big potatoes, and mean to be.'

Bridget laughed. She had a ringing laugh when she was amused.

'Oh! go on, Colin. I grant that you're a very big potato and I'm a very
little one.'

'You know I didn't mean it that way. You're the biggest potato in the
whole bag as far as mind goes, and you make me feel the smallest.
You're so wonderful that the marvel of your being contented to marry me
is a bit staggering. And that brings me back to my question, which you
haven't answered.'

'How have I brought myself to the incredible enterprise of marrying an
Australian bushman? Do you know?'--she became suddenly serious--'I have
asked myself that question once or twice, and I haven't been able to
answer it.'

The light of adoration in his eyes faded a little.

'I've been afraid of that,' he said slowly. I've been afraid that you
might be rushing into the business without reasoning it out--weighing
all the sides of it.'

'If I were, it would only be the way of the O'Haras.'

His blue eyes became more troubled.

'I've been afraid of that,' he repeated. 'Bridget--suppose--my dear,
suppose it was to turn out a mistake.'

'Well, I've made so many mistakes in my life and lived through them
that one more wouldn't matter,' she rejoined lightly.

'This one would matter--because it would be irretrievable. Suppose that
you were to find that you couldn't put up with the Bush life--I've told
you that you are letting your imagination and your enthusiasm run a bit
away with you, and that there may be hardships you don't reckon on. For
though it all looks to me plain sailing now, and I hope it will only be
a year or two before I can put on a manager, and give you the home and
the climate that are more suited to you, one can't tell in Australia
that there may not be a drought or that a cattle boom may not turn to a
slump--do you see?'

'I shan't mind in the least, Colin--that is, I shall mind immensely,
but if there comes a drought it will be quite exciting helping you to
drag out the poor, thirsty beasts, when they get bogged into the
waterholes as you were describing the other day.'

He laughed.

'YOU--helping to drag out bogged beasts! Why! they'd drag you in.'

'Well, there are other things. Riding! I could help you to break in
horses. All the O'Haras are good on horseback'--at which he laughed
immoderately and told her that when she had seen one, Zack Duppo, on a
buckjumper, she would not be keen to try that game. But it might