid not to realize what it would mean to come 支援する to an empty nest after all the years. His heart smote him to fail his dear old Charlotte, who had never failed him. He should have planned a 広大な／多数の／重要な welcome from all the younger tribe to fill the gap and keep sadness at bay. He must （不足などを）補う for it now, shearing or no shearing. Charlotte was more important than all the wool from Monaro to Muttama. He ordered the horses and 始める，決める out for Gowandale to 元気づける her, and also 派遣（する）d M'George to Jim and Harry and Ada to 発表する the 広大な／多数の／重要な surprise. They could be depended upon to 答える／応じる in a heartening way.
行方不明になる M'Eachern was surprised to see Charlotte and made her very welcome.
"Milly 行為／法令／行動するs as if she had something on her mind," she confided to Poole. "Do you think she is infatuated with that young man and wants to go to him?"
"Oh no, she can't 耐える him," said Poole, so decidedly that 行方不明になる M'Eachern looked at him piercingly. She had seen amorous propensities last long into senility with men さもなければ 井戸／弁護士席 balanced. "She's had a bit of a shock. She and Charlotte must be livened up with company. I'll 推定する／予想する you over すぐに shearing is past."
Milly …を伴ってd them home, and watching her closely Poole had to 収容する／認める the truth of 行方不明になる M'Eachern's 観察.
The family 決起大会／結集させるd to Charlotte, and Bert was content to see her first melancholy 合併する into 静かな enjoyment of the Christmas festivities 大きくするd and 専攻するd in her honour. Mrs Saunders permitted Milly to remain on Monaro without 非難, and spoke of 覆うing a visit at New Year to fetch her home.
Though Charlotte grew to enjoy her holiday, Milly's abstraction and uneasiness 増加するd so that Charlotte, like Jessie, 発言／述べるd, "Do you think she cares very much about Larry Healey, and is fretting about him, and would like to go to him?"
"Oh no, not at all. She'd as soon think of a gorilla in that 尊敬（する）・点."
"You never can tell what fancy a girl will have in the 事例／患者 of a man. She usually sees something in him that no one looking on can understand, and Larry is good-looking and taking."
"That's true いつかs, but there's nothing in Larry for Milly to see," he 競うd with finality, thinking there was no fool like an old fool, yet feeling in no wise old or foolish. "Milly will find her feet for herself presently if she is let alone."
*
Larry was painfully 回復するing at Wamgambril Springs, …に出席するd by his stepmother and sister. Mrs Healey was enlivened by the change and the importance she assumed. Larry, 苦しむing 苦痛 and 不快 and with his mind in worse 事例／患者 than his 団体／死体, was not an endearing 患者. Seeing the door of delight の近くにing upon him through the 天罰 of his 行為／法令／行動する with Dot, he had sought to keep it open by 暴力／激しさ, and その為に 粉砕するd the whole edifice. He was in a 無分別な of curiosity to know what end and what 直面する Milly had put on the escapade. That she must be alive and 井戸／弁護士席 somewhere was 確かな . The 傷害 or illness of Milly Saunders would not be overlooked in that 地域. Strange that no one could について言及する Milly, though the infernal old windbags kept on and on for hours about everything else till he wished he could throw them a bait and relieve his aching 長，率いる. They were as had as the 飛行機で行くs that buzzed during daylight.
He knew that Poole had been 負かす／撃墜する and had taken his sister 支援する with him, which was せいにするd to the leisure of his convalescence. Larry heard with 本物の 悔いる that Norah was not 井戸／弁護士席. With unfailing 親切 she had written to say that this was the 推論する／理由 she had not hurried to his 援助, and she 招待するd him to come and 残り／休憩（する） with her and Alf as soon as he could travel. Of Dot he was likewise continually 知らせるd. Her movements appeared of 利益／興味 to his womenfolk, probably because of Ronald Dice.
"Julie says that Ronald Dice is for everlasting at Saunders Plains now, but that Dot won't have anything to do with him."
"I'm sure!" ejaculated Joanna unbelievingly. "She was running after him for all to see while he was wanting Aileen; it is not likely she has changed so soon."
"They say she has changed so you wouldn't know her since that time in Sydney—goes nowhere, only looks after the old people, and she used to be such a one for 飛行機で行くing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する."
"Must have been someone in Sydney and it didn't come off. That's what is the 事柄."
"She'll be glad to take Ronald presently."
"The old people don't want her to leave them."
"Then he can live there. He doesn't seem to be much of a doer. Aileen must be thankful now when she sees the difference in the two men. I used to be anxious when I heard of Ronald 存在 so much at Ten Creeks. You never noticed anything, did you, Joanna?"
"It was Milly he was spoony on there. Ronald is one of those light-負わせるs with a rag on every bush, but Larry 削減（する） him out there, didn't you, Larry?"
Larry took his 適切な時期. "Where the ジュース is Milly these days? She might have cantered over to ask how I am. And I wish to goodness you'd stop talking a bit."
He lay and puzzled about Milly. Surely the return of the Young Whisker filly would raise a buzz in the 地区.
Things were moving. That very evening little Tommy Roper, the unexcelled gatherer and disseminator of news from Riverina to Monaro, blew in to Dan's. He was working up the River to Monaro and had come by way of Cuppinbingle and Keba. At the former 要塞／本拠地 he had forgathered with 米，稲 Leary in mellow 条件, and his 株 of the epic of 救助（する）ing Romp had been expounded with no 最小限に減らすing of Milly's part.
Milly, while her mother and uncle were off the 跡をつける, had bolted all the way to Goulburn, 掴むd her own 損なう with no by-your-leave to 裁判官 or 陪審／陪審員団, nor 許可 of police nor 利益 of clergy, and just travelled 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the country with a young man and played Old Harry as she damned 井戸／弁護士席 thought fit! There was the hell of a 罰金 snorting 血 filly for you, if there never was another, and she barely eighteen! Milly had 米，稲 Leary's franchise enthusiastically.
"We'll hear of her marrying Larry next thing," commented Tommy.
"That's what Larry was —— 井戸／弁護士席 working for all 権利, and didn't she just have him on the go!" guffawed 米，稲. "But there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip, and if Larry got outside of himself a bit, I wouldn't be surprised if Milly gave him one over the ear and let him go tell his ma about it. She ain't got any of that sort of thing in her, it's plain to be seen by a 塀で囲む-注目する，もくろむd bandicoot."
"She'll have to marry him after this or her goose would be cooked with anyone else," said Tommy, who had 非，不，無 of the Celt in him and appraised the escapade from a different mind.
"行方不明になる Milly don't let anyone cook her goose as 平易な as they want to. She ain't one of the cowering crying 女性（の）s that flings up the sponge. I'll take a bet on that!"
Tommy Roper, 進歩ing to the kitchen of Ten Creeks Run for his next night, was surprised to hear no word of the reappearance of the filly, with which he 推定する／予想するd the firmament to be humming. There was 補償（金） in the boss item that Larry Healey on Abracadabra, a mountain-bred horse, had fallen into old Billy Heffernan's wallaby-罠（にかける）s at Wamgambril—a terrible 衝突，墜落, and was now at Dan Spires s.
"They say he'll never walk again, and his 直面する is 削減（する） up like a Maori," Long Billy 知らせるd him. Tommy rubbed his 手渡すs with enjoyment. Stay in a place and nothing ever happened, but go away for the shortest （一定の）期間 and there were enough goings-on to fill a 調書をとる／予約する.
"How the dooce did that happen?"
"Reckon he musta been soused, don't you? I reckon that he's taken to drink lately, an' young Milly's got 持つ／拘留する of it an' that's why she （疑いを）晴らすd out suddent like."
"Has she （疑いを）晴らすd out?" Tommy's 注目する，もくろむs 公正に／かなり leapt.
"When the Missus and ole Lucy took the youngster to Sydney, Nally wuz here with ole Skinny Guts, an' all of a suddent he said he had 商売／仕事 in Bool Bool, an' he sent Jane home so as we couldn't be doin' nothin' wrong with the pore innercent little girl," Billy put his thumb to his nose, "an' young Milly was to go 負かす／撃墜する to Keba for a week. She went over the river for a night fust, takin' nothink but a little valise. That wuz all 権利, and then ole Skinny come 支援する, an' we hear Larry is all 破産した／（警察が）手入れするd up, an' nothink at all about young Milly comin' 支援する at all; an' then nearly a week later ole Skinny comes to me with a 小包 the size of a sugar-捕らえる、獲得する an' tells me to ketch the mailman at Keba with it, an' I see it was 演説（する）／住所d to Milly at Curradoobidgee—must er been her duds, I reckon. Now I gotter ride over termorrer an' bring Jane home, so it looks as if the Missus an' youngster must be makin' 跡をつけるs for this shanty. But don't you reckon Larry's been on the booze? There's been some 肉親，親類d of a 破産した／（警察が）手入れする-up の中で 'em, that's plain."
Nothing of the filly. Tommy was too 技術d a news-gatherer to put his foot in the fabric. "What do you reckon Larry was doin' poochin' about ole Billy's ネズミ-罠（にかける）s—that ain't on the direk bridle-跡をつける from Keba to Ten Creeks?"
"That's why I reckon he was 戦車／タンクd up, an' young Milly belted off to Poole. She allers runs to him like as if he wuz her ma. I smell a ネズミ somewhere, don't you?"
"You mean Larry was on the big brown outer that ole chestnut ole Larry used ter ride?" Long Billy nodded. "井戸／弁護士席, it stan's to 推論する／理由, if he wuz drunk, a mountain-bred horse like that would have took him home 安全な an' not been runnin' の間の no wallaby-炭坑，オーケストラ席. An ole cab-horse rared on Sydney gas-jets would know enough fer that."
Tommy, agog to 追求する this lively spoor, made Wamgambril Springs his next place of call, 表面上は to 問い合わせ after the new baby and Larry. The baby was pronounced a blue-ribboner and then he turned to 検査／視察する Larry.
