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Updated: May 21, 2025
'Well, I told Sir Luke that I didn't think he need bother himself just yet awhile over that northern tour of inspection he's talking about. 'He wants to make a kind of royal progress, Joan, through the Back-Blocks, said Lady Biddy. 'It'll mean a bit of stiff riding, said McKeith, 'but I've offered to show him round the Upper Leura anyway, and to find him a quiet hack.
She also told Moongarr Bill that in England she had seen a dowser searching for hidden springs by means of a forked hazel twig carried in front of him which pointed downwards where there was water and asked why Australians didn't adopt a similar method. At which Moongarr Bill laughed derisively, and said he did not hold with any such hanky-panky. 'Bad luck, Biddy, McKeith said behind her.
'They'll be hiding in the gully, Mr McKeith. No fear of them taking to the outside bush with the tribe hanging round. I'll just round 'em up and drive 'em into the scrub and strike the fear of the Law into them. I'll do it now before I turn out my horse into the paddock. 'No, flamed Lady Bridget.
McKeith read all the details carefully, turning the page over and back again in order to read it once more. There was no doubt making due allowance for Moongarr Bill's exaggerative optimism that the find was a genuine one. The writer resumed: 'I've pegged off a twenty men's ground, this being outside the area of a proclaimed goldfield our reward as joint discoverers.
'Steele said it of Lady Elizabeth Hastings. 'I call it a liberal education for Colin McKeith to love Lady Bridget O'Hara, laughed Lady Tallant. Mrs Gildea changed her tactics and voiced her other fear a more insistent fear. 'Has it ever occurred to you that Lady Bridget O'Hara might fall in love with Colin McKeith?
McKeith stopped in the act of filling his tobacco pouch from a jar on the mantelpiece and looked sharply at his wife. 'You think that, Biddy. I remember long ago you said something of that sort to me. It isn't my idea of morality or of justice. But I'm one with you this far.
There was the dray-load all turned over, and two cases prized open. I bet that the rum-kegs and spirits that couldn't be carried off, are buried in some handy dry water-hole close by. I saw two or three empty brandy bottles with the heads of 'em smashed to show that the rascals had wet the wool before starting off. McKeith cursed in his throat. 'No sign of my men?
But except as it concerns Lady Bridget and McKeith, the Tallant's first dinner-party at Government House is not of special importance in this story. Mrs Gildea, very well occupied with Dr Plumtree, only caught diagonal glimpses of her two friends a little lower down on the opposite side of the table, and, in occasional lulls of conversation, the musical ring of Lady Bridget's rapid chatter.
Fact is, our Labour War is only just beginning; and I can tell you, Sir, that before a year is out the so-called bloated capitalist and the sheep and cattle station owner will sing either pretty big or very small. 'I don't think it will be very small on MY station, murmured McKeith. 'But it's quite true about the Labour War. They're organising, as they call it, already all along the Leura.
McKeith went up to his wife who was still standing by the corner of the table, and put his arm round the little trembling form. 'Oh! Biddy my darling. I've been a brute. I'm not fit to take care of you. I ought to have thought of all that. But one gets used to such goings-on in the Bush, and they aren't bad chaps the bullockys, and you've got to discount their lurid language a bit.
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