talment of an annuity
of fifty pounds a year miraculously left him by a distant cousin in
Germany.

He showed this to Clara while they were crossing in the boat to Mosman.
She listened to him in silence. Then a flush coloured her cheeks.

"You'll never regret that," she said; "it's the best day's work you
ever did."

"I 'ope I'll never regret anythin' that gives you pleasure," said
Jonah, feeling very noble and generous, and surprised at the ease with
which he turned a compliment.

They had the Point to themselves, as usual, and Clara went to the edge
of the rocks to see what ships had come and gone during the week,
trying to identify one that she had read about in the papers. Jonah
watched her in silence, marking every detail of her tall figure with a
curious sense of possession that years of intimacy had never given him
with Ada. And yet she kept him at a distance with a skill that
exasperated him and provoked his admiration. One day when he had held
her hand a moment too long, she had withdrawn it with an explanation
that sounded like an apology. She explained that from a child she had
been unable to endure the touch of another person; that she always
preferred to walk rather than ride in a crowded bus or tram because
bodily contact with others set her nerves on edge. It was a nervous
affection, she explained, inherited from her mother. Jonah had his own
opinion of this malady, but he admitted to himself that she would never
enter a crowd or a crush.

The result of her pleading for Paasch had put her in a high good
humour. It was the first certain proof of her power over Jonah, and she
chattered gaily. She had risen in her own esteem. But presently, to
her surprise, Jonah took some papers from his pocket and frowned over
them.

"It's very impolite to read in other people's company," she remarked,
with a sudden coolness.

"I beg yer pardon," said Jonah, starting suddenly, as if a whip had
touched him. She never failed to reprove him for any lapse in manners,
and Jonah winced without resentment.

"I thought this might interest yer," he continued. "I'm puttin' Steel
in as manager at last, an' this is the agreement."

"Who advised you to do that?" said Clara, with an angry flush.

"Well, Johnson's been complainin' of overwork fer some time, but Miss
Giltinan decided me. She's very keen on me openin' up branches in the
suburbs."

"You place great weight on Miss Giltinan's opinion," said Clara,