"It's a life-saver to see you," said Larry. "How's the season 負かす／撃墜する the river?"
"The seasons seem to have gone mad, but all the same it's not what you'd call too stinkin'. What the dooce have you been and gone and done to yourself? Been havin' no end of a birthday by the look er things."
"By golly, I don't know what happened till it did, and I wasn't drunk I might tell you—hadn't a taste of anything stronger than tea for a fortnight, but I might 同様に tell that to the grey magpies: so they can think what they 炎上ing 井戸／弁護士席 like."
Deftest prospecting got nothing その上の from Larry, and left Tommy with whetted curiosity. He decided to 検査／視察する the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 and 辞退するd an 招待 to stay the night. "Some other time, thanks, but a feller I know is in a hurry for 肌s so I'll 減少（する） in on ole Heffernan while I'm so 近づく."
Though his 適切な時期s were not so rich and his disposition more 怪しげな, Heffernan was Tommy's peer as a bush telegraph. Roper 棒 to the hut 用意が出来ている to do some news-貿易（する）ing. He took it upon himself to stay the night, volunteering to make flap-jacks. Afterwards, when 麻薬を吸うs were going, he opened up. "I heerd furder 負かす／撃墜する the river that Larry 設立する that roan Young Whisker filly that was supposed to be dead that time we wuz all on the string 追跡（する）ing for her. You 港／避難所't seen her anywhere, have you?"
"Never heard anything about it," said Heffernan 慎重に, but an inner light was exciting him.
"I had it from a man who seen him goin' by with the horse. He said he had someone with him, too. Do you reckon he an' someone had a fight over the filly, an' that's how he got 粉砕するd?"
"I don't reckon the fight was about a horse," said Heffernan, as if he knew much more.
"A 女性（の）, eh?" Tommy winked dexterously.
"What 女性（の）?"
"What 女性（の） is most 利益／興味d in young Larry?"
"Old Mother Humphreys?" Heffernan cackled at his own wit. The inner circles of ribaldry had a 中心的要素 joke about Heffernan's rebuff by this practitioner.
"What 女性（の） is most 利益／興味d in the Young Whisker filly?" Heffernan 概算の that Tommy knew more than he did himself. He produced the hat-pin and tattered 隠す.
"Ever seen either of them things before?"
"I remember a hat-pin same as that."
"What do you reckon them gewgaws was doin' beside my wallaby-炭坑，オーケストラ席 the mornin' I got Larry out?"
Roper whistled long and suggestively. Then he doffed guards and they put the pieces together with gusto. What Milly and Larry were doing at the salt-shed not 直接／まっすぐに on the 跡をつける to anywhere some time between the Friday night, on which 米，稲 Leary said they left Goulburn, and the Monday morning when Billy went his 一連の会議、交渉／完成するs, was a 事柄 for 憶測. Familiarity with 確かな male propensities until that date unrealized by Milly 補佐官d them in their 結論s.
"What do you reckon we'll find out next?" said Roper.
"That Milly will —— 井戸／弁護士席 go to Sydney for a long stay like Dot." Heffernan winked as dexterously as Roper.
*
Lucy, Aileen, and Lawrence John did not arrive at Stanton's Plains till time for the Christmas family 集会 there. Lawrence was an 反対する of 利益／興味. Maggots はうing into the ears had 原因（となる）d 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な trouble, but the specialist was 希望に満ちた of 回復 in time. His mother also was very 井戸／弁護士席. She slept soundly, 解放する／自由な from nightmares of snakes, and had a good appetite. She did not, however, 回復する her backbone, not that she had 所有するd a stiff one. She seemed to be lost without Lucy, who directed her far more 堅固に than she had dared to を取り引きする Milly, since that young lady could 持つ／拘留する her own spoon and bat in the 注目する，もくろむ those that crossed her will.
When the excitement of arrival 沈下するd, SP-over-J had to 知らせる Lucy how Milly had distinguished herself. に引き続いて Tommy Roper's peregrination, the country 公正に／かなり palpitated from Yass and Queanbeyan to Goulburn and Turrill Turrill and 支援する again to Bool Bool and Monaro. The family, the last to be 知らせるd of the scandalous element of the adventure, had at length to take notice. Some of the gossip reaching Stanton's ears was as infuriating as what he had overheard 関心ing himself the day that Towser was 毒（薬）d. He and Lucy had high words as the 報告（する）／憶測 proceeded.
"You せねばならない have kept Milly under a little more and this sort of thing wouldn't have happened."
"You might have taken care of her while I was away with the baby and his mother, who didn't look after him, or that mess wouldn't have been."
They 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするd it 支援する and 前へ／外へ till they （機の）カム to the trite 結論 that nothing could be done by crying over spilt milk, and that the 現在の problem must be 扱うd.
"The whole country says that Larry will have to marry her," said SP-over-J.
"He was always pestering me to do that, but I don't like it. His prospects are not very 有望な, and if he's going to be a 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なう it will be no joke." She dared not say that she hated the thought of any more Healeys. "Have you said anything to Larry about it, and asked him what he meant by 事実上の／代理 that way with a young girl as soon as your 支援する was turned; and do you know that she has really come to—to—you know, any real 害（を与える）, or is it only scandalmongering?"
"I thought it better to 嘘（をつく） low till you （機の）カム home. Charlotte 存在 at Curradoobidgee, it is the best place for Milly to be out of mischief for the 現在の."
"Wonderful how Milly has always 行為／法令／行動するd as if Bert was her father." Milly having 急ぐd straight off to Poole was a saving element to her mother. SP-over-J grunted. He thought it was Lucy who 手配中の，お尋ね者 Poole as Milly's stepfather; as for Milly and Poole, he was 非難するd if he knew what they thought, but anything that hatched there would not upset SP-over-J.
"I'll have to go straight up to Monaro and talk 本気で to Milly," said Lucy. Her brother gave a wizened grin, and said in that 事例／患者 Aileen had better stay at Stanton's Plains or go to Neangen to see her mother until Lucy returned. It was thus tacitly settled that in 未来 Aileen was not fit to be mistress of her own 世帯. This 回復するd Lucy to a 限定された status with her brother.
Milly's abstraction continued. In spite of her pluck and her repudiation of Larry she felt herself shamed and 不名誉d. Worse, in her young ignorance she was haunted by possible serious consequences. Sex knowledge had to come to girls in underhand whispers in her day, and in her excited 明言する／公表する she had 誇張するd 可能性s out of all 割合 till she was obsessed and robbed of sleep and peace.
Poole, watching closely, saw that she was losing 負わせる, while her 注目する，もくろむs had a sunken look that 追加するd years to her age. He felt it was time to 介入する. 適切な時期 occurred one day when Milly with an 態度 foreign to her had pleaded 頭痛, and stayed mooning about the house while Gharlotte went over to Jinn's.
"Say, Milly, old pal, what is it?" he said, placing a kindly 手渡す on her shoulder as they loitered in the 製図／抽選-room after dinner. "You 港／避難所't forgotten 約束ing me that if ever you needed my help you'd ask for it." He swung her 一連の会議、交渉／完成する to look 深く，強烈に in her 直面する. What he saw 原因（となる）d him to sit 負かす／撃墜する and 解除する her on to his 膝, as he had not done, for his own sake, for several years now.
"Is it Larry?"
"Yes."
"Do you care very much about him?" He tautly を待つd her reply.
Milly started aghast. "I hate the sight of him. I loathe him! At first I was horrified that I had killed him, and now いつかs I'm sorry that he's alive, because it was his own fault. I didn't know the 炭坑，オーケストラ席 was there."
"It was 完全に his own fault, all that happened to him as far as that is 関心d, but for your sake it is much better that he is alive. If you don't like him, what is the worry?"
"Oh, Uncle Bert, can you help me; what am I to do? I'll die if you can't help me."
"That sounds terribly serious. Tell me all about it." Poole's 静かな years had been rich in that experience which can become a 重要な to the heart of groping, heady 青年. He would never be 有罪の of phrases or quips such as had fallen from Potter and Dice to 凍結する 自白 or wither 控訴，上告 for enlightenment. Under his 静めるing 親切 the girl's 拷問d 苦しめる 宙返り／暴落するd 前へ／外へ. Nothing was withheld, not even what Milly would have died rather than discuss with her mother, who, though 罰金 for lots of 問題／発行するs, had not her daughter's 信用／信任 in this field.
A delicate half-question here and there and Poole was able to 回復する his 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 to harmonious sanity. She remained in his 武器, her 直面する against his heart, his chin 残り／休憩（する）ing on her wealth of 有望な locks. Her 武器 stole 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck—試験的に. No 返答. The lowering of his 長，率いる was the only 産する／生じるing to 誘惑. Milly put her cheek against his.
"I'm never going to leave you again—never! If I had really been 不名誉d I was going to ask you to marry me to save me. You 約束d long, long ago when I was young to help me no 事柄 how big a mess I was in, either that or I should have had to kill myself." Thus to inexperience ぼんやり現れる desperate expedients.
Poole 改善するd his embrace, the 血 drumming in his ears with an excitation long forgotten but sweeter than ever, though this was madness—sheer madness. Presently he would wake from a dream into sanity, and the ブレーキs of ありふれた sense and decency would have to be 適用するd with a 衝突，墜落.
"In any 事例／患者 it could never, never have come to that while your old Bert was alive to save you."
"You would have saved me, even if...if..."
"Of course! You bet your life, mad with joy to have had the chance. It was all in the 取引 we made, our old compact." Ah, he thought, what a 特権 to help such fragrant 青年 to mend its broken 保護物，者!
"Oh, you darling, darling!" The strong young 武器 強化するd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する his neck. "Then do you remember that you are engaged to me, have been ever since the time of the 橋（渡しをする） 開始?"
"Do you remember too?"
"As if I could forget a compact! You said it was to be a secret 約束／交戦. It is time to make it public now."
