The sun climbing round the base of Conical Hill at daybreak next morning, found Selwyn already abroad, and in the very best of humours. The gentle of last night's nightcap down his gullet had warmed the very cockles of his heart, so he told a mud-lark discussing an early worm among the saplings. He was outside before the day was properly alight, on the front verandah, hands deep in pockets, legs set apart, the remnants of a night breeze, which had not yet fled the sun's wooing. Finding his spirits insisted upon more active affairs and discovering no of breakfast for a while, he picked up his stick, which he only exchanged for gun or fishing-rod, and took a turn round the back , where there might be matters to occupy a fellow until people thought fit to give up slugging in bed. Rheumy-eyed Scabbyback, rising from a sack, was good morning, and Gripper was[Pg 206] accorded even more gracious welcome, being unchained and allowed to follow on the march of discovery.
Selwyn called out good morning to old Neville, as he passed towards the mine on early business, and presently into talk Mrs. Nankervis as she in and out of the back door on the work of breakfast. He presided at a difference of opinion between Gripper and a blue billygoat with the beard of the Prophet, which ruled the of Surprise. He had just come to an end of everything, including his good humour, when news arrived that breakfast waited.
Mrs. Selwyn and Maud were already in the dining-room. Hands came out of his pockets. "By Jove!" he said. "Good morning. Here you are at last. It is wonderful how people like to loaf in bed."
"It is the only morning you have been down first for a week," Mrs. Selwyn answered sharply.
"What about 'a man's work may be early begun; but a woman's work is never done,' Mr. Selwyn?" Maud said.
Selwyn changed the conversation. He put on his most smile. "Your father out again to-day? I suppose he won't be back yet? Am I to preside again, Miss Neville?"
"If you won't mind. Shall we sit down?"
Maud took her place at one end of the table and poured out tea. Selwyn, with a good deal of noise, pulled up a chair at the other end and began to lift dish covers. Mrs. Selwyn found her seat half-way down and prepared to be as gracious as possible, in spite of feeling most unequal to the task. What she endured daily at this ghastly place, nobody could possibly comprehend. And she had foreseen it all so clearly with that capable brain of hers! Never again should Hilton overrule her.
A first of dishes revealed, besides a noble ham, from the coast in honour of visitors, eggs, a wallaby , and lastly—red, rich, and done absolutely to the last turn—a thick piece of rump steak, beyond any doubt the best bit Selwyn had ever seen since leaving the South. Quietly the cover went down upon that dish.
"Now, who will have wallaby stew?" said the master of ceremonies, with the charm of manner which so easily the uninitiated. "You will have some, of course, dear?"
"I shall have nothing of the sort. I shall have an egg."
"Very well, dear; but you are making a mistake. Miss Neville, you will have some, of course."
"Don't the wretched girl with it every morning."
"Of course she would like it," came from the president. "Wallaby is a great luxury. You ought to be very glad I am able to get it for you. This is the only place I have heard of where they want to throw it on the midden."
Selwyn began to heap a plate.
"If I must have it, Mr. Selwyn, not so much, please," Maud said.
"I don't know why you pester everyone to eat your things," said Mrs. Selwyn, continuing the attack.
"I hate seeing everything I shoot wasted," Selwyn replied, .
"Then let the dogs have it."
"No. I like seeing friends enjoy it."
"Then eat it yourself."
"I can't. It doesn't agree with me in the morning."
Maud made peace by accepting the dish. Mrs. Selwyn cracked an egg. Then—then only—Selwyn uncovered the rump steak.
"By Jove!" he said. "I'm sorry. There was steak here had anyone wanted it. I am afraid I'm rather late for you now."
He put the fork gently and deeply into the juicy square of meat, and lifted it bodily on to his plate—regretfully, as though only good[Pg 209] manners persuaded him to choose the untasted dish. Next, collecting round him the necessaries for an ample breakfast, he settled to his task.
Breakfast over, Selwyn on a stroll. It was too late in the day for a shot, and he could take a turn with a gun in the evening. A stroll was better than hanging about a house trying to amuse two women. He visited the back again and loosed his . The mangy pointer in its sprang heavily upon him in good morning, and tested the weight of his stick. Gripper led the van. The of breakfast had gone, and Selwyn felt with all the world.
Pipe in mouth, stick in hand, he took the red road which turns left-handed from the office door. Mrs. household matters to watch him go by. The sun was rising in the sky, and when he drew opposite the Horrington humpy, he began to tell himself that a man was looking for trouble who went for walks in this country. Mr. Horrington stood in his , gently after his morning custom before setting to win the daily bread; and Selwyn, from the roadway, sent him a cheerful , which brought him along the path to the road.
"Good day, Mr. Selwyn. You are abroad early this morning. Which way are you going?"
"Nowhere in particular. I was out for a stroll."
"Will you come along with me? I seldom get anyone to talk to. I have some business in the township."
"Splendid!" cried Selwyn.
Up the road they went at steady pace, Selwyn carrying his fifty years on springy steps, Mr. Horrington planting his feet in the dust. Mr. Horrington pulled out his pipe in a little while, and found to his his tobacco- was empty.
"Damn it! I find I have run out of fuel until I can manage to get back to the store," he said, blinking his pale blue eyes. "Would you mind lending me a fill? Thanks. Ah, this is something like tobacco. The stuff they sell here comes hard on an educated palate."
"Fill your pouch up. I have plenty at home."
"Thanks very much. I am always meaning to send for some decent stuff. Yes, thanks very much. I shall look forward to a evening. Here you are. I am afraid I have rather taken you at your word."
"Not at all," answered Selwyn with downcast .
Just before the firewood stacks, they took the branch road turning to the township. The nearing hotel roof glared in the sun. Selwyn, [Pg 211]foreseeing the , put a cautious hand into his pocket for what discovery might discover. The nimble half-crown rewarded his search. Several goats cropped the pasturage at the cross-roads. Mr. Horrington eyed them .
"Who owns all these goats?" said Selwyn, put in better spirits by the find.
Horrington blinked his eyes. "That is what nobody knows. They walk round a man's house, and break the way inside if there's a crust on the place; or get in the dustbin just as a man is falling asleep. You can stand all day shouting for an owner, and not a soul on the lease turns an ear. But if you go mad and shoot one, every man and woman in the camp comes running up to claim it."
"You don't care for goats?" said Selwyn.
Mr. Horrington put the back of a hand across his moustache. "They are charming animals for little girls to fondle in books; but you have to live with them to know them. Were I a well-to-do man I would keep two or three, and wander down of an evening to the paddock to sprinkle a little bread over them. But when you must a goat round a before you can have breakfast, the wears. By ! a man soon gets hot walking these mornings. Ah, here's the hotel. I hope you will take[Pg 212] the dust out of your throat with me. It will help square our tobacco account." Mr. Horrington laughed a laugh.
They passed through the open doorway of the hotel, turned right-handed, and went into the bar. It was cool indoors after the sun. The room was large and low, and full of the breaths of departed roysterers; and was empty except for a barmaid in curl papers who dusted behind the counter. Upon the floor were many signs of yesterday. Selwyn felt poorly inclined for . Mr. Horrington took off his hat and wiped his brow, bowing good morning to the barmaid, who smiled bitterly and came forward. He laid his stick along the counter, and leaning an elbow beside it, fell into a noble pose, the outcome of a lifetime's practice.
"What's it to be, Mr. Selwyn?"
"Anything, th............