he must call upon Miss So-and-so
to apologise to Miss Wilson--or resign the chair. After a lot of fuss
the girl did apologise in a snappy way that was another insult. Jack
Drew gave Miss Wilson his arm and marched her off without a word--I saw
she was almost crying. Some one said, 'Oh, let's go on with the dance.'
The Doctor flashed round on them, but they were too paltry for him, so
he turned on his heel and went out without a word. But I was beneath
them again in social standing, so there was nothing to prevent me from
making a few well-chosen remarks on things in general--which I did; and
broke up that ball, and broke some heads afterwards, and got myself a
good deal of hatred and respect, and two sweethearts; and lost all the
jobs I was likely to get, except at the bank, the Doctor's, and the
Royal.

"One day it was raining--general rain for a week. Rain, rain, rain, over
ridge and scrub and galvanised iron and into the dismal creeks. I'd done
all my inside work, except a bit under the Doctor's verandah, where he'd
been having some patching and altering done round the glass doors of his
surgery, where he consulted his patients. I didn't want to lose time. It
was a Monday and no day for the Royal, and there was no dust, so it was
a good day for varnishing. I took a pot and brush and went along to give
the Doctor's doors a coat of varnish. The Doctor and Drew were inside
with a fire, drinking whisky and smoking, but I didn't know that when
I started work. The rain roared on the iron roof like the sea. All of a
sudden it held up for a minute, and I heard their voices. The doctor
had been shouting on account of the rain, and forgot to lower his voice.
'Look here, Jack Drew,' he said, 'there are only two things for you
to do if you have any regard for that girl; one is to stop this' (the
liquor I suppose he meant) 'and pull yourself together; and I don't
think you'll do that--I know men. The other is to throw up the
'Advertiser'--it's doing you no good--and clear out.' 'I won't do that,'
says Drew. 'Then shoot yourself,' said the Doctor. '(There's another
flask in the cupboard). You know what this hole is like.... She's a good
true girl--a girl as God made her. I knew her father and mother, and I
tell you, Jack, I'd sooner see her dead than....' The roof roared again.
I felt a bit delicate about the business and didn't like to disturb
them, so I knocked off for the day.

"About a week before that I was down in the bed o