This was surely delirium tremens; something from his 負傷させるd foot had 一時的に 影響する／感情d his brain, but ah, it was 甘い while it lasted! "Milly, we have gone to sleep and are dreaming a lovely dream."
"Yes, and when we wake up we'll find it true."
"All 権利! Hush-a-bye baby, on the tree 最高の，を越す," he said playfully, placing her more comfortably and 落ちるing silent in his grandly 静かな way. No appropriate words （機の）カム to him. Milly nestled blissfully on her 激しく揺する of 同情的な understanding. Uncle Bert was always perfect. He never failed her and she was taking the only way of 安全な・保証するing him for her very own, having grown to 十分な understanding to marvel that she had not lost her chance long since. 救済 flooded her harried soul. Her eyelids drooped. Bert looked 負かす／撃墜する and caught a drowsy smile.
The old clock on the mantel ticked loudly. Queen Victoria in her girlish comeliness looked 負かす／撃墜する upon them from above it, her consort by her 味方する. A 女／おっせかい屋, feeling the moment auspicious, introduced her chicks to the flower-beds in the sunlight to be seen through the open doorway. She scratched like a ハリケーン undisturbed. Cocky, dozing on a rail 近づく the geranium-マリファナs, screeched at the vandalism, and, waddling across the boards, hopped 負かす／撃墜する the steps to 調査／捜査する. No one （機の）カム at his call, so he 放棄するd police 義務 and joined in the 略奪するing. さらに先に afield could be heard the cackling of 女／おっせかい屋s, bad housekeepers these, late at their 義務s. Occasionally the moo of a cow, the neigh of a horse, or the yap of a dog carried to the comfortable old room, arranged in bygone fashion, and a monument to the good taste of old Stepmother Poole. Such sounds embellished rather than 乱すd the silence, and grew softer as the sparkling heat climbed に向かって 3 p.m.
Milly was sleeping easily, repose in every line.
Out through the open doorway was a wide rolling Monaro 見解（をとる）, the road to Gowandale like an ivory 略章 running over a knoll, disappearing and 再現するing and losing itself in the blue horizon of the 範囲s far away. As the silence 広げるd in the 頂点（に達する） of the afternoon the lullaby of Poole's Creek drifted in like a far 甘い 勝利，勝つd faintly borne from 楽園, and to Poole, this moment irrespective of all that had been in his more than sixty years, in spite of all that could be in the twenty or so more coming to him, was 楽園 unqualified.
A man might 井戸／弁護士席 物々交換する his soul for such a moment.
Cocky thought the silence called for examination. He climbed the steps with the 援助（する） of his beak, making guttural murmurs as he 進歩d across the veranda, and entered the 製図／抽選-room, a splendid gentleman in his 雪の降る，雪の多い plumage. Seeing his master's 占領／職業 he raised his crest with magisterial 空気／公表する, his 黒人／ボイコット beak very smart and his 黒人／ボイコット tongue moving in it like an indiarubber ball.
"What's this?" he 問い合わせd.
"You might 井戸／弁護士席 ask, old man," whispered Poole, with a soft laugh of joy.
Cocky did not relish 存在 ignored. He walked all 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the peculiar pair, his claws making their own sound on the hardwood boards, 暴露するd but for a splendid 肌 here and there. Then he climbed Poole's 膝. He was 解除するd away and 始める，決める 負かす／撃墜する at a distance. This annoyed him. He 受託するd attentions from Milly but would not be 抑えるd on her に代わって. He 設立するd himself on Poole's shoulder and 需要・要求するd, "Hullo! What's this?" Receiving no answer, he began to scold the dog.
"You're no gentleman, Cocky," said Poole. "But perhaps you are bringing me to ありふれた sense."
Having wakened the sleeper he was ready to be agreeable. "Cocky doesn't know what to make of us," said Poole.
"Ask him to be best man at our wedding. He looks like an old J.P.—pity he couldn't marry us now without fuss."
So! When awake and relieved of her 恐れるs she still meant it. にもかかわらず it was madness, and if translated from the dream to actuality he would be culpable of something as reprehensible as the 圧力 SP-over-J had put upon Aileen Healey.
"I hear Mrs M'George coming with tea."
"I don't care," said Milly. But Poole, on guard for her, stood her on the 床に打ち倒す and all was normal when the guid soul appeared. "We'll have to tell everybody," Milly continued, when 注ぐing tea.
"Do you think we'd better?"
"You don't mean you want to break our compact!"
"The whole tribe would want to give me a bait for such a thing, and I should deserve it. Surely you were old enough to remember something of what they thought of your Uncle Jack; and he was a year or two younger than I am now, and Aileen was a good many years older than you are, my lady."
"That was because he took her away from Ronald, and I was born older than poor Aunt Aileen will ever have the savvy to be."
"That's probably true. But still and all you're not as old as you'll be ten or twenty years hence, and if I took advantage of the whim of a young girl and you woke up to find yourself with a toothless old josser on your 手渡すs..."
"It's not you that's taking advantage of me. I'm taking advantage of you."
"I believe that's true, too. You are making a 動揺させるing fool of me. Aunt Charlotte will have to bring us 支援する to 推論する／理由. Don't you think it had better be the same old secret 約束／交戦 just for you and me, till one day you'll come and tell me that you have 選ぶd a nice young chap? I 約束 never to 告訴する you for 違反 of 約束."
"Oh no! You are not going to leave me to get into more troubles with no-chop young men. You don't—what I mean is, don't you want me?" she 需要・要求するd, looking 深く，強烈に and 真面目に into his 注目する，もくろむs.
"Milly, that would be like 辞退するing 楽園. It is of you I am thinking."
"井戸／弁護士席, then, we must tell Aunt Charlotte and make it 安全な・保証する as soon as possible, or someone else will be snapping you up."
Charlotte, in the judicious Poole way, said only that she was so astonished that she must have time to think. She spent a night of 疑惑. She had long wished her brother to have a wife and children of his own, but this was a fantastic notion of this high-spirited girl, this child, young enough to be his granddaughter. It was unseemly. Oh, that he had chosen someone suitable to his years! But who was there? Jessie M'Eachern, but she was as rough as a man to look at, and old and 始める，決める in her ways, and if they had not made a go of it long ago, it was sensible of them to know it was beyond them now. Everyone said Lucy Saunders was willing, a 有能な nice-looking woman and managing—too managing. Charlotte could not picture Bert comfortable, driven from his 静かな easiness by her. There was Mrs Labosseer, his old 炎上 at Coolooluk, 近づく his own age, but fat and a grandmother—that was impossible. There were the Dice sisters, the Farquharsons, and other young women ready to 逮捕（する） Curradoobidgee Poole, but though they were more than ten years older than Milly they did not seem to fit, either.
Second thoughts of Milly were not so startling. There had always been a strong affinity between these two. It was possible that they could 連合させる the 関係 of daughter and wife, husband and father, and that it might work until that shoal ahead, such a little way ahead too, when Poole must become decrepit while Milly rose to her prime. But that shoal might never he reached. It would 原因（となる） talk, but only a nine-days wonder, and Charlotte had known many in her time. It couldn't be any worse than the indecent talk forty-five years ago when 行方不明になる Mayborn, the English governess, to the astonishment of the whole 地区, had married her father, trimmed his 耐えるd and disciplined him, and remade life for the family.
"What is to be, will be," she murmured, and fell asleep.
Poole's own 疑惑s were more disquieting. In ten years he would have the real old man upon him, and Milly, twenty-eight, would be at the crest of youthful 成熟. Would she loathe him then?
He lay awake all night 格闘するing with 誘惑, and with the 夜明け and the 冷静な／正味の 勝利，勝つd 広範囲にわたる 負かす／撃墜する from Eaglehawk, the spectre disappeared and he turned a 直面する of 深い happiness to the rising sun. He would take this gift. It should be Milly's to use him in 一致 with her 願望（する） and her need. He would take this evening smile of nature for ten, five, or only three years. There was no 疑問 the child was happy with him now, and theirs was a long, 刻々と 円熟したing friendship and understanding. When his senility should 危うくする their edifice built without 手渡すs—井戸／弁護士席, a man had only to die once; there were lots of simple 事故s to a man of 資源; and youthful widowhood was no bad thing.
*
Lucy Saunders and Stanton were 知らせるd before it was let go any その上の. Lucy was 深く，強烈に chagrined and shocked. She said it was not to be thought of, and ordered Milly home. Stanton went up to Monaro to bring her away himself. He was 冷笑的な and sneering, but not dangerous, as he revelled in Poole's 落ちる.
"I've come to 救助（する） Milly. I've got all the advice you gave me without 存在 asked, saved up for you, and you're older in the horn than I was five years ago, and Milly is younger than Aileen was."
"You can spare your breath," said Poole good-temperedly. "I've remembered it all, Jack, and you can't tell me anything I 港／避難所't thought."
"And are you going on?"
"If Milly doesn't change her mind, I am. There is one difference, if I might say it without offence—Milly is willing." He could have said that Milly had 提案するd, both now and earlier, but that secret he kept for himself.
"She is now, but perhaps later the 悔いるs will be on her 味方する. There's no fool like an old fool. Don't you think, Bert, that you and I have left it so long that we had better leave marriage altogether now? Milly's a taking little girl, but rather a child. Do you remember reeling that off to me?" Stanton laughed heartily.
"Yes, Jack. I know it all, but Milly is an exceptional child."
"Christ, that's good!" said SP-over-J, and 激しく揺するd with rare enjoyment. "It's 非，不，無 of my 商売／仕事, of course, only I hope you tvill be able to keep your noddle later if things don't turn out 正確に／まさに 楽園. It is いつかs better to squabash things in the egg 行う／開催する／段階." Stanton would have been disappointed to find Poole could be deterred.
