"Andsometimesshe’dcomeskippingintothebreakfast-roomlate，lookingawfullysweetinherdressing-gown;andifshesawanyofusthere，she’dpretendtobemuchstartled，andsaythatshethoughtallthemenhadgoneout，andmakeasthoughshewasgoingtoclear;
andsomeone’djumpupandgiveherachair，whilesomeoneelsesaid，`Comein，MissBrown！comein！Don’tletusfrightenyou。Comerightin，andhaveyourbreakfastbeforeitgetscold。’Soshe’dflutterabitinprettyconfusion，andthenmakeasweetlittlegirly-girlydiveforherchair，andtuckherfeetawayunderthetable;andshe’dblush，too，butIdon’tknowhowshemanagedthat。
"Iknowanothertrickthatwomenhave;it’smostlyplayedbyprivatebarmaids。
Thatis，toleaveastockingbyaccidentinthebathroomforthegentlementofind。Ifthebarmaid’sgotanicefootandankle，sheusesoneofherownstockings;butifshehasn’tshegetsholdofastockingthatbelongstoagirlthathas。Anyway，she’llhaveonereadiedupsomehow。
Thestockingmustbewornandnicelydarned;onethat’sbeenwornwillkeeptheshapeofthelegandfoot——atleasttillit’swashedagain。
Well，thebarmaidgenerallyknowswhattimethegentlemengotobath，andshe’llmakeitapointofgoingdownjustasagentleman’sgoing。
Ofcoursehe’llgiveherthepreference——lethergofirst，youknow——
andshe’llgoinandaccidentallyleavethestockinginaplacewherehe’ssuretoseeit，andwhenshecomesouthe’llgoinandfindit;
andverylikelyhe’llbeajollysortoffellow，andwhenthey’reallsittingdowntobreakfasthe’llcomeinandaskthemtoguesswhathe’sfound，andthenhe’llholdupthestocking。Thebarmaidlikesthissortofthing;
butshe’llholddownherhead，andpretendtobeconfused，andkeephereyesonherplate，andthere’llbemuchblushingandallthatsortofthing，andperhapsshe’llgammontobemadathim，andthelandlady’llsay，`Oh，Mr。Smith！howcanyer？Atthebreakfasttable，too！’
andthey’llalllaughandlookatthebarmaid，andshe’llgetmoreembarrassedthanever，andspillhertea，andmakeoutasthoughthestockingdidn’tbelongtoher。"
NoPlaceforaWomanHehadaselectiononalongbox-scrubsidingoftheridges，abouthalfamilebackandupfromthecoachroad。TherewerenoneighboursthatIeverheardof，andthenearest"town"wasthirtymilesaway。
Hegrewwheatamongthestumpsofhisclearing，soldthecropstandingtoaCockiewholivedtenmilesaway，andhadsomesurplussons;
or，someseasons，hereapeditbyhand，haditthrashedbytravelling"steamer"（portablesteamengineandmachine），andcarriedthegrain，afewbagsatatime，intothemillonhisricketydray。
Hehadlivedaloneforupwardsof15years，andwasknowntothosewhoknewhimas"RattyHowlett"。
Trav’lersandstrangersfailedtoseeanythinguncommonlyrattyabouthim。
Itwasknown，or，atleast，itwasbelieved，withoutquestion，thatwhileatworkhekepthishorsesaddledandbridled，andhunguptothefence，orgrazingabout，withthesaddleon——or，anyway，closehandyforamoment’snotice——andwheneverhecaughtsight，overthescrubandthroughthequarter-milebreakinit，ofatravellerontheroad，hewouldjumponhishorseandmakeafterhim。
Ifitwasahorsemanheusuallypulledhimupinsideofamile。
Storiesweretoldofunsuccessfulchases，misunderstandings，andcomplicationsarisingoutofHowlett’smaniaforrunningdownandbailinguptravellers。
Sometimeshecaughtoneeverydayforaweek，sometimesnotoneforweeks——
itwasalonelytrack。
Theexplanationwassimple，sufficient，andperfectlynatural——
fromabushman’spointofview。Rattyonlywantedtohaveayarn。
Heandthetravellerwouldcampintheshadeforhalfanhourorsoandyarnandsmoke。Theoldmanwouldfindoutwherethetravellercamefrom，andhowlonghe’dbeenthere，andwherehewasmakingfor，andhowlonghereckonedhe’dbeaway;andaskiftherehadbeenanyrainalongthetraveller’sbacktrack，andhowthecountrylookedafterthedrought;andhe’dgetthetraveller’sideasonabstractquestions——
ifhehadany。Ifitwasafootman（swagman），andhewasshortoftobacco，oldHowlettalwayshadhalfastickreadyforhim。Sometimes，butveryrarely，he’dinvitetheswagmanbacktothehutforapintoftea，orabitofmeat，flour，tea，orsugar，tocarryhimalongthetrack。
And，aftertheyarnbytheroad，theysaid，theoldmanwouldrideback，refreshed，tohislonelyselection，andworkonintothenightaslongashecouldseehissolitaryoldploughhorse，orthescoopofhislong-handledshovel。
AndsoitwasthatIcametomakehisacquaintance——or，rather，thathemademine。Iwascanteringeasilyalongthetrack——Iwasmakingforthenorth-westwithapackhorse——whenaboutamilebeyondthetracktotheselectionIheard，"Hi，Mister！"andsawadustcloudfollowingme。Ihadheardof"OldRattyHowlett"casually，andsowaspreparedforhim。
Atallgauntmanonalittlehorse。Hewasclean-shaven，exceptforafrillbeardroundunderhischin，andhislongwavy，darkhairwasturninggrey;asquare，strong-facedman，andremindedmeofonefull-facedportraitofGladstonemorethananyotherfaceIhadseen。
Hehadlargereddish-browneyes，deepsetunderheavyeyebrows，andwithsomethingoftheblackfellowinthem——thesortofeyesthatwillpeeratsomethingonthehorizonthatnooneelsecansee。
Hehadawayoftalkingtothehorizon，too——morethantohiscompanion;
andhehadadeepverticalwrinkleinhisforeheadthatnosmilecouldlessen。
Igotdownandgotoutmypipe，andwesatonalogandyarnedawhileonbushsubjects;andthen，afterapause，heshifteduneasily，itseemedtome，andaskedratherabruptly，andinanalteredtone，ifIwasmarried。Aqueerquestiontoaskatraveller;moreespeciallyinmycase，asIwaslittlemorethanaboythen。
Hetalkedonagainofoldthingsandplaceswherewehadbothbeen，andaskedaftermenheknew，orhadknown——droversandothers——
andwhethertheywerelivingyet。Mostofhisinquirieswentbackbeforemytime;butsomeofthedrovers，oneortwooverlanderswithwhomhehadbeenmatesinhistime，hadgrownoldintomine，andIknewthem。Inoticenow，thoughIdidn’tthen——andifIhaditwouldnothaveseemedstrangefromabushpointofview——
thathedidn’taskfornews，norseeminterestedinit。
Thenafteranotheruneasypause，duringwhichhescratchedcrossesinthedustwithastick，heaskedme，inthesamequeertoneandwithoutlookingatmeorlookingup，ifIhappenedtoknowanythingaboutdoctoring——
ifI’deverstudiedit。
Iaskedhimifanyonewassickathisplace。Hehesitated，andsaid"No。"
ThenIwantedtoknowwhyhehadaskedmethatquestion，andhewassolongaboutansweringthatIbegantothinkhewashardofhearing，when，atlast，hemutteredsomethingaboutmyfaceremindinghimofayoungfellowheknewofwho’dgonetoSydneyto"studyforadoctor"。Thatmighthavebeen，andlookednaturalenough;
butwhydidn’theaskmestraightoutifIwasthechaphe"knowedof"？
Travellersdonotlikebeatingaboutthebushinconversation。
Hesatinsilenceforagoodwhile，withhisarmsfolded，andlookingabsentlyawayoverthedeadlevelofthegreatscrubsthatspreadfromthefootoftheridgewewereontowhereabluepeakortwoofadistantrangeshowedabovethebushonthehorizon。
