Youneed someone always there to take the
poison out of you, and Imnot strong enough any longer.
Why, man, if I live to be ahundred my last
thoughtll be of your aristocratic mug at thisminute.
I hope you heard that, Jacob, the little wife
exclaimed. I no longerunderstand an Englishman when I see one. I thought Id
come over and seethough Im still about as strong as a louse.
Hepounded his chest again and his voice
rose.
Leaning against the door-jamb, he continued to
stare after them. And on top of thisthere was the worried look on her face
whenever Dirk rode over tosee her.
Yes, and the trick you played me with him,
heremembered, blazing up afresh. She pushed him away and jumped out of the
bunk.
He pushed her away fromhim, chuckled again, a
heavy, bleak chuckle, and moved towards thedoor.
It chilled him, brokedown his pretence, turned
his clumsy mask inside out.
A fine time to tell a man when hes tied hand
and foot. Havent theyseen her flogged in the street and stood round to get a
squint ather pretty back? Were going to haveFrench lights in the
parlour.
Dawn was breaking when Cabell came out into
the yard again.
In a quieter voice he pleaded: Id give you
anything you wanted. The news raced ahead of Cabell and his bride and set the
country onfire. Ludmilla, the younger of the girls, ran up to him and shook
him. Yes, Gursey thrust at him, disgrace, filth, shame and
suffering.
One evening he noticed a double row of holes
round the house. He hated his brother-in-law,renowned as the toughest drinker
yet seen in Pykes Crossing. The river washed upa half-drowned rat of a shepherd
and he hoofed it out to us. Bloss to drunken old Major Mowlatt at Bundon on the
Murray forthree years.
A tape of white, dusty, rutted road climbs out
of the valley andwinds away to Pykes Crossing. Theres a demon in you, always
stirring you up to some folly.
After a bit anuneasy thought came between his
attention and the paper.
Not things yourfriend Bobo would approve
of.
The entirepopulation was down at the wharf
hearing the news from Sydney.
You havent forgotten how I gotyou free from
that sod Mowlatt, how I brought Dirk out from home? The Colonel winced now,
choked up a laugh, and licked his lips. A fine time to tell a man when hes tied
hand and foot.
Would itmatter a damn then whom he had
married?
There is something insect-like in
herobstinate, slow will.