Milly, who had no 疑惑s, no 保留（地）／予約s in her happiness, 取り組むd her uncle, swinging upon his arm. "Uncle Jack, it's lovely and friendly of you to come as soon as you heard the news. I was bridesmaid for you, and you must give me away in return. And, Uncle Jack, don't you think you had better take me to Turrill Turrill and have me married from there? It will save a lot of talk." Stanton liked Milly swinging on his arm. She warmed his constricted heart as so very few could. He remembered how she had stuck to him through his wedding, and all through his married life. He might lecture her mother about her behind her 支援する, but his 膝s gave in her presence.
"Couldn't you find someone nearer the 甥 age for me? It will look rather silly to have Bert calling me uncle, won't it?" He chuckled もう一度.
"I wish he was a bit younger," 認める Milly. "But that can't be helped. I'd rather have him a hundred and eighty than anyone else at any age."
"You'll have to 直面する your mother."
"Let her stay at Ten Creeks and look after Aunt Aileen and you can do everything for me at Turrill Turrill."
"Why didn't you bolt and get it over that way?"
"As if I was ashamed! I want a real wedding with you helping me."
"I suppose I'll have to fork up a 現在の. Do you want a very swell trousseau?"
"Uncle jack, you know you are a scrumptious darling!"
No other called Jack Stanton such 指名するs. They went to his 長，率いる or his heart. "You know, Milly, I'd like to see you happy," he said in accents of unwonted affection, "but in the course of nature Bert will have to leave you."
"I can't 耐える to think of that. Perhaps Aunt Aileen and I could keep each other company." There were 涙／ほころびs on Milly's 攻撃するs. She was not engaging in repartee. Stanton forbore to continue the discussion in that direction.
"井戸／弁護士席, if you can bring your mother 一連の会議、交渉／完成する, I can't stop you from doing what you want."
*
Poole 巡礼の旅d to his old friend 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma Mazere. He 手配中の，お尋ね者 to tell her himself of Milly's affection for him. She took it wonderfully 井戸／弁護士席, but, then, Poole did not seem so old to her.
"You have left it very late, my boy, and the girl is over-young for you. Do you think it is wise?"
"No, Mrs Mazere, I do not. I have had terrible 疑惑s. I am ready to 解放（する） Milly."
"She was always very fond of you. She is not an unwilling bride. Her 長，率いる is older than those on most young shoulders. The danger is that you may leave her with a young family, that is hard on a woman."
"That happens to those who have young husbands too いつかs."
"やめる true, and いつかs it would be easier to be left a 未亡人 than 苦しむ what some wives do."
"I shall be able to 供給する for her comfortably."
"井戸／弁護士席, my boy, if it is the Lord's will, He can settle all things. I hope you will be happy and that the Lord will bless you. You must be 患者 with 青年."
"I shall, so help me God, if 青年 will be 患者 with me."
*
The news was a blow to Larry. There had been moments of wild hope that the スキャンダル would 運動 Milly to him, though underneath he knew her better than that. He had lost at the salt-shed for ever and must cover up 敗北・負かす as best he could. He was not coming out of this as spiritually 無傷の as he had from his other misdemeanour. When convalescent he gratefully 受託するd an 招待 to go to Billy-go-Billy. Once there his 縮むing from Norah Alfreda 消えるd. She was an engaging and 極度の慎重さを要する chatterbox who delighted in her new 支配する and 誘発するd a 活動停止中の love of children, which made him blossom in secret wonder and pride, in his 株 in the child's 血統／生まれ.
His thoughts turned to Dot. Had she no 利益／興味 in her child? Was she 脅すd of it as he had been; would personal 接触する alter that?—though in the nature of things she must have seen the 幼児. Was she an unnatural mother? How could she be さもなければ in the circumstances—and they of his making? Larry was soft at the 核心, and the generous unselfish 親切 of Norah and Alf showed him his own delinquencies. His sympathies awakened に向かって Dot. 以前は he had wished to hear of her 性質の／したい気がして of as the wife of anyone: in 見解（をとる） of his 発見 of Norah Alfreda, he was relieved that Dot was still 解放する／自由な. He wondered why. Did she care more for him than for Dice? He was pricked by that inner 証拠不十分, a 良心. The 願望（する） to make 修正するs overtook him.
Dot, on the contrary, was ますます embittered by what she had been through and continued to 耐える. She had no debilitating sense of her own shortcomings, and regarded Larry and a mad impulse as 完全に 責任がある her ignominious 状況／情勢. She did not 軟化する to Ronald, and was 疲れた／うんざりした of her life. The hard possessive 態度 and unrelaxing exactions of her mother were insupportable. Because of her daughter's 落ちる, and her 介入 with her husband, the old lady considered Dot her special 所有物／資産／財産, and Dot lay awake many a night longing for a housemaid's 職業 at the Wynyard Hotel in Sydney as an escape. Marriage was her only practicable 開始 and she had a vengeful notion to 解放する／自由な herself from Saunders Plains by marrying Larry, but hardly 推定する／予想するd him to approach her again.
The 告示 of Milly's 約束／交戦 自然に 原因（となる）d a freshet of gossip, に引き続いて as it did upon the escapade with Larry Healey. In the talk that blew 支援する and 前へ／外へ across the 範囲s Dot could not escape the 主張s that Larry had been infatuated with Milly. 井戸／弁護士席! Ronald had been even wilder in 追跡 of Aileen, yet here he was now moaning after herself. Men! thought Dot contemptuously.
The Poole 甥s and nieces had always 推定する／予想するd something like this to happen, but にもかかわらず had not believed Uncle Bert would be やめる so silly as to 許す himself to be fastened upon by an 幼児 out of the cradle. They did not say much of this in Uncle Bert's 審理，公聴会. He did not 招待する impertinence, he was so good-natured that it fell away from him, his 記録，記録的な／記録する 奮起させるd 尊敬（する）・点 and he was dearly loved. He looked so contented and 井戸／弁護士席 that his 同時代のs thought the 危険 he was taking 価値（がある） while, even if bliss could not last: and how many love 事件／事情／状勢s did last, when you took your coat off to them? said the worldly wise.
広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma Mazere and Aunt Charlotte uttered no word of 批評, and の中で the youngsters Milly had always 追求するd an 初めの path more の中で adults than those of her own years. Lucy Saunders tried to 延期する the wedding till Milly was twenty-one. "Three more years on to Bert's age would probably cure her," she said, but Milly was no Aileen to be 妨害するd. Also Lucy's circle were more humorous than 同情的な to her, for they considered she was jealous herself not to be the bride. She felt that to let Milly have her way might be the lesser trouble. She would at least be 供給するd for, and Lucy now had a métier with her brother, and so gave in. She 勧めるd a little 延期する for the 約束d year in society. Poole also recommended this, but Milly would not be deflected. So it was decided that the marriage should take place from Turrill Turrill in March and the family return there 早期に for this.
Heffernan stuck the silver hat-pin in the rafter of his hut as a mascot. It had no 商業の value. 米，稲 Leary was 正当化するd in his opinion and let it be known to Tommy Roper. "Sure, didn't I tell you that 行方不明になる Milly wouldn't let anyone cook her goose for her? Pulled 権利 支援する an' broke the bridle, if I know anything! She wouldn't sit 負かす／撃墜する under what a few old magpies said about her. Wonder what she saw in such an old feller though, an upstanding 血 filly like that. Wasn't rared onder a 貯蔵所, eh, Mick?"
"Sure, she knew a rale man whin she saw him, and didn't moind a bit of age. She knew at anny age he'd be betther than these flea-長，率いるd gomerils they're rarin' today—rared onder a hin, huh, they've been rared onder a bed-bug!"
Rebecca and Norah in the 私的な parlour of the hotel had many a confabulation.
"Sure, wondhers will never 中止する! Oi'll not be surprised if I hear anny day of ould 広大な／多数の／重要な-granny Mazere herself walkin' off with a young feller half her age."
"There's plenty would do it for the 所有物／資産／財産, if they could be sure it all went to her."
"It's Lucy Saunders is the disappointed woman."
"More suitable it would have been. Still an' all, Milly was always an 半端物 child, and much more ふさわしい to 存在 an old man's darling than a young man's slave. She's settled, at any 率. Poole has a good sound 所有物／資産／財産 and he will give it all to her—and the sort of man to have money in the bank 同様に, that is when the banks mend."
"Sure, he's betther than Ronald or Larry. There's something powerful quare and peculiar about what happened Larry. Milly could tell more of that than Larry'd loike annywan to know, by what Tommy Roper was hintin' in the 妨げる／法廷，弁護士業."
"If all's true Stanton would have been within his 権利s to turn Aileen out, and then Ronald dropped her and took to Dot. Strange she won't have him now."
"They tell me whin Larry was goin' through from Dan Spires's he met Dot 権利 in the road, and she pulled up and asked him how he was. The Stantons' servant told my Julia, and Dot said, 'You betther come an' see me whin you're 井戸／弁護士席.' What do you make of it?"
"They'll get sorted out in the end. Tommy said the last Sunday he was at Keba, Ronald was there hanging 一連の会議、交渉／完成する Rose Farquharson."
"Sure, a rose on ivery bush for Ronald."
"Milly is not going to show herself here till after the wedding. Little Ignez Milford is going to be the only bridesmaid. They're going to Monaro after the honeymoon and not show up here till the commotion has died 負かす／撃墜する."
"There's 病弱な thing you've never told me, phwat did Dot do with the choild?"
"It will come out in the wash presently. It's always facts that I tell you, isn't it?"
"'Tis there, it is. Av coorse, I'd believe ye if ye said ould Mr Eustace Blenkinsop—the ould scut—was going to marry Mrs Labosseer at Coolooluk, and that Teddy O'Mara was chose for the next mimber of 議会 for Bool Bool...But sure, Poole's more of an 穏やかな fool than I would have thought him. Left it till he's gone silly, an' 選ぶd a choild."
"Jacob says he's a lucky devil."