Istoodupandputmypipeawayandstretched。Thenheseemedtowakeup。
"Bettercomebacktothehutandhaveabitofdinner，"hesaid。
"Themissuswillabouthaveitready，andI’llspareyouahandfulofhayforthehorses。"
Thehaydecidedit。Itwasadryseason。Iwassurprisedtohearofawife，forIthoughthewasahatter——Ihadalwaysheardso;
butperhapsIhadbeenmistaken，andhehadmarriedlately;
orhadgotahousekeeper。Thefarmwasanirregularly-shapedclearinginthescrub，withagoodmanystumpsinit，withabroken-downtwo-railfencealongthefrontage，andlogsand"dog-leg"therest。Itwasaboutaslonely-lookingaplaceasIhadseen，andIhadseensomeout-of-the-way，God-forgottenholeswheremenlivedalone。Thehutwasinthetopcorner，atwo-roomedslabhut，withashingleroof，whichmusthavebeenuncommonroundthereinthedayswhenthathutwasbuilt。
Iwasusedtobushcarpentering，andsawthattheplacehadbeenputupbyamanwhohadplentyoflifeandhopeinfrontofhim，andforsomeoneelsebesidehimself。Butthereweretwounfinishedskillingroomsbuiltontothebackofthehut;theposts，sleepers，andwall-plateshadbeenwellputupandfitted，andtheslabwallswereup，buttheroofhadneverbeenputon。Therewasnothingbutburrsandnettlesinsidethosewalls，andanoldwoodenbullockploughandacoupleofyokesweredry-rottingacrossthebackdoorway。Theremainsofastraw-stack，somehayunderabarkhumpy，asmallironplough，andanoldstiffcoffin-headedgreydraughthorse，wereallthatIsawabouttheplace。
Buttherewasabitofasurpriseformeinside，intheshapeofacleanwhitetableclothontheroughslabtablewhichstoodonstakesdrivenintotheground。Theclothwascoarse，butitwasatablecloth——notasparesheetputoninhonourofunexpectedvisitors——
andperfectlyclean。Thetinplates，pannikins，andjamtinsthatservedassugarbowlsandsaltcellarswerepolishedbrightly。
Thewallsandfireplacewerewhitewashed，theclayfloorswept，andcleansheetsofnewspaperlaidontheslabmantleshelfundertherowofbiscuittinsthatheldthegroceries。
Ithoughtthathiswife，orhousekeeper，orwhatevershewas，wasacleanandtidywomanaboutahouse。Isawnowoman;butonthesofa——alight，wooden，battenone，withrungedarmsattheends——
layawoman’sdressonalotofsheetsofoldstainedandfadednewspapers。
Helookedatitinapuzzledway，knittinghisforehead，thentookitupabsentlyandfoldedit。Isawthenthatitwasaridingskirtandjacket。Hebundledthemintothenewspapersandtookthemintothebedroom。
"Thewifewasgoingonavisitdownthecreekthisafternoon，"
hesaidrapidlyandwithoutlookingatme，butstoopingasiftohaveanotherlookthroughthedooratthosedistantpeaks。
"Isupposeshegottiredo’waitin’，andwentandtookthedaughterwithher。
But，nevermind，thegrubisready。"Therewasacamp-ovenwithalegofmuttonandpotatoessizzlinginitonthehearth，andbillieshangingoverthefire。Inoticedthebillieshadbeenscraped，andthelidspolished。
Thereseemedtobesomethingqueeraboutthewholebusiness，butthenheandhiswifemighthavehada"breeze"duringthemorning。
Ithoughtsoduringthemeal，whenthesubjectofwomencameup，andhesaidoneneverknewhowtotakeawoman，etc。;
buttherewasnothinginwhathesaidthatneednecessarilyhavereferredtohiswifeortoanywomaninparticular。
Fortheresthetalkedofoldbushthings，droving，digging，andoldbushranging——butneveraboutlivethingsandlivingmen，unlessanyoftheoldmateshetalkedabouthappenedtobealivebyaccident。
Hewasveryrestlessinthehouse，andnevertookhishatoff。
Therewasadressandawoman’soldhathangingonthewallnearthedoor，buttheylookedasiftheymighthavebeenhangingthereforalifetime。
Thereseemedsomethingqueeraboutthewholeplace——somethingwanting;
butthenallout-of-the-waybushhomesarehauntedbythatsomethingwanting，or，morelikely，bythespiritsofthethingsthatshouldhavebeenthere，butneverhadbeen。
AsIrodedownthetracktotheroadIlookedbackandsawoldHowletthardatworkinaholeroundabigstumpwithhislong-handledshovel。
I’dnoticedthathemovedandwalkedwithaslightlisttoport，andputhishandonceortwicetothesmallofhisback，andIsetitdowntolumbago，orsomethingofthatsort。
UpintheNeverNeverIheardfromadroverwhohadknownHowlettthathiswifehaddiedinthefirstyear，andsothismysteriouswoman，ifshewashiswife，was，ofcourse，hissecondwife。
ThedroverseemedsurprisedandratheramusedatthethoughtofoldHowlettgoinginformatrimonyagain……
Irodebackthatwayfiveyearslater，fromtheNeverNever。
Itwasearlyinthemorning——Ihadriddensincemidnight。
Ididn’tthinktheoldmanwouldbeupandabout;and，besides，Iwantedtogetonhome，andhavealookattheoldfolk，andthematesI’dleftbehind——andthegirl。ButIhadn’tgotfarpastthepointwhereHowlett’strackjoinedtheroad，whenIhappenedtolookback，andsawhimonhorseback，stumblingdownthetrack。Iwaitedtillhecameup。
Hewasridingtheoldgreydraughthorsethistime，anditlookedverymuchbrokendown。Ithoughtitwouldhavecomedowneverystep，andfallenlikeanoldrottenhumpyinagustofwind。
Andtheoldmanwasnotmuchbetteroff。Isawatoncethathewasaverysickman。Hisfacewasdrawn，andhebentforwardasifhewashurt。Hegotdownstifflyandawkwardly，likeahurtman，andassoonashisfeettouchedthegroundhegrabbedmyarm，orhewouldhavegonedownlikeamanwhostepsoffatraininmotion。
Hehungtowardsthebankoftheroad，feelingblindly，asitwere，fortheground，withhisfreehand，asIeasedhimdown。
Igotmyblanketandcalicofromthepacksaddletomakehimcomfortable。
"Helpmewithmybackagenthetree，"hesaid。"Imustsitup——
it’snouselyin’medown。"
Hesatwithhishandgrippinghisside，andbreathedpainfully。
"ShallIrunuptothehutandgetthewife？"Iasked。
"No。"Hespokepainfully。"No！"Then，asifthewordswerejerkedoutofhimbyaspasm："Sheain’tthere。"
Itookitthatshehadlefthim。
"Howlonghaveyoubeenbad？Howlonghasthisbeencomingon？"
Hetooknonoticeofthequestion。Ithoughtitwasatouchofrheumaticfever，orsomethingofthatsort。
"It’sgoneintomybackandsidesnow——thepain’sworseinmeback，"
hesaidpresently。
Ihadoncebeenmateswithamanwhodiedsuddenlyofheartdisease，whileatwork。Hewaswashingadishofdirtinthecreeknearaclaimwewereworking;heletthedishslipintothewater，fellback，crying，"O，myback！"andwasgone。AndnowIfeltbyinstinctthatitwaspooroldHowlett’sheartthatwaswrong。Aman’sheartisinhisbackaswellasinhisarmsandhands。
Theoldmanhadturnedpalewiththepallorofamanwhoturnsfaintinaheatwave，andhisarmsfellloosely，andhishandsrockedhelplesslywiththeknucklesinthedust。Ifeltmyselfturningwhite，too，andthesick，cold，emptyfeelinginmystomach，forIknewthesigns。
Bushmenstandinaweofsicknessanddeath。
ButafterI’dfixedhimcomfortablyandgivenhimadrinkfromthewaterbagthegreynesslefthisface，andhepulledhimselftogetherabit;
hedrewuphisarmsandfoldedthemacrosshischest。
Helethisheadrestbackagainstthetree——hisslouchhathadfallenoffrevealingabroad，whitebrow，muchhigherthanIexpected。
