Tom Gerrard

g tea ere they started back for Marumbah, Westonley told Gerrard

let him know it. I think it is a mistake to let youngste

will bring him up as if he were my own son. There is no school within two hundred

passionately fond of him, and will cut

earest and best.' If I were a married man, Ted, I would ask you for her as well. Every time she looks at me wi

g a bit sharp with the boy how and then, for he's a terrible young Turk at times, and I'm too easy with him; but little Mary is such a gentle, soft sort of kid, that I wonder how

with me, I'm going to say something to you that you perhaps may not like, and think I'm an interfering ass. But, 'ho

the big man, quietly,

nd does not seem to care for the people hereabout. I had quite a long yarn with her the first day I came to Marumbah, and although at first she tried to be

ow you better, I wou

. But she is going to change her mind about me, and I'll bet you a fiver that befor

I'd give half of all I'm worth to see her and you friends

behaved like a bear. We men don't understand women, Ted, and make hideous fools of ourselv

out in four rounds," and Westonley thumped Gerrard affectionately on his back with his great hand. "Now, I

ng six feet two inches. He knew by the inflection of the big man's voice that he had become a muc

week at a time. Now, that isn't doing the square thing by her. You and I as well, never think that the many years she spent in England gave her a taste for many of the refinements of civilisation-pictures, high-class music, especially Churchy music, and all kind of things like that, which are always dear to a h

If we were in a room, you could distinctly

Sydney for a week? Just as she is beginning to enjoy herself, and feel something of the

've always urged her to stay there fo

for although a woman may have lots of women friends, she's

, go on to a dead finish. I am

niac, and go in for High Church, auricular confession, and an empty stomach on Fridays. She's got a turn that way, remember. A conventual education in a H

to do?" ask

er, little Mary included, and I'll stay with you f

run Lizzie, little Mary, and

d there's no need for you to come tearing back for mustering, and branding, and attending to things generally. D'ye think that if you died to-morrow the cattle would go into mourning, and would refuse 'to increase and multi

ah to loaf about in Sydney for six months," and the big man gripped Gerrard by his pointed beard, and

Ted, old man, I think I'll come back next year

If you don't

come. Time we wer

a low sound of sobbing from little Mary's room, which adjourned h

leaning out of the window, with h

o Marumbah. He must be a godless and wicked man to take y

pipe and walked out on to the verandah,

'em both," he