"Och, wouldn't ivery dhrivellin' ould 広大な／多数の／重要な-gran'pa run off wid a little gurrul in short frocks if he could! Sure, they seem to 欠如（する） aise entoirely in that rayspict, an' whin they settle 負かす／撃墜する 'tis because some ould woman who can see through thim has a broomstick in pickle to 迎撃する their capers."
Philip Mazere, third of the 指名する, 一般的に known as Young Philip, went to the 地位，任命する-office with a bundle of 電報電信s.
GREAT-GRANDMA PASSED AWAY PEACEFULLY IN SLEEP 2 AM FUNERAL SUNDAY WOULD LIKE YOU TO COME MAZERE
One of these went to Poole of Curradoobidgee, Monaro; another to 行方不明になる Jessie M'Eachern hard by; a third to Raymond Poole, Macquarie 議会s, Sydney; a fourth to John Stanton, Turrill Turrill, Riverina; others to 指名するs 井戸／弁護士席 known from Gundagai to Goulburn. A long message was 演説（する）／住所d to Prendergast, a still longer one to Joseph Mazere to his last known 演説（する）／住所.
"By Jove, we'll all 行方不明になる her!" 観察するd the 地位，任命する-and-telegraphmaster. "Bool Bool won't seem the same any more. She's always been there for everyone in the place. There isn't anyone left to remember Bool Bool before she （機の）カム."
"There wasn't any Bool Bool before she （機の）カム. She's the last of them all. There are only the M'Haffetys and Isaacs and Browning anywhere 近づく her age that have been here from nearly the beginning."
"She'll have a 広大な／多数の／重要な funeral."
"We're afraid of overlooking someone. If you think of anyone left out of that 名簿（に載せる）／表（にあげる）, I'd be 強いるd if you would let me know."
"I sce you have old 法案 Prendergast."
"Yes. She 後部d his wife, and it was a 約束 that he'd take her for her last 運動."
"I'll never forget her going to the 橋（渡しをする） that day as spry as a girl under her parasol, and those four greys stepping so they wouldn't break an egg-爆撃する...I'll get these away at once."
Philip Mazere murmured a word of thanks and went up Stanton Street, which ran out of the 郡区 into a red road that topped a （疑いを）晴らすd 山のふもとの丘 or two and disappeared into the blue 範囲s, still untouched of man に向かって Mungee and Coolooluk. He was a tal! dark man in the forties, favouring his mother's people in 外見. He 停止（させる）d as he turned into Mazere's 小道／航路 and meditated on the panoramic 見解（をとる）. It had changed little within his memory, and it was his birthplace. Most of the town had appeared in the gold-急ぐ period of the late fifties and 早期に sixties and since had dozed in 逮捕（する）d 開発. The valley in the 範囲s まっただ中に plentiful watercourses had been left very beautiful by the Creator and the aborigines, and though the 植民／開拓者s had done their best to tame it without 代用品，人ing any worthy 作品 of man, their 成果／努力s had so far been too puny to obliterate natural loveliness. The cottages devoid of architectural grace, 始める，決める 負かす／撃墜する where the 木材／素質 had been indiscriminately extirpated, were the most disfiguring feature. The river, 声の as it circled the town, was still 国境d by shrubs and ferns of unique 種類, and where these had been thinned the weeping willows 追加するd an 外国人 feature like mermaids' tresses. Their long green ropes of young leaves shaded into the darker clover and rye on the rich river-banks. The willows away from the stream were cropped level as ballet skirts, and with the big acacia-trees gave a park-like beauty to the Mazere paddocks.
Philip 進歩d thoughtfully under an avenue of さまざまな trees, the 早期に hop-leaves of some 巨大（な） elms a 奇蹟 of loveliness against the sun. Yes, it would be strange to be without Greatgrandma—like the end of a 王朝. She had held so many of the family together in the cluster of homes. The disposition of the 所有物／資産／財産 would make a scatter 必然的な. In the nature of things the old lady's death was 予定. A ４半期/4分の1 of a century ago Grandpa Mazere had died, and every Christmas since, a bumper 集会 had been 決起大会／結集させるd on the スローガン "It might be Grandma's last." It was a family, nay a town, joke.
Philip looked away over the rich flats where the main street carried the road across the white 橋（渡しをする） and hid it の中で the 小道／航路s high and wild with perfumed English hedge roses 工場／植物d by the 初めの Mazere's English gardener, Grubb. The road （機の）カム to sight again 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 山のふもとの丘s, and finally disappeared beyond Saunders Plains in the Nanda 範囲s, still little troubled of man. His ちらりと見ること circled to where Brennan's Gap let the Wamgambril through to Stanton's Plains, then on to the endless ramparts of the Bogongs and Muniongs Monarowards, whence his mother's people （機の）カム. The 植民／開拓者s had scarcely made a scratch on that 地域 yet.
Too much rain again 約束d too much grass, with smut in the wheat, the maize flattened, the fruit watery, aphides on the apples and peaches, 瓶／封じ込める and fluke and foot-rot 脅すing the sheep, but the season was glorious at its inception. Surely the English meadows that Grandpa had talked so much about could not be more vivid than the valleys and 山のふもとの丘s of Bool Bool? The pink of peach and almond blossom brightened the dark river foliage where seedlings had sprung up and laid a feast for possums and birds. From every backyard （機の）カム the cackle of fecund 女／おっせかい屋s, and many turkeys roamed the knolls まっただ中に the sheep of the Mazere runs, and contested the 権利 of the town ありふれた where Stanton Street became the Mungee and Coolooluk road.
*
The Big House and New House and Young Philip's at Three Rivers homestead were （人が）群がるd to every sofa, all but that 部分 構成するing the dining-room and billiard-room, long known to the wits as the Town Hall of Bool Bool. Here the little old lady, a friend to all, known so long and known only as 完全に good, held her last 歓迎会 in 明言する／公表する. Her daughters and granddaughters and 広大な／多数の／重要な-granddaughters had made a coverlet of purple violets adorned by a cross of white ones. Violets grew in every waste nook about the gardens, which had spread 関わりなく space. When a continent stretched 一連の会議、交渉／完成する untouched, what need to consider the disposition of a few roods or acres? Never were such 集まりs of English violets of such perfume as known to the valley of Bool Bool. Folks there could tread on violet carpets as in ordinary places they step on lawns.
Queen Victoria and her consort looked 負かす／撃墜する upon 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma 残り／休憩（する）ing upon her trestles. The 王族s were 側面に位置するd by some old steel engravings and by the popular Lord Carrington—very grand as to epaulets—and by his lady, very わずかな／ほっそりした as to waist. A rich array of 厚かましさ／高級将校連 candlesticks still 株d the high mantel and the old chiffonier with vases and cruets of twelve 瓶／封じ込めるs each, though Three Rivers had been a 開拓する with kerosene lamps with incandescent wicks. Grandpa's 追跡（する）ing prints and fowling-pieces enlivened the 塀で囲むs, and above the doorway instead of antlers were polished bullock horns and lyre-bird tails. The long hospitable dining-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and the billiard-（米）棚上げする／（英）提議する had been placed along the 塀で囲むs and piled with the 洪水 of flowers. The 空気／公表する was oppressive with violet and narcissus, and the odour of lilac and lemon blossoms （機の）カム in through the windows.
Philip wondered why so many old people died in spring. Grandpa Mazere, the old Saunderses, Stantons, and Brennans had all passed in spring. The perfume of spring flowers was reminiscent of funerals to him. There was much to do and he turned from meditation to his 義務s as practising male 長，率いる of the 一族／派閥 at Three Rivers; his father at sixty-six was so much the slave of alcohol that he could not be depended upon. His aunts, Isabel Stanton, Rachel Labosseer, Fannie Rankin, with his mother, took turns in sitting beside 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma and in …に出席するing those who （機の）カム to make a last call. Every hour saw fresh floral 尊敬の印s and 電報電信s of 弔慰 or new arrivals for the funeral.
M'Haffety's was 十分な, and those whom the popular 市長 knew all became his guests. "Sure, am Oi a hucksther that Oi'd 告発（する），告訴（する）／料金 the frinds of her, me bist frind in the wurruld, more than me own mother iver was to me—comin' to see her put to her last sleep?"
Those anear were all accounted for. All the Labosseers and Mungee Stantons were there, …に出席するd by Teddy O'Mara and Mr Blenkinsop. Mr Blenkinsop had lost his standing at the Bool Bool Show some years before and was 徐々に 沈むing to a pathetic 人物／姿／数字. It was left to Mrs Labosseer's sense of Christian charity and 義務 to do what his own class and family had shirked.
Jack Stanton wired from Turrill Turrill that he was coming; so did Ronald Dice, also 負かす／撃墜する the river. Mrs Raymond Poole (née Mazere) was on the way with Raymond. 行方不明になる M'Eachern was coming with the Curradoobidgee Pooles and was to be 融通するd at Three Rivers. Alf Timson and Norah and the Neangen Healeys were at M'Haffety's.
Grief cannot be so poignant for a lady of eighty-four as for a maiden of twenty-one. Emily, the affianced of Bert Poole, 溺死するd over thirty years before, had been 嘆く／悼むd with grief that startled. 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma was paid a far-reaching 尊敬の印 of affectionate 尊敬（する）・点. The sadness was more for the passing of an 会・原則 than for a person. People honoured themselves by honouring Mrs Mazere.
Mrs M'Haffety had her 手渡すs 十分な but she took time on Saturday night to gossip for an hour with her old crony Rebecca.
"Oi'm wore out with it all. Sure, they're 集会 up loike for a fair. An' whoi shouldn't they, too, when she niver 行方不明になるd seein' anny of thim off, with her flowers so noice, if 'twas only a poor 孤独な shepherd or stockman, God bless her! 'Tis hersilf that has the rayspict of everywan."
"She deserves it. We'll never see her likes again."
"Isabel and Rachel are foine women but the ould lady was the rale thing. She never had to put on anny of this soide or excloosiveness as the Mrs Mazere of Three Rivers; sure, 'twas there to be seen, and she not the soize of three ha'pence 始める，決める one 頂上に of the other."