Heseemedtogazeontheazurefinoftherange，showingabovethedarkblue-greenbushonthehorizon。
Thenhecommencedtospeak——takingnonoticeofmewhenIaskedhimifhefeltbetternow——totalkinthatstrange，absent，far-awaytonethatawesone。Hetoldhisstorymechanically，monotonously——
insetwords，asIbelievenow，ashehadoftentolditbefore;
ifnottoothers，thentothelonelinessofthebush。
AndheusedthenamesofpeopleandplacesthatIhadneverheardof——
justasifIknewthemaswellashedid。
"Ididn’twanttobringherupthefirstyear。Itwasnoplaceforawoman。
IwantedhertostaywithherpeopleandwaittillI’dgottheplacealittlemoreship-shape。ThePhippsestookaselectiondownthecreek。
Iwantedhertowaitandcomeupwiththemso’sshe’dhavesomecompany——
awomantotalkto。Theycameafterwards，buttheydidn’tstop。
Itwasnoplaceforawoman。
"ButMarywouldcome。Shewouldn’tstopwithherpeopledowncountry。
Shewantedtobewithme，andlookafterme，andworkandhelpme。"
Herepeatedhimselfagreatdeal——saidthesamethingoverandoveragainsometimes。Hewasonlymadononetrack。
He’dtailoffandsitsilentforawhile;thenhe’dbecomeawareofmeinahurried，half-scaredway，andapologiseforputtingmetoallthattrouble，andthankme。"I’llbeallrightd’reckly。
Besttakethehorsesuptothehutandhavesomebreakfast;
you’llfinditbythefire。I’llfolleryou，d’reckly。
Thewife’llbewaitin’an’————"Hewoulddropoff，andbegoingagainpresentlyontheoldtrack：——
"Hermotherwascominguptostayawhileattheendoftheyear，buttheoldmanhurthisleg。Thenhermarriedsisterwascoming，butoneoftheyoungstersgotsickandtherewastroubleathome。
Isawthedoctorinthetown——thirtymilesfromhere——
andfixeditupwithhim。Hewasaboozer——I’d’ashothimafterwards。
Ifixedupwithawomaninthetowntocomeandstay。IthoughtMarywaswronginhertime。Shemusthavebeenamonthorsixweeksout。
ButIlistenedtoher……Don’targuewithawoman。
Don’tlistentoawoman。Dotherightthing。Weshouldhavehadamotherwomantotalktous。Butitwasnoplaceforawoman！"
Herockedhishead，asiffromsomeoldagonyofmind，againstthetree-trunk。
"Shewastookbadsuddenlyonenight，butitpassedoff。Falsealarm。
Iwasgoingtoridesomewhere，butshesaidtowaittilldaylight。
Someonewassuretopass。Shewasabraveandsensiblegirl，butshehadaterrorofbeingleftalone。Itwasnoplaceforawoman！
"Therewasablackshepherdthreeorfourmilesaway。IrodeoverwhileMarywasasleep，andstartedtheblackboyintotown。
I’d’ashothimafterwardsifI’d’acaughthim。Theoldblackginwasdeadtheweekbefore，orMarywoulda’binalright。Shewastiedupinabunchwithstripsofblanketandgreenhide，andputinahole。
Sotherewasn’tevenaginneartheplace。Itwasnoplaceforawoman！
"Iwaswatchin’theroadatdaylight，andIwaswatchin’theroadatdusk。
Iwentdowninthehollowandstoopeddowntogetthegapagenthesky，so’sIcouldseeifanyonewascomin’over……I’dgetonthehorseandgallopalongtowardsthetownforfivemiles，butsomethingwoulddragmeback，andthenI’draceforfearshe’ddiebeforeIgottothehut。
Iexpectedthedoctoreveryfiveminutes。
"Itcomeonaboutdaylightnextmorning。Iranback’ardsandfor’ardsbetweenthehutandtheroadlikeamadman。Andnoonecome。
Iwasrunningamongstthelogsandstumps，andfallin’overthem，whenIsawacloudofdustagensunrise。Itwashermotheran’sisterinthespring-cart，an’justcatchin’uptothemwasthedoctorinhisbuggywiththewomanI’darrangedwithintown。Themotherandsisterwasstayingatthetownforthenight，whentheyheardoftheblackboy。
Ittookhimadaytoridethere。I’d’ashothimifI’d’acaughthimeverafter。Thedoctor’dbeenonthedrunk。IfI’dhadthegunandknownshewasgoneI’dhaveshothiminthebuggy。Theysaidshewasdead。
Andthechildwasdead，too。
"Theyblamedme，butIdidn’twanthertocome;itwasnoplaceforawoman。
Ineversawthemagainafterthefuneral。Ididn’twanttoseethemanymore。"
Hemovedhisheadwearilyagainstthetree，andpresentlydriftedonagaininasoftertone——hiseyesandvoiceweregrowingmoreabsentanddreamyandfaraway。
"Aboutamonthafter——orayear，Ilostcountofthetimelongago——
shecamebacktome。Atfirstshe’dcomeinthenight，thensometimeswhenIwasatwork——andshehadthebaby——itwasagirl——inherarms。
Andby-and-byeshecametostayaltogether……Ididn’tblameherforgoingawaythattime——itwasnoplaceforawoman……
Shewasagoodwifetome。ShewasajollygirlwhenImarriedher。
Thelittlegirlgrewuplikeher。Iwasgoingtosendherdowncountrytobeeducated——itwasnoplaceforagirl。
"Butamonth，orayear，ago，Maryleftme，andtookthedaughter，andnevercamebacktilllastnight——thismorning，Ithinkitwas。
Ithoughtatfirstitwasthegirlwithherhairdoneup，andhermother’sskirton，tosurpriseherolddad。ButitwasMary，mywife——asshewaswhenImarriedher。Shesaidshecouldn’tstay，butshe’dwaitformeontheroad;on——theroad……"
Hisarmsfell，andhisfacewentwhite。Igotthewater-bag。
"Anotherturnlikethatandyou’llbegone，"Ithought，ashecametoagain。
ThenIsuddenlythoughtofashantythathadbeenstarted，whenIcamethatwaylast，tenortwelvemilesalongtheroad，towardsthetown。Therewasnothingforitbuttoleavehimandrideonforhelp，andacartofsomekind。
"YouwaitheretillIcomeback，"Isaid。"I’mgoingforthedoctor。"
Herousedhimselfalittle。"Bestcomeuptothehutandgetsomegrub。
Thewife’llbewaiting……"Hewasoffthetrackagain。
"WillyouwaitwhileItakethehorsedowntothecreek？"
"Yes——I’llwaitbytheroad。"
"Look！"Isaid，"I’llleavethewater-baghandy。Don’tmovetillIcomeback。"
"Iwon’tmove——I’llwaitbytheroad，"hesaid。
Itookthepackhorse，whichwasthefreshestandbest，threwthepack-saddleandbagsintoabush，lefttheotherhorsetotakecareofitself，andstartedfortheshanty，leavingtheoldmanwithhisbacktothetree，hisarmsfolded，andhiseyesonthehorizon。
Oneofthechapsattheshantyrodeonforthedoctoratonce，whiletheothercamebackwithmeinaspring-cart。HetoldmethatoldHowlett’swifehaddiedinchild-birththefirstyearontheselection——"shewasafinegirlhe’dheered！"Hetoldmethestoryastheoldmanhadtoldit，andinprettywellthesamewords，eventogivingitashisopinionthatitwasnoplaceforawoman。
"Andhe`hatted’andbroodedoverittillhewentratty。"
Iknewtherest。Henotonlythoughtthathiswife，ortheghostofhiswife，hadbeenwithhimallthoseyears，butthatthechildhadlivedandgrownup，andthatthewifedidthehousework;which，ofcourse，hemusthavedonehimself。
Whenwereachedhimhisknottedhandshadfallenforthelasttime，andtheywereatrest。Ionlytookonequicklookathisface，butcouldhaveswornthathewasgazingatthebluefinoftherangeonthehorizonofthebush。
UpatthehutthetablewassetasonthefirstdayIsawit，andbreakfastinthecamp-ovenbythefire。
Mitchell’sJobs"I’mgoingtoknockoffworkandtrytomakesomemoney，"saidMitchell，ashejerkedthetea-leavesoutofhispannikinandreachedforthebilly。
