He might evenhave said more and Geoffrey not told
her, for Geoffrey was herfathers sneak. Oh, then hes at the Royal Hotel in Brisbane!
Whatever happens youll keep your mouth shut, or Ill haveyou sold up on the
spot.
The crew is standingby to raise anchor as soon as
this letter and one to your father iswritten. Geoffrey grinned as he watched the
colour rise in his sistersface.
News filtered through of floods on the land
andstorms at sea. Her father was downin the paddock mending the fence, her mother
singing in thekitchen. Her big, prostrate body had the beauty of its utility and the
graceof complete relaxation.
His eyes burst the scummy surface of themorass like
two bubbles. She greeted her father coldly but she greeted him, andshe sat down to
dinner with him and ate well.
Youve got on, and heresthe McFarlanes and me
Havent I let meself be rolled and bumped half out
of meskin to come four hundred miles to see ye. He kept us apartand lied to me and
searched my room and stole a letter. Harriet locked the door on him and sat down to
think.
She tried to slip past between him and the bath,
but he put an armround her shoulders and held her. Och now, ye were always an
impatient fellow, Cabell.
So if it comes to that youll always have this money
to fallback on. Well, I must be getting old as we agreed. Well, now I come to think
of it perhaps .
Youve forgotten your fifty thousand pounds,
Flanagan said,havent ye?
The paperhis dirty paws have been
mauling.
Surely the least she could give him was affection;
butshe had no heart, no pity.
Ill be blowed, if thats not the lasttime I
Flanagan smiled, but the cleaned circle on his
upper lip made itlook like a malignant grin. But why doesnt he come and see Father
and have it out with him?