"Did you see Bert Poole and Milly ridin' by?"
"Sure, didn't they call in for a word. Poole was always 静かな and frindly from a boy. There's wonderful little change in him. He'll see manny a young 病弱な out yet, I'm thinkin'."
"What did Milly look like—happy?"
"Happy is no 指名する for it. Her 直面する beamed loike a young 病弱な that has her heart's 願望（する） shoinin' broight, and a look of peace and contintmint beyond her years."
"It's to be hoped it will last. Are there anny 調印するs'?"
"Divil a bit. She has a waist thinner than y'r neck, Rebecca, an' ye should see her horse standin' on its hoind 脚s, an' she as iligant as if 'twas a rockin'-議長，司会を務める, and Bert on another beauty."
"He might be givin' her a 残り／休憩（する） for the start."
"Sure, he's different from his koind if he is! Ould 行方不明になる Macorkaran, moighty thrim and thin, was there too. Sure, her 直面する would 削減（する） meat—looks loike salt meat, too, rough as a man's it is. Not natural. That beloike is why she niver married after all. Strange how she threw over Hugh Mazere."
"Never could get Poole to look the same 味方する of the road as her. That was the same year as poor Emily was 溺死するd. She was a real beauty for you now, and no two opinions about it. Wonderful the change from 青年 to age. I remember Jessie at the ball on Emily's twenty-first birthday. Jessie ran Emily pretty の近くに for good looks. They were both better-looking than Milly."
"Sure, wait till ye see Milly now. She ain't perhaps as pretty as Aileen at her age, but there is something that more stays with ye in the look of her—満足させるing, that's what it is. She looks 満足させるd herself, and 'tis comfortin' to look at her."
"Poor old Norah Timson, is she as bad as they say?"
"Looks turr'ble bad. She is goin' on to see that specialist in Sydney again."
"What will she do with the little one?"
"It can go to its grandma and Julie at Neangen. Sure, there's a noice little thing, an' talk about praycocious!"
"Doesn't take after old Alf, then; he's a sleepy old lizard."
"But it's takin' to see how fond the little 病弱な is of him."
"Poole is one that children liked. It is a pity if he is not to have a child of his own."
"Sure, give him toime. He! He! Haw! Haw!"
"He hasn't any time to waste if he wants to see it grow up a little."
"He must いつかs feel a fool starting mathrimony with a choild loike that, and all thim that he wint gallivantin' with grandmothers."
"Did you see Aileen Stanton? I hardly knew her, she is growing so stout. It is taking all her good looks. Tommy Roper was 説 that Dice has never been 近づく Ten Creeks or Turrill Turrill since the baby was lost."
"He had a flea put in his ear beloike, and things have shaken 負かす／撃墜する."
"Yes. And now Jacob tells me he wouldn't be surprised if Dot Saunders and Larry Healey don't 勝利，勝つd up together. I saw some of it with me own 注目する，もくろむs at that tea-fight to 支払う／賃金 for the font in Mrs Mazere's church—hein' in 商売／仕事—
"Sure, Oi wuz there meself, too. Wouldn't we all be wherever herself asked us, she 病弱な of your rale Christians and no bigotry."
"That's true. 井戸／弁護士席, I was satin' inside the テント where they had the flower-立ち往生させるs and lollies, an' Dot （機の）カム in there, too, to be alone I should think, by the style of her these days, never sayin' a word to anyone. Larry looked as if he had been follerin' her, for he （機の）カム in after her an' stood a little shame-直面するd and said, '井戸／弁護士席, Dot, aren't you going to speak to me?'
"She looked as if she 手配中の，お尋ね者 to get away at first, but then she said, 'I might 同様に, I suppose. You've have a long （一定の）期間 of bad luck.' 'Just a little,' said he. 'How are you now?' she asked, just formal, nothing cordial. 'Not much,' says he. 'It's goin' to be a long 職業 and it 傷つけるs like beggary.' Then he said almost against his will, 'I'm sorry you've been so terrible 傷つける.' And she turned away her 長，率いる as if she was going to cry, and someone else （機の）カム in and 乱すd them and they slipped out by the 味方する flap together. Now, what do you think they could have meant?"
"Some sweetheartin' or jealousy. He means beloike the スキャンダル that was put upon her 指名する through him. Young people whin they're runnin' after each other 会談 as if thimbles was wash-手渡す 水盤／入り江s. An' sure, Rebecca, that スキャンダル has been such a long toime comin' out in the wash that you must have been mistaken."
"There was something in it that never （機の）カム out. That's what he meant by 傷つけるing her, most likely."
"Beloike it was. Sure, they'll all git sorted out in toime, an' thim that don't will have to put up with it."
"It will be very 利益／興味ing to see all this （人が）群がる together."
"Sure, an' some of the most 利益／興味ing things is thim that niver happened at all, loike Dot's baby," and with a downy wink Norah heaved her 本体，大部分／ばら積みの on end and answered a call to 商売／仕事.
*
At M'Haffety's later that night a few of the real old 旅団 精査するd 負かす／撃墜する into a review of the years. Prendergast had arrived with four 黒人／ボイコットs hitched to the new 霊柩車 of the 主要な undertaker in Goulburn, and あられ／賞賛するd to Gundagai by 電報電信 on the Southern Mail. His wife—Squinty Ellen that was—had に先行するd her husband in her own buggy driven by her son, and had gone to Three Rivers direct. The kindly creature wept copiously as she produced a 花冠 of lilac packed in moss and damp cloths. She had grown closer to Three Rivers as the yearspassed and 同時代のs thinned out. Time 軍隊s the dwindling 残余s to の近くに the 階級s in 保護 of the affections. In the old days of his 法廷，裁判所ing at Three Rivers, Prendergast had eaten with Ellen in the kitchen, but with time the Prendergasts and M'Haffetys 進歩d from inferiors to old friends, treasured members of the 初めの 旅団. "I've taken a little of the froth outer them for termorrer," 法案 explained of his four-in-手渡す. "I don't want them to be rarin' up on their tails, though it was a 約束 to the old lady that we were to swing along at a decent pace—no crawlin' like a snail—that was the 約束 between us."
"Poole is here with the bride," 発言／述べるd Jacob Isaacs. "An' she still like an egg-boiler in the middle. It doesn't seem as if she can be 建設するd the same way as our old women."
"Sure, she'll come to it prisently if Poole lives long enough. There's a rale man for ye! Handsome and strong! Sound as a hell today, still able to hould his own with anny of thim. Remimber the noight whin he was a lad and shwung the ould lady into the boat, and the Yarrabongo 近づく up to where the church is today."
"It doesn't seem as if we could have remembered 権利. Poole and Tim Brennan—pretty game they was all 権利! Tim looks fifteen years older than Bert now, but that rheumatism 手足を不自由にする／（物事を）損なうs him, an' he always did run to corpulence—a マリファナ on him like a coolamon." This from 法案.
"You're not far off him yourself," grunted Isaacs. "Cornstalk you were in them days. Not much of the cornstalk about you now."
"You're dead 権利—more of the fatted alderman."
"Ah 井戸／弁護士席." M'Haffety heaved a 深い sigh. "Whin we've laid the little ould lady to 残り／休憩（する）, you'll see a 広大な／多数の／重要な scatteration in the tribe of Mazere. She was the king pin. She was the queen bee too—you 示す what I'm tellin' you."
"They're all trash beside her," said Isaacs.
"Yes, they reckoned because they had a flash start, they had a 権利 to be cock of the walk without slogging for it. I reckon it does a man 害（を与える） to have too good a start; he （軍の）野営地，陣営s on it, and ten to one he never gets out of his own 支援する-yard." William Prendergast, vaingloriously architect of his own fortunes, had in cordial 協定 with him Isaacs the ex-hawker, and M'Haffety the retired butcher and ex-lag.
"No. There's not one of the men is 価値（がある） the 産む／飼育する of the old cove and her we're buryin' termorrer. Young Philip is a 安定した plodder, but you can see the Poole sticking out in him a mile."
"That's bearin' out what I say. Old Boko Poole with his one 注目する，もくろむ, an' couldn't hardly 令状 his 指名する—an' look at Bert Poole beside the young Mazeres! Is there one of them could 選ぶ a young bride an' pull it off the way he has done today?"
"Sure, whin ye think of it, he is a man for ye, an' the ould buck his father ahead of him, shwingin' up this very street with a foivein-手渡す and his missus and young Raymond—that come in by the coach today—as a kid in her arrums, droivin' loike hell. An' Bert Poole thin with hundreds and hundreds of 続けざまに猛撃するs give him for clearin' out the bushrangers, an' all the girls woild for him in thim days. Sure, the beautiful gurruls there were thin!"
"The girls is still beautiful," said Prendergast. "What about Milly?"
"She has 注目する，もくろむs and a nose in the roight place, but, och, she couldn't hould a 扱う to Rachel Mazere, the toime she married the big foreigner and wint to Monaro—she that's at Coolooluk now."
Since wives were out of 審理，公聴会, Jacob chuckled, "There wasn't a man in the place wasn't dead soft on Rachel. If Labosseer had 'a' been drownded in the flood twenty young fellows were ready to jump into his shoes."
"Ye're roight! She was a propher hoigh-steppin' beauty for ye, if ever there was one!"
"And 足緒 Macorkaran ran her の近くに."
"That queer-looking old 捕らえる、獲得する of bones, with a long nose, and 乾燥した，日照りのd up like a piece of leather, could she ever have been pretty?" 需要・要求するd Prendergast.
"Ah! wasn't she! Not many of the young ones today could have come 近づく her. You must remember her the night of Emily's birthday ball?"
"Emily's the one I remember."
"Sure, Jessie was all 権利, but Emily was lovelier—one of your lily-and-roses beauties, with a 肉親，親類d word for everybody. All the young min were mad afther her, but it never turned her 長，率いる a bit."
"And the young fellows were men then. These pups today 港／避難所't any guts!"