"It’sbeenthegreatmistakeofmylife——ifIhadn’twastedallmytimeandenergyworkingandlookingforworkImighthavebeenanindependentmanto-day。"
"Joe！"headdedinaloudervoice，condescendinglyadaptinghislanguagetomybushedcomprehension。"I’mgoingtoslinggraftandtryandgetsomestufftogether。"
Ididn’tfeelinaresponsivehumour，butIlitupandsettledbackcomfortablyagainstthetree，andJackfoldedhisarmsonhiskneesandpresentlycontinued，reflectively：
"IrememberthefirsttimeIwenttowork。Iwasayoungsterthen。
Motherusedtogoroundlookingforjobsforme。Shereckoned，perhaps，thatIwastooshytogoinwheretherewasaboywantedandbarrackformyselfproperly，andsheusedtohelpmeandseemethroughtothebestofherability。I’mafraidIdidn’talwaysfeelasgratefultoherasIshouldhavefelt。Iwasathanklesskidatthebestoftimes——mostkidsare——butotherwiseIwasastraightenoughlittlechapasnippersgo。SometimesIalmostwishIhadn’tbeen。Myrelationswouldhavethoughtagooddealmoreofmeandtreatedmebetter——and，besides，it’sacomfort，attimes，tositandwatchthesungoingdowninthebedofthebush，andthinkofyourwickedchildhoodandwastedlife，andthewayyoutreatedyourparentsandbroketheirhearts，andfeeljustproperlyrepentantandbitterandremorsefulandlow-spiritedaboutitwhenit’stoolate。
"Ah，well！……IgenerallydidfeelabitbackwardingoinginwhenIcametothedoorofanofficeorshopwheretherewasa`StrongLad’，ora`WillingYouth’，wantedinsidetomakehimselfgenerallyuseful。
Iwasastrongladandawillingyouthenough，insomethings，forthatmatter;butIdidn’tliketoseeitwrittenuponacardinashopwindow，andIdidn’twanttomakemyselfgenerallyusefulinacloseshopinahotdustystreetonmorningswhentheweatherwasfineandthegreatsunnyrollerswerecomingingrandontheBondiBeachanddownatCoogee，andIcouldswim……
I’dgivesomethingtobedownalongtherenow。"
Mitchelllookedawayoutoverthesultrysandyplainthatweweretotacklenextday，andsighed。
"ThefirstjobIgotwasinajamfactory。Theyonlyhad`BoyWanted’
onthecardinthewindow，andIthoughtitwouldsuitme。Theysetmetoworktopeelpeaches，and，assoonastheforeman’sbackwasturned，Ipickedoutalikely-lookingpeachandtriedit。Theysoakedthosepeachesinsaltoracidorsomething——itwaspartoftheprocess——
andIhadtospititout。ThenIgotanorangefromaboywhowasslicingthem，butitwasbitter，andIcouldn’teatit。
IsawthatI’dbeenhadproperly。Iwasinafix，andhadtogetoutofitthebestwayIcould。I’dleftmycoatdowninthefrontshop，andtheforemanandbosswerethere，soIhadtoworkinthatplacefortwomortalhours。ItwasaboutthelongesttwohoursI’deverspentinmylife。Atlasttheforemancameup，andItoldhimIwantedtogodowntothebackforaminute。
Islippeddown，watchedmychancetilltheboss’backwasturned，gotmycoat，andcleared。
"ThenextjobIgotwasinamatfactory;atleast，Auntgotthatforme。
Ididn’twanttohaveanythingtodowithmatsorcarpets。
Theworstofitwasthebossdidn’tseemtowantmetogo，andIhadajobtogethimtosackme，andwhenhedidhesawsomeofmypeopleandtookmebackagainnextweek。
HesackedmefinallythenextSaturday。
"Igotthenextjobmyself。Ididn’thurry;Itookmytimeandpickedoutagoodone。Itwasinalollyfactory。Ithoughtitwouldsuitme——
anditdid，forawhile。Theyputmeonstirringupandmixingstuffinthejujubedepartment;butIgotsosickofthesmellofitandsofullofjujubeandotherlolliesthatIsoonwantedachange;
soIhadarowwiththechiefofthejujubedepartmentandthebossgavemethesack。
"Igotajobinagrocerythen。IthoughtI’dhavemorevarietythere。
Butonedaythebosswasaway，sickorsomething，alltheafternoon，andIsoldalotofthingstoocheap。Ididn’tknow。WhenacustomercameinandaskedforsomethingI’djustlookroundinthewindowtillIsawacardwiththepricewrittenuponit，andsellthebestqualityaccordingtothatprice;andonceortwiceImadeamistaketheotherwayaboutandlostacoupleofgoodcustomers。
Itwasahot，drowsyafternoon，andby-and-byeIbegantofeeldullandsleepy。SoIlookedroundthecornerandsawaChinamancoming。
Igotabigtingardensyringeandfilleditfullofbrinefromthebutterkeg，and，whenhecameoppositethedoor，Ilethimhavethefullforceofitintheear。
"ThatChinamanputdownhisbasketsandcameforme。Iwasstrongformyage，andthoughtIcouldfight，buthegavemeapropermauling。
"Itwaslikerunningupagainstathrashingmachine，anditwouldn’thavebeenwellformeifthebossoftheshopnextdoorhadn’tinterfered。Hetoldmyboss，andmybossgavemethesackatonce。
"Itookaspellofeighteenmonthsorsoafterthat，andwasgrowinguphappyandcontentedwhenamarriedsisterofminemustneedscometoliveintownandinterfere。Ididn’tlikemarriedsisters，thoughIalwaysgotongrandwithmybrothers-in-law，andwishedthereweremoreofthem。Themarriedsistercomesroundandcleansuptheplaceandpullsyourthingsaboutandfindsyourpipeandtobaccoandthings，andcigaretteportraits，and"DeadwoodDicks"，thatyou’vegotputawayallright，so’syourmotherandauntwouldn’tfindtheminagenerationofcats，andsays：
"`Mother，whydon’tyoumakethatboygotowork。It’sascandalousshametoseeabigboylikethatgrowingupidle。He’sgoingtothebadbeforeyoureyes。’Andshe’salwaystryingtomakeoutthatyou’realiar，andtryingtomakemotherbelieveit，too。Mymarriedsistergotmeajobwithachemist，whosemissussheknew。
"Igotonprettywellthere，andby-and-byeIwasputupstairsinthegrindingandmixingdepartment;but，afterawhile，theyputanotherboythatIwaschummywithuptherewithme，andthatwasamistake。Ididn’tthinksoatthetime，butIcanseeitnow。Wegotuptoallsortsoftricks。We’dgetmixingtogetherchemicalsthatweren’trelatedtoseehowthey’dagree，andwenearlyblewuptheshopseveraltimes，andsetitonfireonce。
Butallthechapslikedus，andfixedthingsupforus。
Onedaywegotabigblackdog——thatwemeanttotakehomethatevening——
andsneakedhimupstairsandputhimonaflatroofoutsidethelaboratory。
Hehadatouchofthemangeanddidn’tlookwell，sowegavehimadoseofsomething;andhescrambledovertheparapetandslippeddownasteepironroofinfront，andfellonarespectedtownsmanthatknewmypeople。Wewereawfullyfrightened，anddidn’tsayanything。
Nobodysawitbutus。Thedoghadthepresenceofmindtoleaveatonce，andtherespectedtownsmanwaspickedupandtakenhomeinacab;
andhegotithotfromhiswife，too，Ibelieve，forbeinginthatdrunken，beastlystateinthemainstreetinthemiddleoftheday。
"Idon’tthinkhewaseverquitesurethathehadn’tbeendrunkorwhathadhappened，forhehadhadoneortwothatmorning;
soitdidn’tmattermuch。Onlywelostthedog。
"OnedayIwentdownstairstothepacking-roomandsawalotofphosphorusinjarsofwater。IwantedtofixupaghostforBilly，mymate，soInickedabitandslippeditintomytrouserpocket。
"Istoodunderthetapandletitpouronme。Thephosphorusburntcleanthroughmypocketandfellontheground。Iwassenthomethatnightwithmylegdressedwithlime-waterandoil，andapairoftheboss’spantsonthatwereabouthalfayardtoolongforme，andIfeltmiserableenough，too。
