\"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。