"Sure, Jacob, the proof of that's to be seen in Bert Poole, still to have the young darlin's lovin' him."
"It's curious how some men is born to romance," agreed Isaacs.
"Sure, yes, and the 残り／休憩（する） of us git married young. Sure, we can't all have the luck to lose our sweethearts and live romantic, and then whin some of us is old and fat an' マリファナ-bellied still to be わずかな／ほっそりした an' run afther by the coming belle. Though there's thim that would run afther us now if we didn't keep our 天候 of peeled."
"Yes, but they'd make us 支払う／賃金 for it, Terry," said 法案. "支払う／賃金 through the nose...Yes, the Mazeres remind me of a mess of rhubarb when it gets in-grown and you can hardly tell it from clocks it's that thin and green. A scatterin' will do them good, an' to marry in with some good pushful 在庫／株 that will think いっそう少なく of itself and for more 推論する／理由."
"What do you reckon the family will do about the 所有物／資産／財産—put it to auction or divide it upon valuation?" said Isaacs.
"Sure, there's seed for 論争 there. They'll niver 追加する to it, by the look of things, only sit 負かす／撃墜する and waste it."
"It won't last long," said Isaacs. "Played out is what I reckon they are. These old 早期に 開拓するs was all 権利 as long as they had everything to theirselves. Some of these will scratch along like cockatoos on a piece of the 所有物／資産／財産 the old man got together for them, but they won't get rich at that, and the next 世代 will be working for others. You'll notice it's the coves from the city is the ones that has the foresight with 所有物／資産／財産." Isaacs had 卒業生（する）d in a slum and reached Bool Bool in the 早期に days on foot with a pack of drapery on his 支援する.
"It seems as if thim who 炎s the first thrack niver has much value of the 完全にするd road."
"It seems as if things 作品 一連の会議、交渉／完成する in （犯罪の）一味s—one lot is up in the stirrups one 世代 and they take a turn padding the hoof next time. It'll all come out in the wash, I reckon. Ah 井戸／弁護士席, Terry, I'll be 一連の会議、交渉／完成する termorrer to see that the horses and carriage look all 権利. We'll do the last thing we can for her in the best style."
At Three Rivers an honoured place の中で the guests was （許可，名誉などを）与えるd Poole of Curradoobidgee and 行方不明になる M'Eachern of Gowandale. Also 現在の were Hugh Mazere, the third son of the house, who had been engaged to 行方不明になる M'Eachern in '57, and Louisa, his wife, sister of Bert and Charlotte. The 年上のs looked at them and wondered did Jessie 悔いる her spinsterhood now, or Hugh 悔いる Jessie and the loss of the Gowandale acres.
To some of the little ones this family 集会 was to remain one of their earliest or most vivid recollections. It was considered the 訂正する thing to show them 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandmamma in her last sleep, so that in 未来 years they would be able to say they had seen her who had blessed them all and who meant so much to her circle. Awed and curious, the children saw a 静かな 直面する, lined with countless wrinkles, asleep, it seemed to them, under a wonderful counterpane of violets. Everywhere flowers were piled.
"Pretty! Pretty!" exclaimed the little ones. Molly Brennan was so small that she could only say, "Pitty! Pitty!" and Norah Alfreda 手配中の，お尋ね者 to pluck a bunch of the violets.
"Isn't she lovely! Doesn't she look 平和的な!" said the 年上のs as they say at all family funerals. "It would be wonderful if everyone could live as long as she did and do as much good."
The first 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandson was given a little prominence. He was a 二塁打 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandchild, 存在 the son of Richard Mazere's eldest son and of Rachel Labosseer's eldest daughter. He was a thoughtful dreamy boy who remembered 広大な／多数の／重要な-granny 井戸／弁護士席. He used to be brought from Nanda at Christmas or on 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma's birthday to visit her. He would never forget going across to the Old House, 操縦するd by Aunt Charlotte, to find 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma sitting in a 議長，司会を務める beside a （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する. On the （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する was a big cloth that reached to the 床に打ち倒す, with 激しい woollen fringe and a pattern of flowers. 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma was always reading a big 調書をとる／予約する—the Bible, of course—and her feet were on a fat 激しい pillow covered with carpet, called a hassock. 刑事 liked the sound of that word hassock: it had grandeur in it. As a little fellow he would walk about after visiting Three Rivers and introduce the word into his play. Once he had taken the hassock and sat on it under the big 一連の会議、交渉／完成する （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する and imagined wonderful things about animals, till his mother discovered and reproved him, but 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma had said "Bless the child!" and cried "Bo-peep" at him and gave him 甘いs. They were peppermints that she kept in a little 黒人／ボイコット velvet 捕らえる、獲得する hanging on the knob of her 議長，司会を務める.
The children looked at that 捕らえる、獲得する when they entered the room. Like the cruse of oil, its 供給（する） was miraculously 持続するd. 刑事 remembered, too, the small brown wrinkled 手渡すs in mittens, even in summer, to guard them against rheumatism, and the 黒人／ボイコット lace cap on her 長，率いる covered with something mysterious, which long after he 解任するd as 宙返り飛行d baby-略章. He liked better the caps of Grandma Labosseer, of cream lace with a velvet 禁止（する）d 近づく her curly hair—oh, caps of かなりの elegance!
But he adored Three Rivers. It was a wonderful place. Like a town almost, of infinite 資源s. At home on Nanda on his father's 支援する 選択 of his grandpa's run, the homestead was of the time-honoured bull-run design. When he （機の）カム in the 前線 door he could see straight through to the 支援する-yard, but at Three Rivers—when he could escape from his mother, who was an artist at bilking adventure—he could wander 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the endless verandas and peep at the bees working の中で the マリファナ-工場／植物s, or peer through 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandpa's telescope. He always thought 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandpa must have gone out of the 最高の，を越す end of it up to heaven. 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandpa had died a lifetime ago, but his presence remained so real at Three Rivers that 刑事, an imaginative, fanciful child, of whom his mother said, "He'll have to have all that taken out of him or he'll never get on in the world," used to 推定する／予想する him to 支払う／賃金 a visit from heaven by way of the grandfather clock or the stairs in the Big House. Those stairs were thrilling to 刑事. Alone in the place, what a glorious time he could have had, but these visits were always so 簡潔な／要約する!
It was wonderful to have so many houses as 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma. Other people had only one. At Three Rivers, counting the kitchens—but 刑事 could not in his 早期に recollection count far enough. The gardens were 類似して 非常に／多数の and exciting. 近づく the Old House were lemon verbena bushes. He loved to fill his pockets with the leaves from these and smell them when no one was looking. 近づく the big white gates at the 支援する was a thicket of shrubs where one could hide all day without 存在 設立する—long after he 設立する their 指名する was lauristinus. And there were lilac and hawthorn bushes harbouring birds' nests, 同様に as lemon-and orange-trees, and beyond the orchard 管区s, 広大な／多数の／重要な weeping willows. He enjoyed pulling the long green ropes off them, they （機の）カム 負かす／撃墜する so easily, and the girls used them for skipping.
The actual house was even more delightful, if he could only escape from his mother into it. The billiard-room had a remarkable （米）棚上げする／（英）提議する in it, covered with a green cloth and with a little 盗品故買者 all 一連の会議、交渉／完成する it and no one ever had dinner off it. The door-地位，任命する 近づく the dining-room had letters on it like his alphabet-調書をとる／予約する, only not so plain. His grandfather had 解除するd him up to see once, only his grandfather's letters were not there. Grandfather said he had not been there the day they were 削減（する）, but he 特に looked at his Aunt Emily's letters. Everyone used to look at them and say, "Poor dear Emily!" or "That was a long time ago," or "We were all a bit younger than we are today." Then there would be talk about a big flood, but it had not been big enough to wash the letters out, though it had 溺死するd beautiful Aunt Emily. Another it had tried to 溺死する was 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma, but she had been too 勇敢に立ち向かう and got into a boat. Uncle Bert talked about this to old Mr Brennan.
They talked about it at the funeral. 刑事 crept up to Uncle Bert to listen. Mr Brennan was nursing his little granddaughter, Mollie, only two she was, but everybody made a 広大な／多数の／重要な fuss of her and was always asking her to sing, and she sang, "Way 負かす／撃墜する upon the 'onnee river", and everybody 拍手喝采する and said she had a 発言する／表明する like a grown-up. Other songs were too hard for her to say the words, so she sang the words with goo-goo baby talk—silly, 刑事 thought it, but old Mr Brennan 行為／法令／行動するd as if Molly were an angel. After singing she jumped off her grandfather's 膝 and held her 直面する up for 刑事 to kiss, but he ran away. Her hair was a funny reel colour; what had she clone to make it 汚い like that?
刑事, at the time of the funeral, was passing through a sub-pubescent 段階 which made him 苦しむ acutely from these horrid little girls. There was another, worse than Molly Brennan. Her 指名する was Norah Alfreda. She said she was nearly three, but 刑事 解任するd that as brag because she was not as big as Molly. Her father and mother made a silly fuss of her too. 刑事 puzzled why there should be this fuss over girls, who were obnoxious to him.
On Saturday morning 刑事 sat on the veranda by the Old House and coveted a bird's nest going on apace 近づく by, and looked after Lawrence John and kept him from the bees. Lawrence John could not see so very 井戸／弁護士席, and also 苦しむd entotically because he had been lost, and dingoes might have devoured him, only somehow they had not. Lawrence John did what he was told in a fascinating way 外国人 to the girls, and had a little more size, and his 後見人 was content with him. 刑事 was old enough to meditate now, and fanciful—too fanciful to be healthy, his practical 年上のs considered. He was 説 good-bye in his heart to every loved nook and 反対する at Three Rivers, not alone because 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma was dead but because his parents were leaving the 地区, and this was a 別れの（言葉，会） visit to Bool Bool. 刑事's heart swelled with a romantic melancholy that he was poignantly enjoying till 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner （機の）カム Grandma Labosseer and Norah Alfreda's mother with Norah Alfreda herself, at least that was her real 指名する, but her mother called her "Pigeon Pie", and Norah Alfreda was so silly and little that she did not mind. The grownups were talking and 刑事 was unnoticed till that annoying Alfreda caught sight of him and began kicking up a bobbery. The grownups could not make out for a while what she 手配中の，お尋ね者, but 刑事 had known 即時に, and sat petrified.