Theysaiditwouldstopmytricksforawhile，andsoitdid。
I’llcarrythemarktomydyingday——andfortwoorthreedaysafter，forthatmatter。"……
Ifellasleepatthispoint，andleftMitchell’scattlepuptohearitout。
Bill，theVentriloquialRooster"Whenwewereupcountryontheselection，wehadaroosteratourplace，namedBill，"saidMitchell;"abigmongrelofnoparticularbreed，thoughtheoldladysaidhewasa`brammer’——andmanyanargumentshehadwiththeoldmanaboutittoo;shewasjustasstubbornandobstinateinheropinionasthegovernorwasinhis。But，anyway，wecalledhimBill，anddidn’ttakeanyparticularnoticeofhimtillacousinofsomeofuscamefromSydneyonavisittothecountry，andstayedatourplacebecauseitwascheaperthanstoppingatapub。Well，somehowthischapgotinterestedinBill，andstudiedhimfortwoorthreedays，andatlasthesays：
"`Why，thatrooster’saventriloquist！’
"`Awhat？’
"`Aventriloquist！’
"`Goalongwithyer！’
"`Butheis。I’veheardofcaseslikethisbefore;butthisisthefirstI’vecomeacross。Bill’saventriloquistrightenough。’
"Thenwerememberedthattherewasn’tanotherroosterwithinfivemiles——ouronlyneighbour，anIrishmannamedPage，didn’thaveoneatthetime——
andwe’doftenheardanothercockcrow，butdidn’tthinktotakeanynoticeofit。WewatchedBill，andsureenoughheWASaventriloquist。
The`ka-cocka’wouldcomeallright，butthe`co-ka-koo-oi-oo’
seemedtocomefromadistance。Andsometimesthewholecrowwouldgowrong，andcomebacklikeanechothathadbeenlostforayear。
Billwouldstandontiptoe，andholdhiselbowsout，andcurvehisneck，andgotwoorthreetimesasifhewasswallowingnest-eggs，andnearlybreakhisneckandbursthisgizzard;andthenthere’dbenosoundatallwherehewas——onlyacockcrowinginthedistance。
"AndprettysoonwecouldseethatBillwasingreattroubleaboutithimself。
Yousee，hedidn’tknowitwashimself——thoughtitwasanotherroosterchallenginghim，andhewantedbadlytofindthatotherbird。Hewouldgetuponthewood-heap，andcrowandlisten——crowandlistenagain——
crowandlisten，andthenhe’dgouptothetopofthepaddock，andgetuponthestack，andcrowandlistenthere。Thendowntotheotherendofthepaddock，andgetuponamullock-heap，andcrowandlistenthere。Thenacrosstotheothersideanduponalogamongthesaplings，andcrow’n’listensomemore。Hesearchedallovertheplaceforthatotherrooster，but，ofcourse，couldn’tfindhim。
Sometimeshe’dbeoutalldaycrowingandlisteningalloverthecountry，andthencomehomedeadtired，andrestandcooloffinaholethatthehenshadscratchedforhiminadampplaceunderthewater-casksledge。
"Well，onedayPagebroughthomeabigwhiterooster，andwhenheletitgoitclimbeduponPage’sstackandcrowed，toseeiftherewasanymoreroostersroundthere。Billhadcomehometired;itwasahotday，andhe’drootedoutthehens，andwashavingaspell-ohunderthecaskwhenthewhiteroostercrowed。Billdidn’tloseanytimegettingoutandontothewood-heap，andthenhewaitedtillheheardthecrowagain;
thenhecrowed，andtheotherroostercrowedagain，andtheycrowedateachotherforthreedays，andcalledeachotherallthewretchestheycouldlaytheirtonguesto，andafterthattheyimploredeachothertocomeoutandbemadeintochickensoupandfeatherpillows。
Butneither’dcome。Yousee，therewereTHREEcrows——therewasBill’scrow，andtheventriloquistcrow，andthewhiterooster’scrow——
andeachroosterthoughtthattherewasTWOroostersintheoppositioncamp，andthathemightn’tgetfairplay，and，consequently，bothwereafraidtoputuptheirhands。
"ButatlastBillcouldn’tstanditanylonger。Hemadeuphismindtogoandhaveitout，eveniftherewasawholeagriculturalshowofprizeandhonourable-mentionfighting-cocksinPage’syard。
Hegotdownfromthewood-heapandstartedoffacrosstheploughedfield，hisheaddown，hiselbowsout，andhisthickawkwardlegsproddingawayatthefurrowsbehindforalltheywereworth。
"Iwantedtogodownbadlyandseethefight，andbarrackforBill。
ButIdaren’t，becauseI’dbeencominguptheroadlatethenightbeforewithmybrotherJoe，andtherewasaboutthreepanelsofturkeysroostingalongonthetoprailofPage’sfrontfence;andwebrushed’emwithabough，andtheygotupsuchablessedgobblingfussaboutitthatPagecameoutinhisshirtandsawusrunningaway;andIknewhewaslayingforuswithabullockwhip。Besides，therewasfrictionbetweenthetwofamiliesonaccountofathoroughbredbullthatPageborrowedandwouldn’tlendtous，andthatgotintoourpaddockonaccountofmemendingapanelinthepartyfence，andcarelesslyleavingthetopraildownaftersundownwhileourcowswasmovingroundthereinthesaplings。
"Sotherewastoomuchfrictionformetogodown，butIclimbedatreeasnearthefenceasIcouldandwatched。Billreckonedhe’dfoundthatroosteratlast。Thewhiteroosterwouldn’tcomedownfromthestack，soBillwentuptohim，andtheyfoughttheretilltheytumbleddowntheotherside，andIcouldn’tseeanymore。Wasn’tIwild？
I’dhavegivenmydogtohaveseentherestofthefight。
IwentdowntothefarsideofPage’sfenceandclimbedatreethere，but，ofcourse，Icouldn’tseeanything，soIcamehomethebackway。
JustasIgothomePagecameroundtothefrontandsungout，`Insoidthere！’
AndmeandJimwentunderthehouselikesnakesandlookedoutroundapile。
ButPagewasallright——hehadabroadgrinonhisface，andBillsafeunderhisarm。HeputBilldownonthegroundverycarefully，andsayshetotheoldfolks：
"`Yerroosterknockedthestuffin’outofmyrooster，butIbearnomalice。
’Twasagrandfoight。’
"AndthentheoldmanandPagehadayarn，andgotprettyfriendlyafterthat。
AndBilldidn’tseemtobotheraboutanymoreventriloquism;
butthewhiteroosterspentalotoftimelookingforthatotherrooster。
Perhapshethoughthe’dhavebetterluckwithhim。ButPagewasonthelook-outallthetimetogetaroosterthatwouldlickours。
Hedidnothingelseforamonthbutrideroundandenquireaboutroosters;
andatlastheborrowedagame-birdintown，leftfivepoundsdepositonhim，andbroughthimhome。AndPageandtheoldmanagreedtohaveamatch——
abouttheonlythingthey’dagreedaboutforfiveyears。
AndtheyfixeditupforaSundaywhentheoldladyandthegirlsandkidsweregoingonavisittosomerelations，aboutfifteenmilesaway——
tostopallnight。Theguv’normademegowiththemonhorseback;
butIknewwhatwasup，andsomyponywentlameaboutamilealongtheroad，andIhadtocomebackandturnhimoutinthetoppaddock，andhidethesaddleandbridleinahollowlog，andsneakhomeandclimbupontheroofoftheshed。Itwasaawfulhotday，andIhadtokeepclimbingbackwardandforwardovertheridge-poleallthemorningtokeepoutofsightoftheoldman，forhewasmovingaboutagooddeal。
"Well，afterdinner，thefellowsfromroundaboutbegantorideinandhanguptheirhorsesroundtheplacetillitlookedasiftherewasgoingtobeafuneral。Someofthechapssawme，ofcourse，butItippedthemthewink，andtheygavemetheofficewhenevertheoldmanhappenedaround。
"Well，Pagecamealongwithhisgame-rooster。ItsnamewasJim。Itwasn’tmuchtolookat，anditseemedagooddealsmallerandweakerthanBill。
Someofthechapsweredisgusted，andsaiditwasn’tagame-roosteratall;
Bill’dsettleitinonelick，andtheywouldn’thaveanyfun。
"Well，theybroughtthegameoneoutandputhimdownnearthewood-heap，androustedBilloutfromunderhiscask。Hegotinterestedatonce。
HelookedatJim，andgotuponthewood-heapandcrowedandlookedatJimagain。HereckonedTHISatlastwasthefowlthathadbeenhumbugginghimallalong。Presentlyhistroublecaughthim，andthenhe’dcrowandtakeasquintatthegame’un，andcrowagain，andhaveanothersquintatgamey，andtrytocrowandkeephiseyeonthegame-roosteratthesametime。ButJimnevercommittedhimself，untilatlasthehappenedtogapejustafterBill’swholecrowwentwrong，andBillspottedhim。Hereckonedhe’dcaughthimthistime，andhegotdownoffthatwood-heapandwentforthefoe。ButJimranaway——
andBillranafterhim。
"Roundandroundthewood-heaptheywent，androundtheshed，androundthehouseandunderit，andbackagain，androundthewood-heapandoveritandroundtheotherway，andkeptitupforcloseonanhour。
Bill’sbillwasjustwithinaninchorsoofthegame-rooster’stailfeathersmostofthetime，buthecouldn’tgetanynearer，dohowheliked。
AndallthetimethefellerskeptchyackinPageandsingingout，`Whatpriceyergame’un，Page！Goit，Bill！Goit，oldcock！’
andallthatsortofthing。Well，thegame-roosterwentasifitwasago-as-you-please，andhedidn’tcareifitlastedayear。
Hedidn’tseemtotakeanyinterestinthebusiness，butBillgotexcited，andby-and-byhegotmad。Heheldhisheadlowerandlowerandhiswingsfurtherandfurtheroutfromhissides，andproddedawayharderandharderatthegroundbehind，butitwasn’tanyuse。Jimseemedtokeepaheadwithouttrying。Theystucktothewood-heaptowardsthelast。
Theywentroundfirstonewayforawhile，andthentheotherforachange，andnowandthenthey’dgooverthetoptobreakthemonotony;
andthechapsgotmoreinterestedintheracethantheywouldhavebeeninthefight——andbetonit，too。ButBillwashandicappedwithhisweight。
Hewasdoneupatlast;hesloweddowntillhecouldn’twaddle，andthen，whenhewasthoroughlyknockedup，thatgame-roosterturnedonhim，andgavehimthefatherofahiding。
"AndmyfathercaughtmewhenI’dgotdownintheexcitement，andwasn’tthinking，andHEgaveMEthestep-fatherofahiding。
Buthehadalivelytimewiththeoldladyafterwards，overthecock-fight。
"Billwassodisgustedwithhimselfthathewentunderthecaskanddied。"
BushCats"Domesticcats"wemean——thedescendantsofcatswhocamefromthenorthernworldduringthelasthundredoddyears。
WedonotknowthenameofthevesselinwhichthefirstThomasandhisMariacameouttoAustralia，butwesupposethatitwasoneoftheshipsoftheFirstFleet。MostlikelyMariahadkittensonthevoyage——twolots，perhaps——themajorityofwhichwereburiedatsea;
andnodoubtthedisembarkationcausedhermuchmaternalanxiety……
ThefelineracehasnotalteredmuchinAustralia，fromaphysicalpointofview——notyet。Therabbithasdevelopedintosomethinglikeacrossbetweenakangarooandapossum，butthebushhasnotbeguntodevelopthecommoncat。SheisjustassedateandmotherlyasthemummycatsofEgyptwere，butshetakeslongerstrollsofnights，climbsgum-treesinsteadofroofs，andhuntsstrangerverminthanevercameundertheobservationofhernorthernancestors。
Herviewshavewidened。SheismostlythinnerthantheEnglishfarmcat——
whichis，theysay，onaccountofeatinglizards。
EnglishratsandEnglishmice——wesay"English"becauseeverythingwhichisn’tAustralianinAustralia，ISEnglish（orBritish）——
EnglishratsandEnglishmiceareeitherrareornon-existentinthebush;
butthehutcathasawiderrangeforgame。Sheisalwaysdragginginthingswhichareunknowninthehallsofzoology;ugly，loathsome，crawlingabortionswhichhavenotbeenclassifiedyet——andperhapscouldnotbe。
TheAustralianzoologistoughttorakeupsomemoredeadlanguages，andthengoOutBackwithafewbushcats。
TheAustralianbushcathasanasty，unpleasanthabitofdraggingalong，wriggling，horrid，blacksnake——sheseemstopreferblacksnakes——
intoaroomwherethereareladies，proudlylayingitdowninaconspicuousplace（usuallyinfrontoftheexit），andthenlookingupforapprobation。Shewonders，perhaps，whythevisitorsareinsuchahurrytoleave。
Pussydoesn’tapproveoflivesnakesroundtheplace，especiallyifshehaskittens;andifshefindsasnakeinthevicinityofherprogeny——
well，itisbadforthatparticularserpent。
Thisbringsrecollectionsofaneighbour’scatwhowentoutinthescrub，onemidsummer’sday，andfoundabrownsnake。Hername——thecat’sname——wasMaryAnn。Shegotholdofthesnakeallright，justwithinaninchofitshead;butitgottherestofitslengthwoundroundherbodyandsqueezedabouteightlivesoutofher。
Shehadthepresenceofmindtokeepherhold;butitstruckherthatshewasinafix，andthatifshewantedtosaveherninthlife，itwouldn’tbeabadideatogohomeforhelp。Soshestartedhome，snakeandall。
ThefamilywereatdinnerwhenMaryAnncamein，and，althoughshestoodonanopenpartofthefloor，noonenoticedherforawhile。
Shecouldn’taskforhelp，forhermouthwastoofullofsnake。
By-and-byeoneofthegirlsglancedround，andthenwentoverthetable，withashriek，andoutofthebackdoor。Theroomwasclearedveryquickly。
Theeldestboygotalong-handledshovel，andinanothersecondwouldhavekilledmorecatthansnake;buthisfatherinterfered。
Thefatherwasashearer，andMaryAnnwasafavouritecatwithhim。
Hegotapairofshearsfromtheshelfanddeftlyshoreoffthesnake’shead，andonesideofMaryAnn’swhiskers。Shedidn’tthinkitsafetoletgoyet。
Shekeptherteethintheneckuntiltheselectorsnippedtherestofthesnakeoffher。Thebitswerecarriedoutonashoveltodieatsundown。MaryAnnhadagooddrinkofmilk，andthengothertongueoutandlickedherselfbackintothepropershapeforacat;afterwhichshewentouttolookforthatsnake’smate。
Shefoundit，too，anddraggedithomethesameevening。
Catswillkillrabbitsanddragthemhome。Weknewafossickerwhosecatusedtobringhimabunnynearlyeverynight。
Thefossickerhadrabbitsforbreakfastuntilhegotsickofthem，andthenheusedtoswapthemwithabutcherformeat。
ThecatwasnamedIngersoll，whichindicateshissexandgivesaninklingtohismaster’sreligiousandpoliticalopinions。Ingersollusedtoprospectroundinthegloaminguntilhefoundsomerabbitholeswhichshowedencouragingindications。Hewouldshepherdoneholeforanhourorsoeveryeveninguntilhefounditwasaduffer，orworkeditout;thenhewouldshifttoanother。Onedayheprospectedabighollowlogwithalotofholesinit，andmoregoingdownunderneath。
Theindicationswereverygood，butIngersollhadnoluck。
Thegamehadtoomanywaysofgettingoutandin。Hefoundthathecouldnotworkthatclaimbyhimself，sohefloateditintoacompany。
Hepersuadedseveralcatsfromaneighbouringselectiontotakeshares，andtheywatchedtheholestogether，orinturns——theyworkedshifts。