"She wants a kiss—what a funny little girl—but where is 刑事?" The awful little creature pointed straight at him.
"Oh, there he is! Come on, 刑事, the little girl wants to kiss you." She ran to him 持つ／拘留するing up her 直面する. 刑事 said he hated her. If no one had been looking he could have pinched that horrid little 直面する held up in such a silly way.
"Kiss the dear little girl, 刑事," 命令（する）d Grandma Labosseer.
刑事 sat 乱暴／暴力を加えるd, a 手渡す tight 圧力（をかける）d to the seat on either 味方する as a を締める against this unwarrantable attack. Norah Alfreda began to whimper.
"Never mind, Pigeon Pie. We'll go and see what Daddy has for us." But Norah Alfreda's wail 増加するd in 容積／容量.
"Come on, 刑事. Kiss the little girl at once. Surely you are man enough for that—a 広大な／多数の／重要な fellow like you!" Grandma turned to Norah Alfreda's mother and nearly laughed, but not やめる, because 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma was dead, and said, "It won't he long before the trouble will be to keep him from kissing the girls." What could she mean by that? Did she 心配する total 崩壊（する） of his manly fibre? But no one ever gainsaid Grandma Labosseer. Her pronouncements carried, and her phrase about 存在 "man enough" put the thing on another basis.
"Run and kiss him. He won't bite," she advised Norah Alfreda. She obeyed, but when she 近づくd 刑事 she changed her mind. He seemed big and uninviting. She looked up at him, thinking about it.
"I won't kiss you," she said やめる plainly. "I don't like you. You are too big and 汚い."
To be all taut to 耐える that horrid soft 直面する slobbering on him and then coolly to be 拒絶するd as too 汚い to kiss! 刑事 darted 今後 and implanted a rough mouthy kiss upon Norah Alfreda's nose. Her 乱暴／暴力を加えるd howl startled her doting mother.
"What did you do to her?" 需要・要求するd Grandma Labosseer.
"I only kissed her."
"You must have bitten her." Grandma had no high opinions of boys, though her own sons were held up as marvels of probity and 能力.
"No I didn't," he 持続するd, and was renowned for truthfulness. When other villainies were 厚い as sheep ticks upon him, his unabashed 自白 一般に 証明するd mitigating with his Grandma Labosseer. She hated liars. "You can lock against a どろぼう," she was wont to say, "but there is no 保護 against a liar!"
"He kissted me," howled Norah Alfreda, "and he's big and 汚い and I don't like him."
"You mustn't be a silly little girl, crying for a thing and then not wanting it," soothed her mother. Norah Alfreda 手配中の，お尋ね者 to be carried, but her mother said she had such a 苦痛 in her 味方する that this was beyond her.
"She'll not be the first of her sex who'll cry for getting too much of that sort of thing after wanting it," 発言／述べるd Grandma Labosseer as they went 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the corner.
Soon 刑事's mother appeared and took him for one more look at 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma, impressing upon him that she had gone to heaven and that he would never see her again. 刑事 felt he せねばならない cry, but he was too 利益／興味d wondering what 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma's soul was like, and imagining it 狙撃 out of the telescope to Grandpa up の中で the 星／主役にするs where heaven was.
Poole went in to see his old friend last of all, and alone. The part of his life in which the old lady had been a 主要な 人物／姿／数字 had passed before his wife had been born. There were anomalies in the retrospect but Poole did not 許す them to go deeper than wistfulness. Since he had taken his 決定／判定勝ち（する） he had not wavered in serene 目的. All 注目する，もくろむs were upon him and Milly, and all were agreed that there was no 欠陥 in what they saw. There was a feeling that the marriage was a reward to Poole and a happy 避難 to Milly. The radiance of Milly's 直面する 反映するd her heart. Poole's visage, always the dial of mental 機械／機構 in which there was rarely a 穀物 of sand, and of a comeliness not yet sadly impaired by age, showed 明白な rejuvenation as when inward harmony is leavened with adventure.
He went from the silence of his old friend into the night under the 星／主役にするs where thirty-seven years ago he had gone to find Emily on her twenty-first birthday. He 解任するd that night. The 星／主役にするs were ever the same—the 星／主役にするs and the song of the river as it 泡，激怒することd 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the bend, its 発言する／表明する 増加するd tonight by a spring freshet. This hour in the garden was for Emily, 溺死するd long ago in Mungee Fish 穴を開ける, and for her mother, always his friend, on whom he had paid his last earthly call. He must put that part of his life away in the thankful memories of yesterday. Tomorrow would be for Milly. With her he would bask in this afterthought of sunlight tendered by a sunset held off beyond the 任命するd hour.
"No 疑問 they are happy now, but in the nature of things it can't last," Grandma Labosseer was 発言／述べるing. But as for that, Poole had taken a 決定／判定勝ち（する）, and—the gods have their favourites.
"Ah me, tomorrow afternoon," said Arthur Rankin to his wife Fannie (née Mazere), that night as he turned in. "She looked so 平和的な, but all those flowers made my 長，率いる ache. They have put them in milk-pans to keep them a bit fresh. That's the last of the old folks. No more tales of your mother coming up the country in the bullock-dray, and the 黒人／ボイコットs feeling her curls, and her going to help people at the 危険 of her life, or your papa reading the 暴動 行為／法令／行動する and changing his will."
"No. They leave a 広大な／多数の／重要な blank. It's the young people's turn now...Did you notice our Rachel and Matt Dice?"
"I didn't. What's the 事柄?"
"They're much too 厚い. I don't favour this cousin 商売／仕事. It will be better for us to be a little 冷静な／正味の."
"That would only help things along, Mother. Remember when I was 法廷，裁判所ing you and the old man flung that dipper of 情熱 of his in my 直面する, yet here we are together in spite of it all, old girl...I don't feel like throwing 情熱 at Matt."
"Her Aunt Rhoda might take her to Sydney for a change and let her see someone else."
"Humph!" Aunt Rhoda's hubby, Raymond Poole, was a successful barrister, Arthur only a country solicitor, and brother-in-法律 jealousy operated.
*
The sun shone radiantly for 広大な／多数の／重要な-grandma's last public 機能（する）／行事. 法案 Prendergast felt her passing as 深く，強烈に as did any of her sons and daughters as he and Terence M'Haffety wept unaffectedly together and 検査／視察するd the funeral coach-and-four. The horses, with long-flowing tails superbly put on, arched their necks under the feathered tufts. Their hoofs were polished, not a speck was on their glossy hides, they moved like a poem with elastic stride, as good-tempered and 井戸／弁護士席-mannered 同様に-born.
Cornstalk, true to his 約束, and though 保存するing decorum, drove at a graceful pace. There were few to dote on the beauty of the team as they passed, with their light 重荷（を負わせる）, for all were in the 行列, but they saw the 霊柩車 as it dipped into the hollow and climbed again and swung into Stanton Street and out of that again at 権利 angles for the church service; and da capo as they returned upon their 跡をつけるs to the 共同墓地.
There was something gallant in the last ride of the little old lady, of late stiff with rheumatism and age, swinging along thus bravely in 一致 with her wish, something 平等に gallant and affectionate in her old friend officiating for her.
The native violets, not yet extirpated, still grew in the graveyard and peeped into the 墓／厳粛／彫る／重大な.
Mrs Jacob Isaacs, looking 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the 集会, felt sadness 侵略するing her 骨髄 as she totted up the dates. Thirty-seven years since Emily Mazere had opened the new 共同墓地, and now it had a 全住民 as big as had walked the streets of the 郡区 then. What a lot were gone! The Mazere interments were 特に （疑いを）晴らす in her mind.
To Poole they also （機の）カム 支援する vividly. He had had his sister Charlotte's arm in his on those former occasions of old Mazere's and Emily's making, while his brother-in-法律, Philip, had stood by the old lady they were burying today. Relieved of this 義務, he now clove unto his wife, as a man was enjoined to do. The place had not changed so much except for the ringbarking of the trees, taking with it the birds, though one or two old magpies still 占領するd the ungrubbed 巨大（な）s in the enclosure and were building their nests as of yore.
Prendergast could not 信用 his horses to stand and his heart was 激しい, so after 配達するing his 乗客 he went 支援する to M'Haffety's. While Poole listened to the clergyman, his gaze 残り／休憩（する）d upon the horses as they swung along 負かす／撃墜する into the hollow, where in the old days had been a slip-パネル盤, but now was a culvert. They climbed the slope again, 投げ上げる／ボディチェックするing their crested 長，率いるs in the sunlight. Grace and beauty, strength and 青年, health and happiness were in their message, as eternal as death and change and decay, so it seemed to Poole. Each was part of the weft of life, which went on and on for ever, even as the song of the river 落ちるing 一連の会議、交渉／完成する the bend like a far 甘い 勝利，勝つd from 楽園. Yes, there was 青年 and joy 同様に as 悲劇 and 悲しみ and old age, and would be for ever, each to be taken as it （機の）カム with no backward ちらりと見ることs of 悔いる and melancholy. That, he felt, was the little old lady's unconscious message as he watched that lilting four-in-手渡す. She had never croaked, but met each happening with 約束 and courage. She gave all who had known her a lot to live up to.
The song of the river was a symbol of 連続 and of peace—with its memories of yesterday. For tomorrow, the 即座の tomorrow—he looked 負かす／撃墜する at the soft flower-like young 直面する and tenderly 圧力（をかける）d the little 手渡す on his arm.
Milly! Thank God!
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