Thedividendsmorethanrealisedeventheirwildestexpectations，foreachcattookhomeatleastonerabbiteverynightforaweek。
Aselectorstartedavegetablegardenaboutthetimewhenrabbitswerebeginningtogettroublesomeupcountry。
Theharehadnotshownitselfyet。Thefarmerkeptquitearegimentofcatstoprotecthisgarden——andtheyprotectedit。Hewouldshutthecatsupalldaywithnothingtoeat，andletthemoutaboutsundown;
thentheywouldmoochofftotheturnippatchlikefarm-labourersgoingtowork。Theywoulddragtherabbitshometothebackdoor，andsitthereandwatchthemuntilthefarmeropenedthedoorandservedouttherationofmilk。Thenthecatswouldturnin。
Henearlyalwaysfoundasemi-circleofdeadrabbitsandwatchfulcatsroundthedoorinthemorning。Theysoldtheproductoftheirlabourdirecttothefarmerformilk。Itdidn’tmatterifonecathadbeenunlucky——hadnotgotarabbit——eachhadanequalshareinthegeneralresult。
Theyweretruesocialists，thosecats。
OneofthosecatswasamightybigTom，namedJack。Hewasdeathonrabbits;
hewouldworkhardallnight，layingforthemanddraggingthemhome。
Someweekshewouldgrafteverynight，andatothertimeseveryothernight，buthewasgenerallyprettyregular。Whenhereckonedhehaddoneanextranight’swork，hewouldtakethenextnightoffandgothreemilestothenearestneighbour’stoseehisMariaandtakeheroutforastroll。
Well，oneeveningJackwentintothegardenandchoseaplacewheretherewasgoodcover，andlaylow。Hewasabitearlierthanusual，sohethoughthewouldhaveadozetillrabbittime。
By-and-byeheheardanoise，andslowly，cautiouslyopeningoneeye，hesawtwobigearsstickingoutoftheleavesinfrontofhim。
Hejudgedthatitwasanextrabigbunny，soheputsomeextrastyleintohismanoeuvres。Inaboutfiveminuteshemadehisspring。
Hemusthavethought（ifcatsthink）thatitwasawhopping，old-manrabbit，foritwasapioneerhare——notanordinaryEnglishhare，butoneofthosegreatcoarse，lankythingswhichthebushisbreeding。
Theselectorwasattractedbyanunusualcommotionandacloudofdustamonghiscabbages，andcamealongwithhisgunintimetowitnessthefight。
FirstJackwoulddragthehare，andthentheharewoulddragJack;
sometimestheywouldbedowntogether，andthenJackwouldusehishindclawswitheffect;finallyhegothisteethintherightplace，andtriumphed。
Thenhestartedtodragthecorpsehome，buthehadtogiveitbestandaskhismastertolendahand。Theselectortookupthehare，andJackfollowedhome，muchtothefamily’ssurprise。Hedidnotgobacktoworkthatnight;hetookaspell。Hehadadrinkofmilk，lickedthedustoffhimself，washeditdownwithanotherdrink，andsatinfrontofthefireandthoughtforagoodishwhile。
Thenhegotup，walkedovertothecornerwheretheharewaslying，hadagoodlookatit，camebacktothefire，satdownagain，andthoughthard。Hewasstillthinkingwhenthefamilyretired。
MeetingOldMatesI。
TomSmithYouaregettingwelloninthethirties，andhaven’tleftoffbeingafoolyet。Youhavebeenawayinanothercolonyorcountryforayearorso，andhavenowcomebackagain。Mostofyourchumshavegoneawayorgotmarried，or，worsestill，signedthepledge——
settleddownandgotsteady;andyoufeellonelyanddesolateandleft-behindenoughforanything。Whiledriftingaimlesslyroundtownwithaneyeoutforsomechanceacquaintancetohaveaknockroundwith，yourunagainstanoldchumwhomyouneverdreamtofmeeting，orwhomyouthoughttobeinsomeotherpartofthecountry——
orperhapsyouknockupagainstsomeonewhoknowstheoldchuminquestion，andhesays：
"IsupposeyouknowTomSmith’sinSydney？"
"TomSmith！Why，IthoughthewasinQueensland！Ihaven’tseenhimformorethanthreeyears。Where’stheoldjokerhangingoutatall？
Why，exceptyou，there’snooneinAustraliaI’dsoonerseethanTomSmith。
HereI’vebeenmooningroundlikeanunemployedforthreeweeks，lookingforsomeonetohaveaknockroundwith，andTominSydneyallthetime。IwishI’dknownbefore。Where’llIrunagainsthim——
wheredoeshelive？"
"Oh，he’slivingathome。"
"Butwhere’shishome？Iwasneverthere。"
"Oh，I’llgiveyouhisaddress……There，Ithinkthat’sit。
I’mnotsureaboutthenumber，butyou’llsoonfindoutinthatstreet——
mostof’em’llknowTomSmith。"
"Thanks！Iratherthinktheywill。I’mgladImetyou。
I’llhuntTomupto-day。"
Soyouputafewshillingsinyourpocket，tellyourlandladythatyou’regoingtovisitanoldauntofyoursorasickfriend，andmayn’tbehomethatnight;andthenyoustartouttohuntupTomSmithandhaveatleastonemoregoodnight，ifyoudieforit……
ThisisthefirsttimeyouhaveseenTomathome;youknewofhishomeandpeopleintheolddays，butonlyinavague，indefinitesortofway。Tomhaschanged！Heisstouterandolder-looking;
heseemssolemnandsettleddown。Youintendedtogivehimasurpriseandhaveagoodoldjollylaughwithhim，butsomehowthingsgetsuddenlydampedatthebeginning。Hegrinsandgripsyourhandrightenough，butthereseemssomethingwanting。Youcan’thelpstaringathim，andheseemstolookatyouinastrange，disappointingway;
itdoesn’tstrikeyouthatyoualsohavechanged，andperhapsmoreinhiseyesthanheinyours。Heintroducesyoutohismotherandsistersandbrothers，andtherestofthefamily;ortohiswife，asthecasemaybe;
andyouhavetosuppressyourfeelingsandbepoliteandtalkcommon-place。
Youhatetobepoliteandtalkcommon-place。Youaren’tbuiltthatway——
andTomwasn’teither，intheolddays。Thewife（orthemotherandsisters）
receivesyoukindly，forTom’ssake，andmakesmuchofyou;
buttheydon’tknowyouyet。YouwanttogetTomoutside，andhaveayarnandadrinkandalaughwithhim——youareburstingtotellhimallaboutyourself，andgethimtotellyouallabouthimself，andaskhimifheremembersthings;andyouwonderifheisburstingthesameway，andhopeheis。Theoldladyandsisters（orthewife）
boreyouprettysoon，andyouwonderiftheyboreTom;youalmostfancy，fromhislooks，thattheydo。YouwonderwhetherTomiscomingoutto-night，whetherhewantstogetout，andifhewantstoandwantstogetoutbyhimself，whetherhe’llbeabletomanageit;butyoudaren’tbroachthesubject，itwouldn’tbepolite。You’vegottobepolite。
ThenyougetworriedbythethoughtthatTomisburstingtogetoutwithyouandonlywantsanexcuse;iswaiting，infact，andhopingforyoutoaskhiminanoff-handsortofwaytocomeoutforastroll。
Butyou’renotquitesure;andbesides，ifyouwere，youwouldn’thavethecourage。By-and-byeyougettiredofitall，thirsty，andwanttogetoutintheopenair。Yougettiredofsaying，"Doyoureally，Mrs。Smith？"or"Doyouthinkso，MissSmith？"
or"Youwerequiteright，Mrs。Smith，"and"Well，Ithinksotoo，Mrs。Smith，"
or，tothebrother，"That’sjustwhatIthought，Mr。Smith。"Youdon’twantto"talkpretty"tothem，andlistentotheirwishy-washynonsense;
youwanttogetoutandhavearoaringspreewithTom，asyouhadintheolddays;youwanttomakeanothernightofitwithyouroldmate，TomSmith;andprettysoonyougetthebluesbadly，andfeelnearlysmotheredinthere，andyou’vegottogetoutandhaveabeeranyway——TomornoTom;andyoubegintofeelwildwithTomhimself;andatlastyoumakeabolddashforitandchanceTom。
Yougetup，lookatyourhat，andsay："Ah，well，Imustbegoing，Tom;
I’vegottomeetsomeonedownthestreetatseveno’clock。
Where’llImeetyouintownnextweek？"
ButTomsays：
"Oh，dashit;youain’tgoingyet。Staytotea，Joe，staytotea。
It’llbeonthetableinaminute。Sitdown——sitdown，man！
Here，gimmeyourhat。"
AndTom’ssister，orwife，ormothercomesinwithanaprononandherhandsalloverflour，andsays：
"Oh，you’renotgoingyet，Mr。Brown？Tea’llbereadyinaminute。
Dostayfortea。"Andifyoumakeexcuses，shecross-examinesyouaboutthetimeyou’vegottokeepthatappointmentdownthestreet，andtellsyouthattheirclockistwentyminutesfast，andthatyouhavegotplentyoftime，andsoyouhavetogivein。Butyouaremightilyencouragedbyawinksomeexpressionwhichyousee，orfancyyousee，onyoursideofTom’sface;alsobythefactofhishavingaccidentallyknockedhisfootagainstyourshins。Soyoustay。
Oneofthefemalestellsyouto"Sitthere，Mr。Brown，"
andyoutakeyourplaceatthetable，andthepolitebusinessgoeson。
You’vegottoholdyourknifeandforkproperly，andmindyourp’sandq’s，andwhenshesays，"Doyoutakemilkandsugar，Mr。Brown？"
you’vegottosay，"Yes，please，MissSmith——thanks——that’splenty。"
Andwhentheypressyou，astheywill，tohavemore，you’vegottokeeponsaying，"No，thanks，Mrs。Smith;
no，thanks，MissSmith;Ireallycouldn’t;I’vedoneverywell，thankyou;
Ihadaverylatedinner，andsoon"——bothersuchtommy-rot。
Andyoudon’tseemtohaveanyappetite，anyway。AndyouthinkofthedaysoutonthetrackwhenyouandTomsatonyourswagsunderamulgaatmid-day，andatemuttonandjohnny-cakewithclasp-knives，anddrankbyturnsoutoftheold，battered，leakybilly。
Andafterteayouhavetositstillwhilethepreciousminutesarewasted，andlistenandsympathize，whileallthetimeyouareonthefidgettogetoutwithTom，andgodowntoaprivatebarwhereyouknowsomegirls。
Andperhapsby-and-byetheoldladygetsconfidential，andseizesanopportunitytotellyouwhatagoodsteadyyoungfellowTomisnowthathenevertouchesdrink，andbelongstoatemperancesociety（ortheY。M。C。A。），andneverstaysoutofnights。
Consequentlyyoufeelworsethanever，andlonelier，andsorrierthatyouwastedyourtimecoming。YouareencouragedagainbyaglimpseofTomputtingonacleancollarandfixinghimselfupabit;
butwhenyouarereadytogo，andaskhimifhe’scomingabitdownthestreetwithyou，hesayshethinkshewillinsuchadisinterested，don’t-mind-if-I-dosortoftone，thathemakesyoumad。
Atlast，afterpromisingto"dropinagain，Mr。Brown，wheneveryou’repassing，"andto"don’tforgettocall，"andthankingthemfortheirassurancethatthey’ll"bealwaysgladtoseeyou，"andtellingthemthatyou’vespentaverypleasanteveningandenjoyedyourself，andareawfullysorryyoucouldn’tstay——yougetawaywithTom。
Youdon’tsaymuchtoeachothertillyougetroundthecorneranddownthestreetabit，andthenforawhileyourconversationismostlycommon-place，suchas，"Well，howhaveyoubeengettingonallthistime，Tom？""Oh，allright。Howhaveyoubeengettingon？"
andsoon。
Butpresently，andperhapsjustasyouhavemadeupyourmindtochancetheallegedtemperancebusinessandaskTomintohaveadrink，hethrowsaglanceupanddownthestreet，nudgesyourshoulder，says"Comeon，"anddisappearssidewaysintoapub……
"What’syours，Tom？""What’syours，Joe？""Thesameforme。"
"Well，here’sluck，oldman。""Here’sluck。"Youtakeadrink，andlookoveryourglassatTom。Thentheoldsmilespreadsoverhisface，anditmakesyouglad——youcouldsweartoTom’sgrininahundredyears。
Thensomethingtickleshim——yourexpression，perhaps，orarecollectionofthepast——andhesetsdownhisglassonthebarandlaughs。Thenyoulaugh。Oh，there’snosmilelikethesmilethatoldmatesfavoureachotherwithoverthetopsoftheirglasseswhentheymeetagainafteryears。Itiseloquent，becauseofthememoriesthatgiveitbirth。
"Here’sanother。Doyouremember————？Doyouremember————？"
Oh，itallcomesbackagainlikeaflash。Tomhasn’tchangedabit;
justthesamegood-hearted，jollyidiothealwayswas。Oldtimesbackagain！
"It’sjustlikeoldtimes，"saysTom，afterthreeorfourmoredrinks……
Andsoyoumakeanightofitandgetuproariouslyjolly。
Yougetas"glorious"asBobbyBurnsdidinthepartofTamO’Shanter，andhaveabetter"time"thananyofthetimesyouhadintheolddays。
AndyouseeTomasnearlyhomeinthemorningasyoudare，andhereckonshe’llgetithotfromhispeople——whichnodoubthewill——
andheexplainsthattheyareveryparticularupathome——churchpeople，youknow——and，ofcourse，especiallyifhe’smarried，it’sunderstoodbetweenyouthatyou’dbetternotcallforhimupathomeafterthis——atleast，nottillthingshavecooleddownabit。
It’salwaystheway。Thefriendofthehusbandalwaysgetstheblameincaseslikethis。ButTomfixesupayarntotellthem，andyouaren’tto"sayanythingdifferent"incaseyourunagainstanyofthem。AndhefixesupanappointmentwithyoufornextSaturdaynight，andhe’llgetthereifhegetsdivorcedforit。ButheMIGHT
havetotakethewifeoutshopping，oroneofthegirlssomewhere;
andifyouseeherwithhimyou’vegottolaylow，andbecareful，andwait——atanotherhourandplace，perhaps，allofwhichisarranged——
forifsheseesyoushe’llsmellaratatonce，andhewon’tbeabletogetoffatall。
Andso，asfarasyouandTomareconcerned，the"oldtimes"havecomebackoncemore……
But，ofcourse（andwealmostforgotit），youmightchancetofallinlovewithoneofTom’ssisters，inwhichcasetherewouldbeanotherandatotallydifferentstorytotell。
II。
JackEllisThingsaregoingwellwithyou。Youhaveescapedfrom"thetrack"，sotospeak，andareinasnug，comfortablelittlebilletinthecity。
Well，whiledoingtheblockyourunagainstanoldmateofotherdays——VERYotherdays——callhimJackEllis。ThingshavegonehardwithJack。
Heknowsyouatonce，butmakesnoadvancetowardsagreeting;
heactsasthoughhethinksyoumightcuthim——which，ofcourse，ifyouareatruemate，youhavenottheslightestintentionofdoing。
Hiscoatisyellowandfrayed，hishatisbatteredandgreen，histrousers"gone"invariousplaces，hislinenverycloudy，andhisbootsburstandinnocentofpolish。Youtrynottonoticethesethings——orrather，nottoseemtonoticethem——butyoucannothelpdoingso，andyouareafraidhe’llnoticethatyouseethesethings，andputawrongconstructiononit。Howmenwillmisunderstandeachother！
Yougreethimwithmorethanthenecessaryenthusiasm。Inyouranxietytosethimathiseaseandmakehimbelievethatnothing——notevenmoney——
canmakeadifferenceinyourfriendship，youover-actthebusiness;
andpresentlyyouareafraidthathe’llnoticethattoo，andputawrongconstructiononit。Youwishthatyourcollarwasnotsoclean，noryourclothessonew。Hadyouknownyouwouldmeethim，youwouldhaveputonsomeoldclothesfortheoccasion。
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